Lok Sabha Question No. 597 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-20
Subject: Patents for New Discoveries
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: VIRENDRA  KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 597 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20/07/2016

## PATENTS FOR NEW DISCOVERIES

## 597. Dr. VIRENDRA KUMAR :

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó Ùðüëðó be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of applications submitted for obtaining patents of new discoveries by Indian scientists and from other developed/developing countries during each of the last three years and the current year; and
- (b) the  steps  taken  for  accelerating  the  pace  of  progress  in  the  field  of  scientific  research  and development in India?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI Y.S. CHOWDARY)

òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó +ÉÉè® ÑðöÆãðó òãðìððÐð ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó (gÉÉÒ ´ÉÉ<Ç. AºÉ. SÉÉèvÉ®ÉÒ)

(a) As per the Patents Act, 1970, patent is granted for an "invention" which means a new product or process involving an inventive step and capable of industrial application. Section 3 of the Patents Act relates to 'Inventions Not Patentable', and thus excludes certain inventions to be not patentable.'

As per Section 3 (c) of the Act,the mere discovery of a scientific principle or the formulation of an abstract  theory  or  discovery  of  any  living  thing  or  non -living  substance  occurring  in  nature  is  not patentable.

The details of the number of applications submitted/filed on inventions for obtaining patents by Indian scientists and from other developed/developing countries during each of last three years and the current year is attached at Annexure-I.

(b) The Ministry of Science and Technology through its constituent Departments is taking various steps  for  accelerating  the  pace  of  progress  in  the  field  of  scientific  research  and  development  by implementing various schemes through competitive grant mechanism with S&T Institutions, Universities and Non Governmental organization (NGO's). This includes support to the research and development lab and  institutions,  support  to  scientists  and  researchers  for  investigators  centric  research  proposals, strengthening  Science  and  Technology  (S&T)  infrastructure  in  universities  and  institutions  of  higher learning  through  Fund  for  Improvement  of  S&T  Infrastructure  in  Universities  and  other  Higher Educational Institutions (FIST), promoting S&T entrepreneurship and innovation, technology development and demonstration, empowering women and weaker section of the society through science. To attract young scientists to adopt science as career prospective, a programme Innovation in Science pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) was mounted under which large number of awards, scholarships and fellowships have been supported. To maintain and safeguard the intellectual property of the Indian Scientists  free  of  cost,  a  Patent  Facilitation  Programme  is  being  implemented.  Support  is  also  being provided for development of improved devices in the area of energy and water.

The Ministry has also taken initiatives at international level through bilateral cutting edge R&D programmes  in  the  areas  of  artificial  intelligence,  internet  of  things,  big  data  analytics,  robotics, automation, clean technology, advance manufacturing, embedded systems, bio medical engineering and automobile engineering.

Total Filing of applications for patents

| Year of filing      |   Number of patents application filed |
|---------------------|---------------------------------------|
| 2013 - 14           |                                 42951 |
| 2014 - 15           |                                 42763 |
| 2015 - 16           |                                 46904 |
| 2016 - 17 till Date |                                 12442 |

| Total Filing with Breakup of Indian &Foreign (Natural Person &Others)   | Total Filing with Breakup of Indian &Foreign (Natural Person &Others)   | Total Filing with Breakup of Indian &Foreign (Natural Person &Others)   | Total Filing with Breakup of Indian &Foreign (Natural Person &Others)   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year of filing                                                          | Indian (Natural person &Others)                                         | Foreign (Natural Person &Others)                                        | Total                                                                   |
| 2013 - 14                                                               | 10941                                                                   | 32010                                                                   | 42951                                                                   |
| 2014 - 15                                                               | 12071                                                                   | 30692                                                                   | 42763                                                                   |
| 2015 - 16                                                               | 13058                                                                   | 33846                                                                   | 46904                                                                   |
| 2016 - 17 till Date                                                     | 3248                                                                    | 9194                                                                    | 12442                                                                   |
| Total                                                                   | 39318                                                                   | 105742                                                                  | 145060                                                                  |
| Applications filed by Natural Persons of India &Abroad                  | Applications filed by Natural Persons of India &Abroad                  | Applications filed by Natural Persons of India &Abroad                  | Applications filed by Natural Persons of India &Abroad                  |
| Year of filing                                                          | Applications from Indian Natural Person                                 | Applications from Foreign Natural Person                                | Applications from Foreign Natural Person                                |
| 2013-14                                                                 | 4416                                                                    | 1170                                                                    | 1170                                                                    |
| 2014-15                                                                 | 4616                                                                    | 1088                                                                    | 1088                                                                    |
| 2015-16                                                                 | 5406                                                                    | 1283                                                                    | 1283                                                                    |
| 2016-17                                                                 | 1566                                                                    | 359                                                                     | 359                                                                     |
| Total                                                                   | 16004                                                                   | 3900                                                                    | 3900                                                                    |

Source: Controller General Patents Designs and Trade Marks, Mumbai

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## Annexure-I