The National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) was launched in 2021 with the target of developing an understanding of Intellectual Property (IP) and basic training for 1 million students across India. The mission was accomplished ahead of the originally set deadline of 15 August 2022, making it a significant achievement in the field of intellectual property rights (IPR) education in the country.
About the National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM)
NIPAM is a pan-India initiative that aims to provide awareness on intellectual property and its rights to 1 million students. The focus of NIPAM is to instil the spirit of creativity and innovation among higher education students (classes 8 to 12) and motivate college or university students to innovate and protect their innovations. The program is conducted by the Intellectual Property Office, the Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Performance and Accomplishments of NIPAM
During the period from 08 December 2021 to 31st July 2022, the program made considerable advancement. More than 10,05,272 students and faculty received training on IP, reaching out to 3,662 educational institutions across 28 states and 7 Union Territories in India.
Intellectual Property Rights: An Overview
Intellectual property rights (IPR) are the exclusive rights granted to individuals over their intellectual creations. This includes inventions, literary and artistic works, as well as symbols, names and images utilised in commerce. These rights offer the creator an exclusive right over the use of his/her creation for a specified period of time, as defined in Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Types of IPR: Copyrights and Industrial Property
The two primary types of IPR are copyrights, which protect the rights of authors, and industrial property, which covers distinctive signs, trademarks, geographical indications, industrial designs, and trade secrets. These rights, by providing legal protection to new creations, encourage additional innovation, contribute to economic growth, enhance quality of life, protect creators’ rights, facilitate ease of doing business, and make technology transfer possible.
Global and National Treaties And Conventions Related to IPR
India is an integral part of several global bodies related to IPR, including the World Trade Organisation, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and other treaties and conventions like the Budapest Treaty, Paris Convention, and Berne Convention. On the national level, the main laws regulating IPR in India include the Indian Patent Act 1970 and the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy 2016.
Relevance in UPSC Civil Services Examinations
Understanding IPR and its relevance has been a critical aspect of recent Civil Services Examination questions. Past questions have focused on India’s National Intellectual Property Rights Policy, the Indian Patents Act, and the constitution of the Intellectual Property Appellate Board among others. Understanding NIPAM and its achievements can thus provide valuable insights for future aspirants in the examination.