Ethical Issues in Biotechnology — Tech Evolutions

Entry	Year	Description	Impact
The Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005	2005	This amendment introduced product patent regime for all fields of technology, including pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, aligning India's patent law with its obligations under the TRIPS Agreement. It also clarified provisions related to patentability of microorganisms and excluded plants and animals from patentability.	Significantly impacted biotechnology by allowing product patents for biotechnological inventions (e.g., novel proteins, DNA sequences, genetically modified microorganisms), while maintaining exclusions for higher life forms. It also strengthened provisions for compulsory licensing, providing a mechanism to address public health needs against patent monopolies, a crucial ethical consideration.