The Remix of Technological Advancement, Secularism, Religious Issues and Intellectual Property Rights

Abstract

Secularism in India is neither pro-religious nor anti-religious but provides a space of respect for religious feelings. The technological advancement particularly in the fields of biotechnology is creating a little disturbance in the balance maintained by the Constitution of India in this diversified country. Many issues such as genetically modified food, genetically modified organisms, patenting genes and cloning are creating a debate whether the balance is towards the societal progress or towards respecting religious feelings. Being a secular state and respecting religious feelings at the same time, whether our intellectual property rights legislations are competent enough to tackle the issue inside and outside the country is a big debate. Thus, keeping this debate as a baseline the researchers have analyzed the concept of secularism in India along with the provisions in Indian intellectual property legislations which deals with religion. Further, an attempt has been made to address the issue that whether our secular country is opening the gates for technological progress or closing in the name of religion.