Cabinet approves widening access of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) database to users, besides patent offices

Source: The post is based on the article “Cabinet approves widening access of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) database to users, besides patent offices” published in PIB on 17th August 2022.

What is the News?

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the “Widening access of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library(TKDL) database to users, besides patent offices”.

What is Traditional Knowledge Digital Library(TKDL)?

Established in: 2001

Established by: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM&H, now Ministry of AYUSH).  

Purpose: It is a first-of-its-kind database on Indian systems of medicine for preventing bio-piracy and misappropriation of our traditional knowledge.

Features: The TKDL currently contains information from existing literature related to Indian Systems of Medicine(ISM) such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Yoga.  

– The information is documented in a digitized format in five international languages which are English, German, French, Japanese and Spanish.  

– TKDL provides information in languages and formats understandable by patent examiners at Patent Offices worldwide, so as to prevent the erroneous grant of patents.  

Who can access the TKDL database?

Until now, access to the complete TKDL database is restricted to 14 Patent Offices worldwide for the purposes of search and examination.

But from now on the TKDL database can also be accessed by users. This would be through a paid subscription model with a phase-wise opening to national and international users.

Significance: This will help drive research and development and innovation based on India’s valued heritage across diverse fields.