Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) Progress report

 

The Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) was conceptualized in 2003-04 by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA) to the Government of India and formally established in 2004. RuTAG functions as a demand-driven mechanism with a focus on identifying grass-root needs through field-level engagement, and on the development and dissemination of appropriate technologies that are locally relevant, affordable, and sustainable.

The Fine Madurkathi grass mat weaving sector faces persistent issues of low productivity, physical strain, and limited design flexibility due to manual weaving practices. To address these challenges, RuTAG IIT Madras is developing an Electronic Jacquard Handloom (EJH) - a semi-automated, ergonomically designed loom that enables digital pattern control and improved working posture to support traditional weavers, ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth in the craft sector.

Manual planting of rhizomes such as ginger and turmeric is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to uneven spacing, affecting crop yield and overall productivity. RuTAG IIT Guwahati is developing a compact, low-cost rhizome planter suited for small and hilly farms of the northeastern region. Designed for power tiller or power weeder operation, the machine aims to improve planting uniformity, reduce drudgery, and increase mechanization among small and marginal farmers.

Pottery clusters in Rajasthan, particularly Poonchhari village near Bharatpur, rely on traditional manual methods for producing earthen tawas (griddles). Artisans shape and sun-dry the tawas before firing them using layers of mustard husk and dung cakes- a slow and physically demanding process. The Manual Press for Earthen Tawa Making, developed by RuTAG IIT Delhi, aims to assist these artisans by enabling uniform shaping, improving productivity, and enhancing the quality of the finished tawas.

Millets such as finger millet, foxtail millet, and barnyard millet are staple crops among small and marginal farmers in India, especially in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. However, traditional de-husking practices using hand tools like Okhli are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and yield inconsistent quality. To address these challenges, RuTAG IIT Roorkee has designed and developed a low-cost, compact multi-millet de-husking machine aimed at improving efficiency, reducing drudgery, and enhancing the livelihood of rural millet growers and processors.
The Solar Hydro Distiller (SHD) developed by RuTAG IIT Bombay is an innovative solar-thermal technology designed to convert perishable agricultural and floral waste into valuable natural products such as rose water and herbal hydrosols. 

From NAARM-The ColdEasy system is an affordable, energyefficient cold storage solution designed to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables in rural and semiurban areas. It converts any regular room into a cold room, ensuring better preservation, reduced wastage, and enhanced farmer income while consuming minimal power.

Report-https://psa.gov.in/CMS/web/sites/default/files/publication/RuTAG%20Annual%20Progress%20Report_2024-25.pdf

Niti Aayog report for "Transforming India into a Quantum-Powered Economy"

 

On Thursday Dec 4, Niti Aayog unveiled their roadmap report for "Transforming India into a Quantum-Powered Economy" as part of their Frontier Tech Hub initiative. The report identifies five ambitious 2035 endpoints for the 10 year roadmap for India:

• Incubating at least 10 globally competitive quantum startups, each surpassing USD 100 million in revenue,
• Capturing over 50% of the value in the global quantum software and services market by harnessing our software and engineering strength,
• Achieving meaningful, scaled deployment of quantum technologies—home-grown and global—in strategic sectors3 across India,
• Commanding critical positions in the global quantum supply chain for both hardware and software, creating strategic dependencies and value, and
• Becoming a source of foundational scientific breakthroughs, with world-class research.
• Report-https://niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-11/Roadmap_for_Transforming_India_into_a_Leading_Quantum_Powered_Economy.pdf

Key developments of breeding tools and techniques over time (EC Report)

 In order to develop new varieties which for example respond to changing biotic and abiotic pressures, or have a commercial value such as improved nutritious values or new colours, the tools breeders use developed over time: 

• Traditionally, breeding is based on the principle of crossing and selecting the naturally existing diversity of plants. Since the rediscovery of Mendel’s rules around 1900, breeders experimented with intentional crossing between selected parent plants to obtain desirable traits. If offspring had a highly beneficial trait, it was preserved and propagated for further breeding over generations. 

• Tissue culture is among the earliest techniques used for growing plant cells (Haberlandt 1902). Further developments led to the application of tissue culture to five broad areas, namely, cell behaviour, plant modification and improvement, pathogen-free plants angermplasm storage, clonal propagation, and product formation, starting in the mid-1960s.

• In the mid 20th century, the development of hybrid varieties led to dramatic increases in yield in maize, followed by a range of crops. A hybrid variety is comprised of a population originating from a cross and is directly used as the commercial variety to be cultivated. Hybrids present enhanced performance and uniformity compared to either parent. Due to their hybrid nature, their offspring will segregate and result in a heterogenous population that will not perform as well as the hybrid parents. 

• Internationally coordinated mutation breeding became popular in the 1960s, mainly radiation and the use of chemicals created genetic variation. It led to numerous new cultivated varieties of many species such as broccoli, nectarines, or rapeseed. 

• The discovery of molecular markers since the early 1980s enabled breeders to track traits at the genetic level without waiting for the plant to mature. This marker assisted selection (MAS) technique made selection faster, cheaper and more precise. 

• Genetic engineering tools were developed in the 1980s and 1990s. The decision in the U.S. to allow patents on genetically modified microorganisms (Chakrabarty vs Diamond 1980) and the patent on the rDNA technology (Stanford University and the University of California System) led to an uptake of genetic engineering. The available technique allows introducing transgenes into crops to obtain traits such as herbicide tolerance or insect resistance. Bt maize and Bt cotton, which are resistant to certain pests, are primary examples. In 1987, the U.S. start-up Calgene obtained a patent in the U.S. on a tomato with a trait for longer shelf life.

• The genomic sequencing of crop genomes provides understanding complex traits. The first full genome sequencing of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana in the year 2000, is hailed as the turning point for the modern plant breeding research. Since then, hundreds of plant species, including all major agronomically relevant crops (such as rice (2002/2005), maize (2009), soybean (2010), millet (2017), wheat (2018), and oat (2022)), root crops (potato (2011)), vegetables (chickpea (2013), brassica (2014), cassava (2016), pea (2019)), or fruits (papaya (2005), apple (2010), peach (2013)), have been sequenced.

• Since around 2010, CRISPR/Cas and other genome editing technologies allow breeders to target modifications without introducing foreign genes. In particular CRISPR/Cas9 has been in the focus and is a key patented technology with applications in plants since 2014. The system has been continuously developed since its discovery and a broader range of tools are available such as base editing or prime editing. These use different tools such as Cpf1 (now called Cas12a). 

• Speed breeding – combination of techniques used under controlled environments to accelerate the plant growth cycle while machine learning and genomic data analysis provides breeders with tools to optimise breeding decisions (precision breeding). Various companies – in particular in the U.S. - offer platforms to develop the envisaged plant as service providers (e.g. GreenVenus, Pairwise). 

• Integrated approaches for ‘next-generation plant breeding’ – increasingly breeders can use integrated pipelines (platforms) that offer convergence of multiple advanced methods to optimise the development of improved plant varieties. Genomic selection, speed breeding, genome editing and pangenomics, high-throughput phenotyping are combined with machine learning and the integration of -omics – to name currently available tools. • Other tools including high-throughput phenotyping and genotyping expanded the array of tools and enabled the rapid analysis of large numbers of plants and their genomes.

(https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/circabc-ewpp/d/d/workspace/SpacesStore/e374dbb4-9cf9-4799-8d18-98a459a08c34/download)

European Commission publishes study on IP and agricultural biotechnology

 

European Commission published its "NGT patent study" . In 2023, the Commission requested an evidence-based analysis of how patents related to new genomic techniques (NGTs) affect innovation in plant breeding, as well as breeders' access to genetic material and availability of seeds to farmers. 

This study examines how the current intellectual property (IP) framework affects breeders, farmers, and plant biotechnology actors, with a particular focus on the use of new genomic techniques (NGTs) in developing new plants. The analysis combines legal, economic, and market perspectives using a multi-method approach, allowing the study to offer both quantitative indicators and qualitative insights reflecting stakeholders’ practical experiences. The report emphasises the interplay between IP rules and market realities, and highlights how this interaction shapes opportunities and constraints in the sector. The European plant breeding sector is technologically sophisticated yet structurally diverse, with many SMEs operating alongside a small number of large international firms. Breeding is highly research-intensive. The study identifies potential legal and economic impacts arising from patents on NGT plants. The increasing complexity of the patent landscape may pose challenges for smaller breeders to access plant genetic material in terms of licensing costs and freedom-to-operate constraints. The study highlights multiple opportunities to strengthen transparency, support SMEs, and facilitate licensing. Overall, the study concludes that a balanced, coherent, and transparent IP system remains essential for ensuring that the benefits of NGTs are realised across Europe’s plant breeding and farming sectors while maintaining diversity, competition, and long-term resilience.

Report-https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/circabc-ewpp/d/d/workspace/SpacesStore/e374dbb4-9cf9-4799-8d18-98a459a08c34/download

ipkat analysis-https://groups.google.com/g/ipkat_readers/c/KFTacG976GE/m/ZSAbQ0urCQAJ?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer

Opportunities and Challenges for Technology Transfer

 

Chapter 8: Opportunities and Challenges for Technology Transfer
• In Technology Transfer, artificial intelligence tools provide a promise of
efficiency to Technology Transfer Offices, but with some obstacles.
• As digital platforms and data become central to innovation ecosystems,
their evolving use and governance present both strategic advances and
ethical challenges for Technology Transfer.
• Open Innovation is transforming Technology Transfer by replacing
traditional linear IP licensing models with collaborative, cross-boundary
approaches that accelerate the flow of knowledge from research to market.

 Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the field of computer science that
focuses on creating systems and algorithms capable of performing tasks
typically requiring human intelligence.
• In the context of Technology Transfer, AI can be used to: estimate market
potential, estimate technology readiness level, draft legal agreements,
evaluate for patentability.
• Case Study: In 2020, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office began
incorporating AI into processes for conducting prior art searches. It
remains to be seen how patent offices worldwide balance the growing
number of applications with their metrics to evaluate such applications
thoroughly and efficiently.

Read-  https://cldp.doc.gov/sites/default/files/2025-11/CLDP%20Technology%20Transfer%20Handbook.pdf

 

SEPs in Indian Innovation Policies

 In March 2016, the DIPP had circulated a “Discussion Paper on Standard Essential Patents and their Availability on FRAND Terms.” It contained several issues for resolution inter alia relating to the need for amending statutes, creating guidelines for Indian SSOs, defining FRAND and fixing royalty calculation methodologies, use of non-disclosure agreements, transparency and patent pooling. 

The deliberations on the 6G Alliance propose to create 100 specification-dependent 6G SEPs – this would increase India’s visibility from nothing to something; but, other than increasing visibility, there is no policy direction on what our long-term domestic innovation goals are, where we place ourselves in the global SEP ecosystem, and how we want to support our domestic innovators. The proposed Telecom Policy advocates for a Sovereign Patent Fund – a mechanism that has been tried, tested and failed in several other jurisdictions, considered very problematic and an idea that’s possibly outdated.

In the limited discourse that has followed on this topic, several concerns are apparent. First, the blanket mandate of creating more SEPs is disjointed from any discussion on domestic directions on the FRAND commitment. With lack of a background clarification on what meaning basic SEP concepts hold in the Indian innovation ecosystem, the success of targeted sector-specific policies will be very limited. Additionally, a broader question is whether the Indian policy-making regime believes that a separate regulatory framework must define SEP participation rules for every innovation and manufacturing sector? It is not the requirement, nor the need, of an SEP policy to identify every domain sub-structure and dictate its behaviour. For a policy on SEPs to bring a sense of certainty, rules of conduct need to be defined broadly for the entire innovation ecosystem.

Source-https://spicyip.com/2025/11/seps-are-decorative-acronyms-in-indian-innovation-policies.html

One lakh crores R&D Fund- Invitation for second level Fund Managers

 The Department of Science & Technology (DST) has launched the Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, approved by the Union Cabinet on July 1, 2025. With a total outlay of ₹1 lakh crore, this transformative initiative aims to catalyze private sector participation in high-impact R&D.It aims to strengthen India’s capabilities in strategic technologies and promote technological self-reliance, aligning with the nation’s long-term innovation and Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. How the Scheme Works

Funding and Financial Support, Total Budget: ₹1 lakh crore, Modes of Financing:Long-term loan at low or nil interest rates. Equity infusion, especially in case of startups.Contributions to Deep-Tech Fund of Funds Exclusions: Grants and short-term loans are not supported.Coverage: Financing can cover up to 50% of assessed project cost for transformative RDI projects at Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 4 and above; exceptions may be approved by the Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS)

Implementation Structure, Special Purpose Fund (SPF): Being set up under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to serve as the first-level custodian, Second-Level Fund Managers (SLFMs):, May include Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs), Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), or Focused Research Organizations (FROs) such as the Technology Development Board (TDB), Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), IIT Research Parks, or similar entities.

Special Financial Rules: The RDIF will be governed by a Special Financial Rules (SFR) notified by Department of Science and Technology (DST). The rules have been published on DST website and are enclosed with this document. The rules under SFR have been framed in accordance with the Implementation Guidelines to facilitate smooth transaction of RDIF. Note that the General Financial Rules (GFR) of Government of India are not applicable for RDIF transactions.

Download-https://rdifund.anrf.gov.in/images/pdf/NIA_Web_Copy.pdf

Top 100 Indian Innovations (2025)

Innovation yearbook series 2025- Top 100 Indian innovations formally launched in Goa on 13th November 2025. The book is available at Amazon in paper back, Hard copy and kindle versions.

Link-

https://www.amazon.in/Top-Indian-Innovations-Innovators-Association/dp/B0FX524XR8

Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules 2025

 India has officially entered a new era of digital governance with the notification of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules 2025, bringing into effect India’s first full-fledged digital privacy law. The move operationalizes the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and introduces a comprehensive, consent-led, rights-based framework governing how organizations collect, process, store, and protect personal data.

Key provisions of the DPDP Rules 2025- Mandatory security safeguards for all Data Fiduciaries

Fiduciaries must implement strong, “reasonable” security controls to prevent breaches, including:Encryption, masking, obfuscation, or tokenization

• Strict access controls
• Continuous logging and monitoring
• One-year log retention
• Verified backup and continuity systems
• Mandatory security clauses in processor contracts

In case of a breach:Affected users must be informed immediately. The Data Protection Board must be notified within 72 hours. 

Strict parental consent for processing children’s data

• Mandatory verifiable parental consent for all data of children under 18.
• Verification must rely on reliable identity documents or Digital Locker-verified credentials.
• Exemptions apply for healthcare, safety, and education-related processing.

Read: https://www.india-briefing.com/news/dpdp-rules-2025-india-data-protection-law-compliance-40769.html/

Download: https://dpdpa.com/dpdparules.html