5-Feb-2021: Availability and affordability of fertilizers

Post Covid-19 outbreak, keeping in view the field demand of various fertilizers, the following steps were taken:

  1. DoF was in regular touch with the states/UT, the fertilizers companies, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Railways so as to ensure timely redressal of issues related to supply chain and thereby ensuring smooth supply of fertilizers.
  2. DoF has been closely monitoring the availability of fertilizers in all the States through on-line web based monitoring system called Integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (iFMS). The required relaxations for Fertilizer production, movement were sought timely from MHA and those were addressed on priority basis. Similarly, Ministry of Railways was conveyed the sensitivity involved for ensuring timely availability of fertilizers to the farmers and the same was addressed on real time basis.
  3. From April’20 to January’21 nearly 2214 additional Railway rakes were deployed (as compared to the corresponding period of last year) to timely transport the fertilizers to various corners of the country.
  4. The gap between the assessed requirement and estimated production of urea, has been met through imports, which have been done timely, so as to ensure sufficient availability across the country.
  5. Throughout there has been close monitoring of movement and availability of all the fertilizers through real time coordination with State Governments/Fertilizer companies/Railways etc.

Thus, with the steps as indicated above, Department of Fertilizers has been able to ensures availability of fertilizers at the State level. The distribution within the state is the mandate of the respective State Governments.

20-Dec-2021: KAPILA Campaign

The government has launched a campaign namely Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness Campaign (KAPILA) on 15th October, 2020 to increase awareness regarding protection and exploitation of Intellectual Property (IP) and also to provide funding support in order to promote filing of the Intellectual Property (IP)in Higher Education Institutions.  A KAPILA portal has also been launched for this purpose.

Under the initiative, activities like IP Clinic, Case Studies/ Articles regarding Innovation and Intellectual Property and online awareness programs and National Intellectual Property Literacy Week (NIPLW) have been conducted. More than 46,000 users have registered for KAPILA awareness programs.

4-Feb-2021: 'KAPILA' for patent awareness

The Government has launched a campaign namely Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness Campaign (KAPILA) for Intellectual Property Literacy and creating patent awareness on 15th October, 2020. The objectives of the scheme include creating awareness regarding Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in Higher Education Institutions(HEIs), enabling of IP protection of inventions originating from faculty and students of HEIs, development of Credit Course on IPR, training program on IPR for faculty and students of HEIs and sensitization and development of vibrant IP filing system.  So far, total 46,556 users have been registered for KAPILA.

15-Oct-2020: Union Education Minister virtually launches 'KAPILA' Kalam Program for IP Literacy and Awareness Education campaign will bring awareness towards patenting of inventions

Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' virtually launched the 'KAPILA' Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness campaign on the 89th birth anniversary of former President and Scientist Late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Minister of State for Education Shri Sanjay Dhotre also graced the occasion. Secretary, Higher Education, Shri Amit Khare; Chairman of All India Council for Technical Education, Professor Anil Sahasrabudhe, Vice-Chairman Dr. M.P. Poonia, and Member Secretary, Dr. Rajive Kumar were also present at the event.

Speaking on the occasion the Minister said that it is necessary not only to invent for the self-sufficiency of the country, but also to patent the inventions. Patent of inventions will lead India towards Self-Reliance, he said. India has a proud history of Nalanda and Takshila Universities so we already had the intellectual property inherited within our culture. India has to again lead the world as Vishwaguru in the field of patents, he added. On 'National Innovation Day', this important initiative has been taken towards making India self-reliant, he said. Under this campaign, students pursuing education in higher educational institutions will get information about the correct system of application process for patenting their invention and they will be aware of their rights. He further said that we need to take a giant leap in the field of patents.

The Minister said that we have to work in a mission mode as we have ample resources that need to be tapped in the field of IP. He appealed to the youth of this country to come ahead with their inventions. He highlighted that there is sufficient talent in the country, now we have to blend it towards patent. We will facilitate the colleges and institutions to encourage more and more students to file patents. The Minister appealed the Indian students to stay in the country and study. he urge them to stay in India to showcase their talent in the 'New India' of 21st Century.

The Institution Innovation Council (IIC 2.0) annual report was also presented on the occasion and the launch of IIC 3.0 was announced. It has also been decided to celebrate the week of October 15th to 23rd as 'Intellectual Property Literacy Week'. The IIC 3.0 website was also launched.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Sanjay Dhotre said that the Institution Innovation Council was established by the Ministry of Education in 2018. So far, IICs have been established in about 1700 higher educational institutions. IIC will be established in 5000 higher educational institutions under IIC 3.0. For India to become a $5 trillion economy, we have to be more aware of protecting intellectual property. Research students and scientists of India engaged in research and development must apply to preserve and safeguard their inventions, he added.

Shri Dhotre informed that under the Intellectual Property Literacy Week, a number of activities will be organized from October 15th to October 23, in which online awareness will be created about the system and the importance of the process of applying for a patent. Debates, poster contests, quizzes and community meetings will be held in this week. He hoped that this mission of the Ministry of Education will promote entrepreneurship and startups in India's higher education infrastructure.

Addressing on the occasion Shri Khare said that the students in higher education institutions of the country are innovating constantly under the guidance of their teachers. But they are not aware of the system of filing its patent but under this campaign, students will be able to get benefits from their inventions by patenting them.

Controller General of Patents, Design and Trademarks Sh. O P Gupta said, "The country can benefit from its inventions only if the country's researchers and inventors are aware of the proper system of patenting. This campaign will create awareness among students for filing applications for patents."

Dr. Abhay Jere, Chief Innovation Officer, Innovation Cell, Ministry of Education, gave a presentation on the Intellectual Property Education Campaign at the inauguration ceremony. He shared the insights about the status of IP filing in India and the road to lead India towards increasing the IP patents. Dr. Mohit Gambhir, Director, Innovation Cell, Ministry of Education presented the annual report on the achievements of IIC 2.0.

22-Feb-2018: ASEAN-India Research Training Fellowship (AIRTF) launched by FICCI and DS&T.

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) has entered into a partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India to implement and execute the ASEAN India Research Training Fellowship (AIRTF). The AIRTF scheme was introduced to promote scientific cooperation between India and ASEAN member countries.

The scheme provides opportunities to researchers from ASEAN member countries to undertake research and training for a period of 6 months at Academic and Research Institutions in India.

The objective is to support and facilitate mobility of young talented researchers from ASEAN member countries to India to conduct short term research and training under the guidance of Indian host scientists.

The scheme aims at capacity building of 50 young researchers annually from ASEAN member countries in science and technology domain and provide complete financial support for a period of six months that includes to and fro travel, sustenance allowance and research contingency.

AIRT Fellowship will be offered broadly in the following areas which are in line with the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2016-2025:

  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Biological and Medical Sciences
  • Chemical Sciences & Engineering
  • Computer Science & Engineering
  • Physical Sciences and Mathematics
  • Ocean, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
  • Engineering Sciences
  • Materials, Minerals and Metallurgy
  • Science Policy/ IPR Management/ Technology Transfer & Commercialization
  • Other multi-disciplinary areas of Science, Technology and Innovation in alignment with APASTI.

FICCI jointly with DST will shortly be announcing the call for applications in 2018.

FICCI has been at the forefront of India-ASEAN partnership and also recently took the lead in commemorating 25 years partnership. FICCI in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India also gives away the C V Raman International Fellowship for African Researchers which is in line with the efforts of promoting scientific and technological cooperation between India and Africa.