The Union Cabinet approved the widening access of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) database to users, besides patent offices. 

The access to the TKDL database would be through a paid subscription model with a phase-wise opening to national and international users. 

The opening up of the TKDL is also envisaged to inculcate thought and knowledge leadership through Bharatiya Jnana Parampara, under the New Education Policy 2020.

Traditional Knowledge Digital Library

• Indian traditional knowledge offers immense potential to serve national and global needs, therewith providing societal benefits as well as economic growth.

• For example, the traditional systems of medicine and wellness from our country, namely Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Sowa Rigpa and Yoga are serving the needs of people from India and abroad.

• Earlier this year in April, the World Health Organization established its first off-shore Global Centre for Traditional Medicines (GCTM) in India. These demonstrate the continued relevance of traditional knowledge in addressing the current and emerging needs of the world. 

• The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) project, initiated in India in 2001, is a collaboration between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), ministry of science and technology, ministry of AYUSH and  ministry of health.

• The TKDL initiative preserves the country’s traditional knowledge through digitalisation and aims to prevent the misappropriation of India’s traditional medicine knowledge through patenting worldwide. 

• The TKDL database comprises knowledge from over 270 texts of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Yoga and more recently Sowa Rigpa.

Why was TKDL set up?

• It was established to prevent exploitation and to protect Indian traditional knowledge at patent offices worldwide. 

• The TKDL was initiated following the efforts taken by India to successfully revoke the turmeric and basmati patents granted by United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and neem patent granted by European Patent Office (EPO).

Objectives of TKDL:

• Seeks to prevent the granting of patents for products developed utilising traditional knowledge where there has been little, if any, inventive step.

• Intends to act as a bridge between information recorded in ancient Sanskrit and patent examiners (with its database containing information in a language and format understandable to patent examiners).

• Facilitates access to information not easily available to patent examiners, thereby minimising the possibility that patents could be granted for “inventions” involving only minor or insignificant modifications.

How TKDL preserves information?

• India’s traditional medicinal knowledge exists in languages such as Sanskrit, Hindi, Arabic, Urdu, Tamil, etc, that too in ancient local dialects that are no longer in practice. 

• Thus, the published traditional knowledge literature is neither accessible nor understood by patent examiners at international patent offices.

• TKDL has overcome the language and format barrier by systematically and scientifically converting and structuring the available contents of the ancient texts on Indian systems of medicines — Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Sowa Rigpa as well as Yoga — into five international languages, namely, English, Japanese, French, German and Spanish, with the help of information technology tools and an innovative classification system - Traditional Knowledge Resource Classification (TKRC). 

• As per the extant approvals in place, the access of the database is given to patent offices worldwide that have signed non-disclosure access agreements with the CSIR. As many as 14 patent offices have been granted access to the TKDL database.

• The CSIR-TKDL Unit also files third party observations and pre-grant oppositions on patent applications related to our traditional knowledge based on the TKDL evidence.

What is the significance of opening up the TKDL?

• The approval of the Cabinet to widen the access of the database beyond patent offices lays emphasis on integrating and co-opting traditional knowledge with current practices towards enhancing innovation and trade. 

• The TKDL will act as an important source for advancing knowledge and technology frontiers. The current contents of TKDL shall facilitate wider adoption of Indian traditional medicines, while also propelling new manufacturers and innovators to gainfully build enterprises based on our valuable knowledge heritage. 

• The opening up of the TKDL will help drive research & development, and innovation based on India’s valued heritage across diverse fields.  

The TKDL can cater to a vast user base that would include:

• Businesses/companies (AYUSH, pharmaceuticals, phytopharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals, personal care, and other FMCG)

• Research institutions 

• Educational institutions - educators and students

• ISM practitioners

• Knowledge holders, patentees and their legal representatives.

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