Indian Institue of Management 2000 M.B.A CAT - Question Paper

and includes co-operatives, universities, public trust and a variety of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Giving greater
autonomy to research organisations from government control and giving non-government public institutions the space and resources
to play a larger, more effective role in research, is therefore an problem of direct relevance in restructuring the public research system.


1. Which 1 of the subsequent statements defines an important issue, or important issues, not being raised in the situation of the
current debate on IPRs?
(1) The role of MNCs in the sphere of biotechnology and agriculture.
(2) The strategy and policies for establishing an IPR regime for Indian agriculture.
(3) The relative roles of public and private sectors.
(4) Wider concerns about 'privatisation' of research.

2. The fundamental breakthrough in deciphering the structure and functioning of DNA has become a public good. This means that
(1) breakthroughs in fundamental research on DNA are accessible by all without any monetary considerations.
(2) the fundamental research on DNA has the characteristic of having beneficial effects for the public at large.
(3) due to the large scale of fundamental research on DNA, it falls in the domain of public sector research institutions.
(4) the public and other companies must have free access to such fundamental breakthroughs in research.


3. In debating the respective roles of the public and private sectors in the national research system, it is important to recognise
(1) that private companies do not produce new varieties and inputs entirely on their own research.
(2) that almost all technological improvements are based on knowledge and experience accumulated from the past.
(3) the complementary role of public-and private-sector research.
(4) that knowledge repositories are primarily the scientific community and its academic publications.


4. Which 1 of the subsequent may give incentives to address the issue of potential adverse consequences of biotechnology?
(1) Include IPR problems in the TRIPs agreement.
(2) Nationalise MNCs engaged in private research in biotechnology.
(3) Encourage domestic firms to patent their innovations.
(4) Make provisions in the legal regulations for user compensation against failure of newly developed varieties.

Earning:   Approval pending.