CSIR-NIScPR and Office of CGPDTM signed MoU

Strengthening access to high-quality scientific, technical and intellectual property information, the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, and the CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today for participation in the National Knowledge Resource Consortium (NKRC).

The MoU signing ceremony was held at Saraswati Hall, Bouddhik Sampada Bhawan, Dwarka, New Delhi, in the presence of senior officials from both organizations. The MoU was formally signed by Prof. (Dr.) Unnat P. Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM), and Dr. Geeta Vani Rayasam, Director, CSIR-NIScPR.

In her address, Dr. Geetha Vani Rayasam, Director, CSIR-NIScPR, emphasized that the collaboration extends beyond providing access to scholarly information through NKRC.She expressed confidence that the partnership would evolve into a long-term strategic collaboration benefiting researchers, innovators, policymakers and the intellectual property ecosystem of the country.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. (Dr.) Unnat P. Pandit, congratulated the NKRC team and CSIR-NIScPR for successfully managing and expanding the National Knowledge Resource Consortium over the past 25 years. He described the collaboration as particularly significant as CGPDTM joins NKRC during its Silver Jubilee year. He observed that becoming a member of NKRC would enable CGPDTM to gain access to a large collection of high-quality scientific, technical, patent and bibliographic resources while achieving substantial cost savings through the consortium model.

A detailed presentation on the NKRC was delivered by Mr. Mukesh A. Pund, Head, Digital Information Resources Division (DIRD) and Coordinator, NKRC.

Ms. Geeta Kumari, Examiner of Patents & Designs, presented the importance and expected benefits of NKRC membership for the Office of CGPDTM, emphasizing how enhanced access to global scientific and technical literature would strengthen patent examination, prior-art searches and evidence-based decision making.(UPDATED ON 16TH JULY 2026)