Third Schedule explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
The Third Schedule contains the twelve "O" Forms that the Registrar and the Authority themselves issue: the advertisement of an accepted application, the certificate of registration, notices of non-completion, surrender, revocation and rectification, the reference to the District Magistrate, and notices on community claims. Applicants do not file these Forms; they receive them, and the periods that follow run from receipt. Anyone who receives one can bring it to our legal consultation team.
Rules as amended up to G.S.R. 803(E) dated 16 November 2021. Later notifications should be checked on plantauthority.gov.in.
Form O-1 advertises an accepted application (rule 30). Form O-2 is the certificate of registration (rules 36 and 37). Form O-3 gives thirty days to complete an application (rule 38). Form O-4 refers a benefit-sharing default to the District Magistrate (rule 44). Forms O-5 to O-12 cover agent and licensee certificates, notices on variation, surrender, revocation, rectification and denomination, and community claims. Form O-12's entry was substituted in 2015 to read "Notice for compensation towards communities' rights". Notices carry three months to oppose in most cases.
What the Third Schedule is
The Third Schedule lists twelve Forms with the section and rule that call for each. Where the First Schedule Forms (PV-1 to PV-33) are what a party files, the O Forms are what the Registrar or the Authority issues. The heading prints the Schedule as "Forms to be used by Registrar and the Central Government". The Forms themselves are issued by the Registrar, the Registrar-General or the Authority, as each shows. For the First Schedule see the Forms PV-1 to PV-33 article.
The twelve Forms
| Form | Section and rule | What it is | Issued by | Period that follows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-1 | Section 21(1); rule 30 | Advertisement of accepted application for registration | Registrar | Three months to oppose (rule 31) |
| O-2 | Sections 23(8), 24(2); rules 36, 37 | Certificate of registration | Registrar, sealed | Term stated in the certificate |
| O-3 | Section 24(3); rule 38 | Notice of non-completion of registration | Registrar | Thirty days |
| O-4 | Section 26(7); rule 44 | Reference for recovery of benefit-sharing amount | Authority, to the District Magistrate | Amount deposited with the National Gene Fund within three months after realisation |
| O-5 | Section 28(4); rule 47 | Certificate of registration of agent or licensee | Registrar | Terms of the contract apply |
| O-6 | Section 28(10); rule 49 | Notice of an application to vary or cancel terms | Registrar | Three months to oppose |
| O-7 | Section 33(2); rule 51 | Notice of an offer to surrender | Registrar, to agents and licensees | Three months to oppose |
| O-8 | Section 34; rule 53 | Notice of an application for revocation | Authority, to the registered breeder | Three months to oppose |
| O-9 | Section 36(4); rule 59 | Registrar's notice of cancellation, change or rectification | Registrar | Three months to oppose (rule 59) |
| O-10 | Section 37(2); rule 63 | Notice of an agent's or licensee's application to correct the Register | Registrar, to the breeder | None printed in the Form |
| O-11 | Section 38(2); rule 65(3) | Alteration in denomination | Authority | Advertisement of the altered denomination |
| O-12 | Section 41(1); rule 68 | Notice for compensation towards communities' rights | Authority | Three months to object |
Notes on each Form
O-1: advertisement. The Form says that an application for a new variety, extant variety, farmers' variety or essentially derived variety, with its specification, drawing or photographs, "has been accepted and given registration number" on a stated date. It also names any convention application and the office for opposition. The Form refers to opposition "under rule 29", whereas opposition is under rule 31; see rules 30 to 33.
O-2: certificate of registration. The certificate recites the applicant's declaration that he has developed the variety and is the true breeder or the breeder's legal representative or assignee, and that there is no objection to registration. It grants the applicant "the exclusive right to produce, sell, market, distribute, import or export the variety" for a stated term of years from a stated date, and of authorising others to do so, subject to the Act, to the conditions in section 47 and to other laws, and to two conditions: the certificate states that it does not warrant the validity of the registration, and the fees for continuing the registration must be paid. It is sealed and signed by the Registrar. A Note says that maintenance fees fall due on a stated day each year. See rules 37 to 39.
O-3: non-completion. The Registrar gives notice under rule 38 that registration "has not been completed by reason of default on the part of the applicant", directs the applicant to complete listed requirements "within a period of 30 days from the date of the receipt of this Notice", and warns that otherwise the application "shall be treated as abandoned".
O-4: reference to the District Magistrate. The Authority recites the benefit-sharing order and the breeder's default, and refers the matter to the District Magistrate to collect the amount as an arrear of land revenue. The amount realised is to be deposited with the National Gene Fund within three months after realisation. See rules 40 to 44.
O-5: agent or licensee certificate. The Registrar certifies that a named person is registered as agent or licensee for stated varieties, subject to the contract terms.
O-6 to O-10: notices. O-6 notifies a breeder, agent or licensee of an application under section 28 and gives three months to file opposition with documents, failing which the application is disposed of accordingly. O-7 notifies a registered agent or licensee of an offer to surrender, with three months to oppose. O-8 notifies the registered breeder of a revocation application, with three months to oppose. O-9 is the Registrar's notice that he intends to cancel or change a certificate or to make, expunge or vary an entry. O-10 notifies the breeder of an agent's or licensee's application for correction.
O-11: alteration in denomination. Notice that an application to alter a denomination was made and that "the altered denomination as given below has been allowed". See rules 60 to 65.
O-12: communities' rights. Substituted in 2015 by G.S.R. 494(E): the entry in column (3) now reads "Notice for compensation towards communities' rights". The Form notifies the breeder, registered agent, legal representative or assignee that claims have been received for contributions to the evolution of the variety, directs objections "within three months from the date of this notice", requires authenticated evidence, and offers a hearing. See rules 66 to 70.
An invented example: a seed company receives Form O-3 for a pending application, with thirty days to complete listed requirements. It must act within thirty days of receipt. A year later it receives Form O-12 about a community claim and has three months to object with authenticated evidence.
If you receive any of these notices, our legal consultation team can calculate the response period from the Form and prepare the reply.
Need help responding to an official notice?
The periods in the O Forms start on receipt and are short. Our legal consultation team can read the notice, identify the matching rule and Form, and prepare the response.
Key takeaways
- The Third Schedule lists twelve official Forms, O-1 to O-12, issued by the Registrar or the Authority.
- Form O-2 is the certificate of registration; Form O-3 gives thirty days to complete an application.
- Forms O-6 to O-8 and O-12 carry three-month periods to oppose or object.
- Form O-4 refers benefit-sharing default to the District Magistrate; Form O-12 was re-titled in 2015.
- Check the date of receipt: periods run from receipt of the notice.
Read next
- Rules 21-22C: the Authority's functions and costs
- Rules 40-44: benefit sharing
- Rules 66-70: farmers' compensation and the Gene Fund
Disclaimer: Based on the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001 as amended up to the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, the PPV&FR Rules, 2003 as amended up to G.S.R. 803(E) of 16 November 2021, and the regulations, rules and scheme named in the article, as published by the PPV&FR Authority and consulted on 3 October 2026. Later notifications should be checked on plantauthority.gov.in. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.