Indian Patent Act

The Indian Patent Act 1970 came into force in April 1972. It replaced the nation s first Patent Act of 1911, a copy of the British Act, which had been imposed under colonial rule. Ripe with the national fervor to attain self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical chemical production, the 1970 regime for the protection of pharmaceutical patents was a discontinuity with the old patent regime. Product patents for pharmaceuticals, food and agrochemicals became unavailable. The patent term for pharmaceutical processes was shortened to five years from the date of sealing of the patent, or seven years from the date of the patent (section 53(l)(a) see OCGPDT 2005). 

Shiva V (2005). The Indian seed act and patent act sowing the seeds of dictatorship. ZNet, Available http //www.zmag.org/content/print article.cfm. Accessed 20 July 2006. 

---