Understanding Offences and Penalties under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is essential for B. Pharm students who handle laboratory animals, design protocols, or participate in community health. This concise guide covers legal definitions of animal cruelty, researcher responsibilities, laboratory animal welfare, CPCSEA and AWBI oversight, common offences such as unnecessary pain, abandonment, animal fighting and improper transport, and associated penalties including fines, imprisonment and licence actions. It also explains Institutional Animal Ethics Committees (IAEC), reporting duties, record-keeping and the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) to ensure ethical experimentation and regulatory compliance. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. Which law in India primarily addresses prevention of cruelty to animals?
- Animal Welfare Rules
- The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act
- The Wildlife Protection Act
- The Veterinary Practice Act
Correct Answer: The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act
Q2. What is the primary objective of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act as relevant to researchers?
- To prohibit ownership of pets
- To prevent infliction of unnecessary pain and suffering on animals
- To ban all use of animals in education
- To regulate animal trade only
Correct Answer: To prevent infliction of unnecessary pain and suffering on animals
Q3. Which central body advises the government and promotes animal welfare under this framework?
- Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
- Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- Medical Council of India (MCI)
Correct Answer: Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)
Q4. Which statutory committee specifically regulates laboratory animal experimentation and facility registration?
- Central Drugs Standard Control Organization
- Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA)
- National Bioethics Committee
- Pharmacy Council of India
Correct Answer: Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA)
Q5. What institutional body must review and approve animal research protocols?
- Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC)
- Institutional Review Board for Humans
- Institutional Biosafety Committee
- Drug Safety Committee
Correct Answer: Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC)
Q6. Which of the following is an example of an offence under the Act?
- Providing timely vaccination
- Intentionally beating an animal causing injury
- Registering an animal facility with CPCSEA
- Reporting suspected cruelty to authorities
Correct Answer: Intentionally beating an animal causing injury
Q7. Penalties under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act may include which of the following?
- Only warnings with no legal consequence
- Mandatory community service without fines
- Fines and imprisonment, depending on the offence
- Deportation of the offender
Correct Answer: Fines and imprisonment, depending on the offence
Q8. Who is generally permitted to file a complaint about suspected animal cruelty?
- Only government veterinarians
- Only the animal owner
- Any person who witnesses or has knowledge of the cruelty
- Only members of AWBI
Correct Answer: Any person who witnesses or has knowledge of the cruelty
Q9. In laboratory work, performing a painful procedure without anaesthesia may be considered what under the Act?
- Acceptable if results are important
- An offence if it causes unnecessary pain or suffering
- A matter only of institutional policy, not law
- Encouraged for faster learning
Correct Answer: An offence if it causes unnecessary pain or suffering
Q10. Transport rules and regulations for animals under the Act aim mainly to:
- Increase commercial profits
- Reduce stress, injury and suffering during transit
- Prohibit inter-state movement of animals
- Require microchipping of all animals
Correct Answer: Reduce stress, injury and suffering during transit
Q11. Organizing or promoting animal fights (for entertainment or betting) is classified as:
- A protected cultural activity
- A punishable offence under animal cruelty provisions
- An activity exempt from the Act
- Only a civil matter between parties
Correct Answer: A punishable offence under animal cruelty provisions
Q12. Abandoning laboratory or pet animals without provision for care is considered:
- Standard practice for facility downsizing
- An offence involving neglect under the Act
- Encouraged to control population
- Outside the scope of animal welfare law
Correct Answer: An offence involving neglect under the Act
Q13. Failure to provide necessary veterinary treatment to an injured animal can result in:
- No legal consequences
- An administrative note only
- Legal action for cruelty or neglect
- Mandatory imprisonment without fine
Correct Answer: Legal action for cruelty or neglect
Q14. For B. Pharm students conducting required practicals involving animals, the lawful requirement is to:
- Proceed without oversight to save time
- Obtain protocol approval from the IAEC (and comply with CPCSEA where applicable)
- Use as many animals as possible to ensure statistical power
- Avoid any record-keeping to maintain confidentiality
Correct Answer: Obtain protocol approval from the IAEC (and comply with CPCSEA where applicable)
Q15. Intentionally killing an animal without a lawful reason is generally regarded as:
- Permissible if the owner agrees
- An act that may attract criminal liability under the Act
- A civil dispute only
- An administrative breach without penalty
Correct Answer: An act that may attract criminal liability under the Act
Q16. Repeat offences of cruelty to animals are likely to result in:
- Reduced penalties due to leniency
- Harsher penalties or higher fines on conviction
- Automatic community service only
- No change in legal outcome
Correct Answer: Harsher penalties or higher fines on conviction
Q17. Who is typically empowered to seize animals that are being subjected to cruelty?
- Only the AWBI chairman personally
- Police or an authorised officer under the Act
- Any private citizen without process
- Only the High Court
Correct Answer: Police or an authorised officer under the Act
Q18. One statutory function of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) is to:
- Directly licence all veterinary practitioners
- Advise government on animal welfare policy and recommend guidelines
- Approve all drug licenses
- Oversee food safety inspections
Correct Answer: Advise government on animal welfare policy and recommend guidelines
Q19. The CPCSEA’s principal role in research is to:
- Design all animal experiments personally
- Ensure ethical standards and register institutions for animal experimentation
- Regulate human clinical trials
- Inspect pharmaceutical manufacturing plants only
Correct Answer: Ensure ethical standards and register institutions for animal experimentation
Q20. Under welfare guidelines, humane euthanasia is acceptable when:
- To save costs regardless of animal suffering
- It is performed to relieve unmanageable pain and distress following approved protocols
- To dispose of animals quickly without veterinary input
- When a student requests it for convenience
Correct Answer: It is performed to relieve unmanageable pain and distress following approved protocols
Q21. Operating an animal house or laboratory without required registration or licence under CPCSEA is:
- Permitted for educational institutions only
- An offence subject to regulatory action and penalties
- Allowed if the institution is private
- Only a procedural lapse with no consequences
Correct Answer: An offence subject to regulatory action and penalties
Q22. Which of the following is NOT an example of cruelty under the Act?
- Beating an animal until injured
- Overworking an animal without rest
- Providing prompt veterinary treatment to an injured animal
- Confined transport in overcrowded conditions
Correct Answer: Providing prompt veterinary treatment to an injured animal
Q23. Conducting experimental procedures on animals without IAEC approval is likely to result in:
- Recognition and reward
- No oversight but allowed
- Penalties for non-compliance with ethical and legal requirements
- A mandatory extension of the study
Correct Answer: Penalties for non-compliance with ethical and legal requirements
Q24. An Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) must include which essential member to ensure animal care expertise?
- A practising lawyer only
- A licensed veterinarian with experience in laboratory animal medicine
- Only student representatives
- A pharmaceutical sales representative
Correct Answer: A licensed veterinarian with experience in laboratory animal medicine
Q25. Proper record-keeping for animal use, treatment and disposal in a facility is:
- Optional and discouraged
- Required as part of compliance and audit readiness
- Only for public facilities
- Prohibited by law
Correct Answer: Required as part of compliance and audit readiness
Q26. Which ethical framework encourages Replacement, Reduction and Refinement when using animals in research?
- The 3Rs principle
- The 5S methodology
- The HACCP system
- The Belmont Report
Correct Answer: The 3Rs principle
Q27. Transporting animals in overcrowded and unventilated vehicles most likely constitutes:
- Compliant transport
- An act that may be considered cruelty under the Act
- Recommended practice for cost saving
- A requirement for disease control
Correct Answer: An act that may be considered cruelty under the Act
Q28. Which body issues technical guidelines for housing, care and experimental procedures for laboratory animals?
- Central Pollution Control Board
- CPCSEA (Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals)
- Ministry of Commerce
- Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association
Correct Answer: CPCSEA (Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals)
Q29. Serious acts of cruelty that cause severe injury or death to an animal can attract which of the following?
- Civil mediation only
- Criminal prosecution, which may include imprisonment
- Automatic acquittal if the offender is a researcher
- Only internal disciplinary action
Correct Answer: Criminal prosecution, which may include imprisonment
Q30. Compliance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and related guidelines primarily helps researchers to:
- Avoid all public scrutiny regardless of conduct
- Ensure ethical research, protect animal welfare and maintain regulatory compliance
- Eliminate the need for any ethical review
- Guarantee faster experimental outcomes
Correct Answer: Ensure ethical research, protect animal welfare and maintain regulatory compliance
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com