India and Brazil exchange TKDL access agreement; Brazil's patent office gets India's traditional knowledge database
The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) access agreement between India's CSIR and Brazil's National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) was exchanged in New Delhi on 21 February 2026 in the presence of PM Modi and President Lula.
Summary
The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) access agreement between India's Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Brazil's National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) was exchanged in New Delhi on 21 February 2026 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The Brazilian patent office will gain access to the TKDL for patent search and examination, helping prevent wrong patents on Indian traditional knowledge. With INPI, the number of patent offices worldwide with TKDL access rises to eighteen. Static link: the TKDL was established in 2001 by CSIR and the Ministry of AYUSH; it holds over 5.2 lakh formulations and practices from Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Yoga in five international languages (English, German, French, Japanese and Spanish), and access is given through non-disclosure agreements.
Key facts
- Date
- 21 February 2026, New Delhi
- Parties
- CSIR (India) and INPI (Brazil)
- Patent offices with access
- 18 after Brazil
- TKDL set up
- 2001, CSIR and Ministry of AYUSH
- Contents
- Over 5.2 lakh formulations and practices
- Languages
- English, German, French, Japanese, Spanish
- Access basis
- Non-disclosure agreements
Practice MCQs 3 questions
India and Brazil exchanged an access agreement for India's Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) on 21 February 2026. Which Indian body signed it?
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Correct answer: D — CSIR
The agreement was between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India and the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), Brazil.
With Brazil's INPI joining in February 2026, how many patent offices worldwide have access to India's TKDL database?
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Correct answer: B — Eighteen
PIB said that with the inclusion of INPI, Brazil, the number of patent offices worldwide with access to the TKDL rises to eighteen.
Consider the following statements about the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL): 1. It was established in 2001 through a collaboration between CSIR and the Ministry of AYUSH. 2. It is available in five international languages, and patent offices get access through non-disclosure agreements. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. TKDL was set up in 2001 by CSIR and the Ministry of AYUSH; it is available in English, German, French, Japanese and Spanish, with access under non-disclosure agreements.