Consider the following statements regarding India's Traditional Knowledge Digital Library. 1. CSIR jointly developed the library with then Department of Indian Systems of Medicine & Homeopathy thirty years back. 2. The database contains formulations/practices from the Indian systems of medicine. Which among the above statements is/are correct?
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched a new campaign of highlighting 80 success stories from the organization as it is set to turn 80 years old in 2022.
CSIR jointly with Department of Indian Systems of Medicine & Homeopathy (ISM&H, now Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) developed the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) twenty years back. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
This initiative was a follow-up action to prevent/stop misappropriation of India’s valuable traditional knowledge, based on learnings from the patent battles with international patent offices over the grant of intellectual property rights on turmeric, neem, basmati rice and other such ancient knowledge and practices of the country.
TKDL database contains more than 3.9 lakh formulations/ practices from the Indian systems of medicine (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Sowa Rigpa) and Yoga. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
The database is available to only patent examiners through TKDL Access (Non-disclosure) Agreement and so far, Access Agreements have been signed with 13 international patent offices including India.
Significantly, 239 patent applications have either been set aside/ withdrawn/ amended, based on the prior art evidence present in the TKDL database.
The valuable partnership with Ministry of Ayush and DPIIT and support from WIPO were acknowledged.
Dr R.A. Mashelkar (Former DG, CSIR & Secretary, DSIR) emphasized that TKDL should aim to promote traditional knowledge and emerge as a global repository, apart from safeguarding the information from misappropriation.
Over the years, TKDL has grown in strength and is now poised to expand its scope. It envisages covering information from traditional knowledge such as disease diagnostics, veterinary medicine, agricultural practices, food, cosmetics, metallurgy, etc. and Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCE) such as architecture, metallurgy, paintings, carvings, textiles, etc.
The information from digitized and published manuscripts as well as oral knowledge is also proposed to be included in the TKDL database.