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 (NGOs).
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.
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.
This was stated by Minister of State for Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Y.S.Chowdary, in a written reply to a Question in Lok Sabha today.
