Lok Sabha Question No. 5906 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Review of IPR
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: OM BIRLA, CHANDU LAL SAHU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5906.

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE  10 TH  APRIL, 2017.

## REVIEW OF IPR

## 5906.  SHRI OM BIRLA: SHRI CHANDU LAL SAHU:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:

## वाणिज् यवव द्यग ं ्री

- (a) whether India's stance on the Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  has  been globally criticised by many countries/companies and if so, the details thereof and the   reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to review/strengthen the IPR and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  agreed  to  create  a  working  group  with  the United States of America to review the IPR issues, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  global  pharmaceutical  industry  has been apprehensive about venturing into the Indian market due to IPR issues and  if so, the details thereof and  the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् यवव द्यग ााज् यं ्रीस् वतं ््रभााा(स्रींतंरीिरंमलााीरीतंाांि( THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRIMATI NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) & (b): While  there  may  be  differences  of  opinion  on  various  aspects  of Intellectual  Property Rights (IPRs) across  countries  and  different interest  groups,  India  has  a  TRIPS  compliant  balanced  IPR  regime. The  Government  takes  steps  as  may  be  required  to  provide  an  IPR regime that serves to meet the developmental goals of India.
- (c): A High level Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights has been constituted  under  the  aegis  of  the  India-US  Trade  Policy  Forum. Discussions  are  held  by  the  Group  on  various  IP  related  issues  for

|      | exchange of information and best practices leading to a better understanding of the IP regimes in both the countries.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (d): | Venturing into markets is a business decision taken by any industry which depends on various factors. A comparative analysis of Foreign Direct Investment inflows into the drugs and pharmaceutical sector during the first three quarters of the financial years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 reveals that the same has increased from US$ 351.58 million in this period of 2015-2016 to US$ 687.08 million in the corresponding period of 2016-2017. |

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