Which plants native to India have been either patented or have had attempts made by Western nations to patent them for their utilisation?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → All of the above
India has many plants that have been grown and used for centuries. When companies or other countries use such bio-resources, or patent products based on them, without permission from the country and without payment, it is called biopiracy. The book names three Indian plants in this context.
Option (1) Turmeric — Correct statement, but it is only one of the correct points, so on its own it is not the answer. There have been attempts to patent uses and products based on Indian herbal medicines such as turmeric.
Option (2) Basmati rice — Correct statement, but it is only one of the correct points, so on its own it is not the answer. In 1997 an American company got patent rights on Basmati rice in the US, though the variety came from Indian farmers’ varieties.
Option (3) Neem — Correct statement, but it is only one of the correct points, so on its own it is not the answer. Neem is named together with turmeric among the herbal medicines targeted by patent attempts.
NCERT Extract:
Ethical Issues – “… In 1997, an American company got patent rights on Basmati rice through the US Patent and Trademark Office. This allowed the company to sell a ‘new’ variety of Basmati, in the US and abroad. … Several attempts have also been made to patent uses, products and processes based on Indian traditional herbal medicines, e.g., turmeric neem.”