FAQ

The “second battle of Haldighati,” is what the media dubbed a pioneering case in a "rule-based" war in the context of what India felt was a wrongly granted US patent on the use of turmeric for wound healing. The rule is that the applicant has a right to patent innovations only after demonstrating the novelty, non-obviousness and usefulness of an article. The use of turmeric for wound healing is not novel because it is a part of India’s prior knowledge as recorded in ancient Sanskrit and Pali texts and formal papers in journals such as The Indian Journal of Medical Research, etc. CSIR followed the recognized legal procedures and proved to the US Patent Office that such use of turmeric in wound healing was clearly the consequence of prior knowledge. The US Patent Office scrapped revoked the patent and India won that particular battle.

A large number of JRFs are awarded each year by CSIR to candidates holding BS-4 years program/BE/B. Tech/B. Pharma/MBBS/ Integrated BS-MS/M.Sc. or Equivalent degree/BSc (Hons) or equivalent degree holders or students enrolled in integrated MS-Ph.D program with at least 55% marks for General & OBC (50% for SC/ST candidates, Physically and Visually handicapped candidates) after qualifying the National Eligibility Test ( NET) conducted by CSIR twice a year June and December.

Don’t worry, all candidates who qualify in the test, their roll numbers along with rank are displayed in the Results which are posted on CSIR-HRDG website www.csirhrdg.res.in

The Selection for award of JRF shall be made on the basis of a competitive written test called the National Eligibility Test (NET), conducted by CSIR at national level twice a year in the following areas (1) Chemical Sciences (2) Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences (3) Life Sciences, (4) Mathematical Sciences, and (5) Physical Sciences. From June 2011, CSIR has introduced a Single MCQ (Multiple Choice Question) Paper based test comprising of three parts. Part-A shall be common to all subjects comprising question on General Science and Research Aptitude. Part-B shall contain subject-related conventional MCQ and Part-C shall contain higher value questions that may test the candidate’s knowledge of scientific concepts and/or application of the scientific concepts. Negative marking for wrong answers shall be done.

ISTAD coordinates all bilateral and multilateral MoUs proposed to be signed by either CSIR or CSIR Laboratories with the partners abroad. These MoUs could be in the form of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA), Material Transfer Agreements (MTA), Letter of Intent, Letter of Agreement (LoA), Intellectual Property Management (IPM) Plan, Memorandum of Cooperation, Memorandum of Agreement etc where no business transaction is involved.

The below information should be sent to ISTAD (if already not covered in the MoU/Agreement) alongwith the mutually agreed text of the MoU

1. Areas/projects for partnership
2. Clear objectives and plan of their execution
3. Modes/forms of Partnership (such as exchange of students/ scientists, implementation of projects, setting up centres, etc.)
4. Source of funds for implementing planned activities
5. Measures for protection and sharing of background Intellectual property (IP) and the IP expected to generate under this collaboration.
6. Expected benefits and advantage to CSIR / India from this cooperation.
7. CSIR / India’s loss if the MoU does not get signed and implemented as informal partnership continues.
8. Number of similar MOUs / cooperation arrangements singed by the institute and present implementation status of each such arrangements
9. Involvement of any security / sensitivity issues related to location of joint activities (involvement of prior reference countries (listed on MHA site) or sensitive areas in India need MHA clearance which would be processed by ISTAD), exchange of sensitive materials (human, plant, geographical; prior clearances from GOI authority will be obtained by the laboratory).

1. Clearly mentioned names of the partner organizations along with their legal status
2. Clearly defined objectives
3. Scope of cooperation
4. Modes/forms of cooperation activities
5. Management of Cooperation; It may include the method proposed for review and coordination of cooperation activities (joint committee, nodal contact points, etc.
6. Financial implications and administrative terms (Article 5)
7. Defining Confidential Information and its usage/non-usage rights and provisions
8. Defining the usage, sharing and ownership of the Intellectual Property, both background and foreground
9. Applicability of Governing Laws and Arbitration in case of doubts/disputes
10. Force Majeure
11. Other general terms, validity and termination clauses

1. NDA – the NDAs are approved by DG CSIR. If required, comments of LA CSIR and IP Unit may be obtained, based on the terms and conditions mentioned in the NDA
2. Secrecy Agreement, Intellectual Property Management (IPM) Plan under a collaborative projects approved by the competent authority: The Secrecy Agreement are approved by DG, CSIR. Comments of LA CSIR and IP Unit may be obtained, based on the terms and conditions mentioned in the Agreement.
3. MTA – The CSIR Lab proposing to execute a MTA for the transfer of biological materials should obtain necessary approvals from ICMR (for human biological material) or National Biodiversity Authority (for plant biological material). The MTA along with the necessary approval should be sent to ISTAD for further approvals.
4. Letter of Intent, Memorandum of Understanding, Memorandum of Cooperation, Memorandum of Agreement – the following standard approval process will apply to these MoUs/Agreements.
    
   1. Evaluation of the draft MoU/Agreement by ISTAD in consultation with CSIR-IPU and CSIR Legal cell wherever applicable for examining the IPR and legal issues involved.
   2. Obtaining GOI clearances (MEA, DPIIT, MHA as applicable).
   3. Obtaining approval of Secretary, DSIR and DG, CSIR.
   4. Obtaining approval of VP, CSIR and Hon’ble Minister where MoUs (bringing the Union into relation with any foreign country) are to be signed/exchanged/ announced during VVIP (PM / President / Minister level) meetings

Since the MoU is sent to DPIIT and MEA, it may take anywhere around 4-6 weeks. In some cases, it may also take longer, especially if MHA clearance is also required.

Yes, a copy of the signed MoU/Agreement should be sent to ISTAD for record and reference within one month of its signing