Science and Technology Policy — Tech Evolutions

Entry	Year	Description	Impact
The Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005	2005	This amendment brought India's patent law in compliance with its obligations under the TRIPS Agreement (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights). Key changes included extending product patent protection to all fields of technology (including pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals), introducing pre-grant opposition, and refining the provisions for compulsory licensing. It also introduced Section 3(d) to prevent evergreening of patents.	Significantly strengthened India's IPR regime, making it TRIPS-compliant and impacting pharmaceutical innovation and access to medicines. It has been instrumental in shaping the balance between innovator rights and public health needs, leading to landmark judgments like the Novartis case. This amendment directly influences the commercialization and global competitiveness of India's S&T output.