Introduction: The Objectives of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 MCQs With Answer provide B.Pharm students a focused review of animal welfare, legal responsibilities and ethical standards in biomedical research. This introduction covers key objectives: prevent unnecessary pain and suffering, regulate animal experimentation, ensure proper housing, transport and humane treatment, and enforce licensing, inspection and penalties. It highlights oversight mechanisms such as the CPCSEA and Institutional Animal Ethics Committees, and promotes the 3Rs—Replacement, Reduction and Refinement—critical for pharmacology and toxicology work. Clear knowledge of these objectives aids responsible in vivo study design, compliance and patient safety. ‘Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.’
Q1. What is a primary objective of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960?
- To promote use of as many animals as possible in research
- To prevent unnecessary pain, suffering and cruelty to animals
- To prioritize economic benefits over animal welfare
- To deregulate animal breeding
Correct Answer: To prevent unnecessary pain, suffering and cruelty to animals
Q2. Which of the following best describes the scope of the Act?
- It applies only to laboratory rodents
- It applies to animals used in research, transport, performance and general treatment across the country
- It applies only to zoo animals
- It only regulates pet ownership
Correct Answer: It applies to animals used in research, transport, performance and general treatment across the country
Q3. Which statutory body is responsible for oversight of experiments on animals under this Act?
- Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
- Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA)
- Drug Controller General of India (DCGI)
- National Biodiversity Authority
Correct Answer: Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA)
Q4. What is the role of Institutional Animal Ethics Committees (IAECs) under the Act?
- To promote commercial sale of laboratory animals
- To review and approve animal study protocols and monitor welfare locally
- To exempt institutions from following national rules
- To fund animal research projects
Correct Answer: To review and approve animal study protocols and monitor welfare locally
Q5. Which ethical framework is explicitly promoted to minimize animal use in research?
- The 4Ss: Sample, Scale, Schedule, Safety
- The 3Rs: Replacement, Reduction and Refinement
- The 7Ps: Plan, Perform, Publish, Protect…
- The 2Cs: Control and Contain
Correct Answer: The 3Rs: Replacement, Reduction and Refinement
Q6. Before conducting an in vivo pharmacology experiment, a B.Pharm student must normally obtain:
- Only verbal permission from a colleague
- Approval from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC)
- Approval from the local police station
- No permission is required for student projects
Correct Answer: Approval from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC)
Q7. Which of the following is an objective related to housing and care under the Act?
- Allowing overcrowding to reduce costs
- Ensuring proper housing, nutrition, veterinary care and humane handling
- Prohibiting any veterinary intervention
- Mandating experimentation without rest
Correct Answer: Ensuring proper housing, nutrition, veterinary care and humane handling
Q8. How does the Act address transportation of animals?
- It mandates unsafe transport to save time
- It requires measures to prevent unnecessary suffering during transport
- It does not mention transport at all
- It forbids any transport under all circumstances
Correct Answer: It requires measures to prevent unnecessary suffering during transport
Q9. Which practice is encouraged as an alternative to animal use under the Act’s objectives?
- Using unregulated human volunteers instead
- Adopting validated non-animal methods like in vitro assays or computer modeling
- Increasing animal numbers to ensure reproducibility
- Using wild-caught animals for convenience
Correct Answer: Adopting validated non-animal methods like in vitro assays or computer modeling
Q10. What must an IAEC evaluate in a proposed animal experiment?
- The color preferences of the research team
- Scientific justification, pain minimization, number of animals and humane endpoints
- Only the budget of the project
- Whether the experiment will be profitable
Correct Answer: Scientific justification, pain minimization, number of animals and humane endpoints
Q11. Which statement about anesthesia and analgesia is consistent with the Act’s objectives?
- Anesthesia should be avoided to observe natural pain responses
- Appropriate anesthesia and analgesia must be used to minimize pain unless scientifically justified otherwise
- Analgesia is optional and discouraged
- Only sedatives, never analgesics, should be used
Correct Answer: Appropriate anesthesia and analgesia must be used to minimize pain unless scientifically justified otherwise
Q12. What is a humane endpoint in animal experimentation?
- A point when researchers stop monitoring animals
- The predefined condition at which an animal is removed from a study to prevent undue suffering
- A requirement to extend suffering for statistical power
- A deadline for publishing results
Correct Answer: The predefined condition at which an animal is removed from a study to prevent undue suffering
Q13. Which of the following actions is a legal consequence for cruelty under the Act?
- Mandatory community service without fines
- Prosecution which may include fines and/or imprisonment
- Only informal warnings with no legal penalty
- Immediate acquittal if the person claims ignorance
Correct Answer: Prosecution which may include fines and/or imprisonment
Q14. Who is generally responsible for appointing members of the CPCSEA or equivalent oversight bodies?
- Private pharmaceutical companies
- The central government or designated authority
- Individual research students
- Local animal breeders exclusively
Correct Answer: The central government or designated authority
Q15. Which of the following is NOT part of responsible record-keeping under the Act’s objectives?
- Maintaining animal acquisition and health records
- Keeping detailed experimental protocols and outcomes
- Failing to document animal use to avoid scrutiny
- Reporting adverse events to the oversight body
Correct Answer: Failing to document animal use to avoid scrutiny
Q16. What is the Act’s stance on performing animals in entertainment?
- It seeks to regulate performance practices to prevent cruelty
- It encourages unrestricted use of animals in entertainment
- It mandates animals must be used for all public shows
- It does not consider entertainment-related cruelty
Correct Answer: It seeks to regulate performance practices to prevent cruelty
Q17. For B.Pharm practicals involving animals, which step is essential to remain compliant?
- Using animals without supervision to speed up learning
- Obtaining IAEC approval, using minimum animals and following humane procedures
- Purchasing any animal from unregistered dealers
- Removing analgesia to observe full drug effects on pain
Correct Answer: Obtaining IAEC approval, using minimum animals and following humane procedures
Q18. Which committee inspects and monitors animal facilities to ensure compliance?
- Institutional Finance Committee
- CPCSEA or its designated inspectors
- Student Council
- Local sports association
Correct Answer: CPCSEA or its designated inspectors
Q19. What is the recommended approach when a validated non-animal method exists?
- Prefer animal methods for traditional reasons
- Use the non-animal method to replace animal testing when suitable
- Ignore alternatives until regulators mandate them
- Use both methods simultaneously to be safe
Correct Answer: Use the non-animal method to replace animal testing when suitable
Q20. Which of the following is a responsibility of institutions under the Act?
- To minimize oversight and operate secretly
- To establish IAECs, maintain records and ensure welfare standards
- To outsource oversight to private marketing firms
- To avoid training staff in humane animal care
Correct Answer: To establish IAECs, maintain records and ensure welfare standards
Q21. What should researchers do if an animal experiences unexpected severe pain during a study?
- Continue the procedure to gather more data
- Implement humane endpoint procedures and provide veterinary care
- Ignore and hope it resolves
- Hide the event from the IAEC
Correct Answer: Implement humane endpoint procedures and provide veterinary care
Q22. Which principle helps in reducing the number of animals used in experiments?
- Randomly increasing sample sizes
- Applying statistical power calculations and study design refinement
- Repeating the same experiment multiple times unnecessarily
- Using different species for each replicate
Correct Answer: Applying statistical power calculations and study design refinement
Q23. In the context of the Act, what does “refinement” mean?
- Improving animal welfare by modifying procedures to minimize pain and distress
- Refining laboratory chemicals to be more toxic
- Refining budgets to reduce animal care
- Refining publication drafts only
Correct Answer: Improving animal welfare by modifying procedures to minimize pain and distress
Q24. Who can lodge a complaint about suspected cruelty under the Act?
- Only veterinarians
- Any concerned person or organization
- Only the head of the institution
- Only governmental ministers
Correct Answer: Any concerned person or organization
Q25. Which of the following is an important documentation responsibility after completing an animal study?
- Destroying all records immediately
- Maintaining detailed experimental records and reporting outcomes to oversight bodies as required
- Publishing results without disclosing animal use
- Sharing animals with other labs without tracking
Correct Answer: Maintaining detailed experimental records and reporting outcomes to oversight bodies as required
Q26. Which option is NOT one of the 3Rs promoted under the Act’s objectives?
- Replacement
- Reduction
- Refinement
- Reuse
Correct Answer: Reuse
Q27. What is the purpose of licensing breeders and dealers under the Act?
- To allow unmonitored trade of animals
- To ensure animals used in research come from registered, inspected sources and are healthy
- To increase the cost of acquiring animals for research
- To permit export without welfare checks
Correct Answer: To ensure animals used in research come from registered, inspected sources and are healthy
Q28. How does the Act influence curriculum and training for B.Pharm students involved in animal work?
- It mandates no training so students learn by trial and error
- It emphasizes formal training in ethics, welfare, handling and humane techniques
- It requires only online tests without hands-on guidance
- It permits students to skip welfare training if supervised
Correct Answer: It emphasizes formal training in ethics, welfare, handling and humane techniques
Q29. What is one expected outcome when institutions follow the Act and its objectives?
- Lower research quality due to restrictions
- Improved animal welfare, scientific validity and public trust in research
- Complete elimination of all animal research
- Increased secrecy and reduced reporting
Correct Answer: Improved animal welfare, scientific validity and public trust in research
Q30. If a B.Pharm student suspects non-compliance in an animal facility, the best immediate action is to:
- Conduct an independent experiment to verify
- Report concerns to the IAEC or designated oversight authority following institutional procedures
- Ignore it to avoid conflict
- Post details publicly without following complaint procedures
Correct Answer: Report concerns to the IAEC or designated oversight authority following institutional procedures
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.
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