Gazette Of India Research Articles

Pearl millet for good health and nutrition – An overview

Abstract Previously food was taken to satiate hunger and survival, but now it is for better health and wellbeing. It is imperative to take a healthy diet that includes energy, carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, and all essential vitamins and nutrients in optimum proportions. Millets have been acknowledged as climate-resilient crops and smart foods. Pearl millet is a C 4 plant grown mostly under scarce input and water supply conditions. Owing to high photosynthetic efficiency, it produces more dry matter and gives better economic returns even under adverse agro-climatic conditions. Globally, pearl millet is grown on 31.0 million ha, mainly in Africa and Asia and is a staple food for 90 million poor people. Among food crops (cereals and pulses), pearl millet is the cheapest energy source (361 kcal/100g), minerals, namely, phosphorus (296–360 mg/100g), iron (8–11 mg/100g), zinc (3.1–6.6 mg/100g), calcium (40–42 mg/100 g), magnesium (97–137 mg/100g) and vitamins, namely, vitamin A, E, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin K and niacin, etc. Besides, it also has significant amount of fiber, protein, antioxidants like phenolic acids, flavonoids and low fats. Because of its rich nutritional composition, Government of India has designated it as nutri-cereals (Gazette of India, No. 133 dated 13th April, 2018) for production, consumption and trade. Besides rich nutritional value, pearl millet improves our immunity through enormous health benefits like reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. It improves the digestibility and bioavailability of food nutrients by reducing anti-nutrients. Being non-acid forming, it is also helpful in gastrointestinal problems and is non-glutinous beneficial for people suffering from celiac diseases. With these properties, it is regarded as a significant grain worldwide, yet it is least exploited. However, because of numerous potential health benefits and contributions to national food security, millet grains are now getting the growing attention of food nutritionists, scientists, technologists and industrialists.

Toll Rate Policies of India: A Review, Comparison, and Inferences

Tolling as a method of financing transportation systems is becoming increasingly common worldwide. The collection of fees from road users under public-private partnership agreements is based on prescribed toll fees/rates. According to the prevailing level of human, traffic, environmental and economic development, these toll rate policies vary from country to country. In India, road toll rates are prescribed by the Gazette of India: Extraordinary (Part II Section 3 sub-section [i]) published by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways under the National Highways Act, 1956. Each year, the toll rates for each toll facility in India are set as per the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. There is now a need to revisit the policies on fixing toll rates in India. The present study presents a critical literature review of the toll rate policies in India and other developed and developing countries. The study provides a comparison of the different vehicle classes considered for toll rates and it is found that most of the classifications are based on gross vehicle weight (GVW) and on number of wheels and axles. Additionally, the toll rates for different nations are compared and it is found that Indian toll rates are lower than those of the developed countries. Finally, the research gaps are given for further research.

Does BAMS stand for Bachelor of Ayurveda and Medical Superstitions?

The Gazette of India: Extraordinary published "The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Notification." on February 17, 2022 [1]. This official document of the Government of India is worrying as it institutionalises a world view that has been gradually turning the ancient science of Ayurveda into a pseudoscience.

Stability study of Sarpagandha ghana vati - A preliminary evaluation

Background: Shelf life is the time period until a product retains its therapeutic attributes and fit for use, consumption, or sale. Every product in this universe has definite shelf life. In Ayurveda texts, shelf life is referred as Saviryata avadhi that is defined as the time period during which the potency (Virya) of any drug remains unaffected. As per the regulations of Government of India, it is mandatory to mention shelf life on all marketed products on their labels. Sarpagandha ghana vati is an important formulation being used in Ayurvedic therapeutics; however, its shelf life is not reported till date. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the shelf life of Sarpagandha ghana vati through accelerated stability study. Materials and Methods: The formulation was prepared using authentic raw material and by following classical guidelines in the departmental laboratory. Shelf life was evaluated by analyzing changes in physicochemical profiles of the product after keeping it at specific temperature (40 ± 2°C) and relative humidity (75 ± 5%). Analysis was carried out at the intervals of 1, 3, and 6 months. Average 10% degradation time was calculated and extrapolated to find the shelf life as per the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. Results and Conclusion: The shelf life of Sarpagandha ghana vati was found to be 16 months, which is higher than the average time period mentioned in the classical literature and lower than the time specified in the Gazette of India.

Shelf-life evaluation of Indukanta Ghritam: A preliminary study

Background: The concept of Saviryata Avadhi (shelf life) of different Ayurveda dosage forms is well described in Sharngadhara saṃhita. Shelf life is an important component and is mandatory to be displayed on the label of all medicinal products. This is also applicable to Ayurveda; thus, it becomes essential to establish shelf life of formulations that are being marketed and used in therapeutics. An attempt has been made in this study to evaluate shelf life of Indukanta Ghritam (IKG) which is not reported till date though in general it has been quoted by Gazette of India, that is, 2 years. Aim: To evaluate the shelf life of IKG through the accelerated stability study. Materials and Methods: Five batches were prepared according to Ayurveda Pharmacopoeia of India and the observations and results were systematically recorded. Physicochemical parameters were measured at the temperature of 40°C ± 2°C and the relative humidity was 75% ± 5%. The analysis was carried out at the intervals of 0, 1, 3, and 6 months, and the average 10% degradation time was calculated and extrapolated to find the shelf life as per ICH guidelines and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis of sample was also carried out. Results: The average percentage loss in final product was 7.71% in IKG. The shelf life of IKG is found to be 19 months. Conclusion: The classics have mentioned the shelf life as 16 months, whereas the Gazette of India states the shelf life as 2 years for Ghrita. The shelf life of IKG is equal to the classic. This might be because of the precautions observed during the manufacturing and storing phases of the drug.

Disempowering Trade Unions by Law: A Death Blow to Workers' Rights

14 | International Union Rights | 27/4 FOCUS | TITLE OF FOCUS Disempowering Trade Unions by Law: A Death Blow to Workers’ Rights “Lend me a magnifying glass, please…I am searching for an Indian Trade Union!” If the ongoing labour scenario persists, will this be the India’s future predicament? This situation may sound unimaginable for a country like India, with 468 million working population, 16,154 registered trade unions and countless unregistered ones because 93 per cent of the workforce belongs to the unorganised sector. A major grievance of the central trade unions, and independent federations and associations of various sectors against the Bharatiya Janata Party government is that it has failed to respond to the unions, and has refused to dialogue with any of them, thus far. According to the unions, the government undermines tripartism. This becomes quite obvious in the government’s lassitude in holding the Indian Labour Conference (ILC). No ILC has been held in the last four years. Instead, the government continues its aggressive attack on the lives and livelihoods of the working people. The unions are convinced that the government will go to any extent to amend the labour laws and make them pro-employer. And not without cause. The attitude of the government is reflected in the haste with which 44 Central laws were codified into four, disregarding all suggestions by the trade unions. These amendments have been made in such a way that regular employment and job security becomes a Utopian concept. An overview of the policies, rules, regulations, the new labour codes and amended labour legislations (abetted by an unsympathetic bureaucratic attitude of the Government of India) will reveal the current condition of the working class in India. New Legislations— What Benefit to Workers? The Ministry of Labour and Employment, in line with the recommendations of the Second National Commission on Labour, brought in four Labour Codes—the Code on Wages; the Code on Industrial Relations, the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions, and the Code on Social Security—by simplifying, amalgamating and rationalising the relevant provisions of the existing Central Labour Laws. Both the houses—the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha—passed the Codes; these then got the Presidential nod to become laws. According to Mr. Santhosh Kumar Gangwar, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, the Labour Codes have been enacted with a view to balance the interests, rights and obligations of employees and the employers in the country and it will prove to be an important milestone for the welfare of the workers, and a historic game-changer that will harmonise the needs of workers, industries and other related parties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted and spoke on many occasions that the labour reforms will ensure ease of doing business and that these futuristic legislations will empower enterprises by reducing compliance, red-tapism and ‘Inspector Raj’. According to him, this long-overdue and muchawaited -for labour reforms will harness the power of technology for the betterment of the workers and industry, ensure the well-being of industrial workers and boost India’s economic growth. Why then did the working class rise up as one and protest against these four legislations? Subsuming 44 labour legislations into four is what the government did by introducing the new Labour Codes. Let us take a closer look at what these Codes entail. The Code on Wages 2019 was notified in the Gazette of India on 8 August 2019. It was formulated by integrating four existing legislations—Payment of Wages Act 1936, Minimum Wages Act 1948, Payment of Bonus Act 1965, and Equal Remuneration Act 1976. Contrary to the earlier Acts, which cover only 40 per cent of the employees, the new code on wages is expected to cover all sections of the workforce, that is, around 50 million workers. One among the unique feature, as claimed by the government is, a national floor level wage to be fixed by the central government and the state government, while deciding on the minimum wages, cannot go beyond it, but can increase it as it to suit the specific state government requirement. The trade unions say the wage code has been formulated...

Use of natural substitutes as an intracanal medicament in the endodontics-An update for in vivo studies

The success of root canal treatment depends on the elimination of bacteria by chemo-mechanical instrumentation and use of various irrigants to remove or dissolve organic and inorganic debris.The intracanal medicament also has an important role in the outcome of root canal treatment. With the rise in bacterial resistance to antibiotics, there is considerable interest in the development of other classes of antimicrobials for the control of infection. Use of Herbal intracanal medicament has been shown promising results when used under in vitro conditions, but very limited clinical trials reported due to the ethical concern. Hence, this review highlights the current guidelines (laid by the drugs and cosmetics act as per the Gazette of India) regarding the use of herbal medicaments for the clinical trials in Endodontics.

Hybrid Fuzzified-PID Controller for non-linear Control Surfaces for DC Motor to Improve the Efficiency of Electric Battery Driven Vehicles

The paper intends to deliver a structure of speed-control for electric DC motor widely being used in the electric rechargeable-battery vehicles. Electric vehicles are the need of the hour due to increasing environmental concerns and the dependency on fuels and oils. So as to promote this hybrid and electric vehicle technology and ensure its sustenance, the Ministry of Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises in the Gazette of India on 13th of March, 2015 approved the Scheme for Faster adoption and manufacture of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicle in India referred as FAME-India under National Electric Mobility Mission (NEMM). This scheme intends to encourage the hybrid/electric motor driven vehicles in the market and also its manufacturing for the betterment of eco-system to be implemented over a period of six years till 2020. Electric-battery driven vehicle is sourced on the restricted electrical-energy delivered by the battery in circuit. Major contribution of this work is to propose control-strategy through Fuzzified-PID controller so that the performances of the electric vehicle is comparable to that of an internal combustion-engine vehicle. Feedback is the foundation of PID control. The target or the set point is compared with the resultant of the process. Then, correction is computed and applied for the difference identified. This procedure is carried on till the time recalculation is required. PID refers to the combined computation of proportional-integral-derivative. Controllers, in general do not apply all three mathematical functions. Maximum processes were being handled through the proportional-integral-terms. However, addition of derivative control for fine control plus to avoid overshoot are required. Following models: PID controller, hybrid Fuzzified-reasoning PID controllers for linear surfaces and non-linear control surfaces using n-D Lookup-Table data have been designed for a comparative study. It has been observed that hybrid model designed for non-linear control-surfaces provided better speed response and have zero steady state error. The simulation of these models is carried out using SIMULINK under varying state conditions.

Goods and Service Tax (GST): A Game Changer for Indian Economy

GST was conceptualized for the first time in 1999 during a meeting between the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his economic advisory panel. On 8 August 2016, the Constitutional Amendment Bill for roll out of GST was passed by the Parliament, followed by ratification of the bill by states and enactment of the bill in September 2017. The Act was passed in accordance with the provisions of Article 368 of the Constitution, and has been ratified by more than half of the State Legislatures, as required under Clause (2) of the said article. On 12 August 2016, Assam became the first state to ratify the bill, when the Assam Legislative Assembly unanimously approved it. The bill, after ratification by the States, received assent from President Pranab Mukherjee on 8 September 2016, and was notified in The Gazette of India on the same date. A comprehensive dual Goods and Services Tax (GST) has replaced the complex multiple indirect tax structure & thus India’s biggest tax reform finally became a reality from 1 July 2017. So the year 2017 will forever be etched in Indian history as the year that saw the implementation of the biggest and most important economic reform since Independence - the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The present paper highlights the scenario of GST and its decade long evolutionary journey in India. It studies the month wise GST collection in India from July 2017 to January 2019. It also studies the impact of GST on selected sectors. The paper, in the end also studies how GST has become a game changer for Indian Economy.

Herbal medicaments in endodontics - Current guidelines for in vivo studies in India.

Elimination of bacteria from infected root canal systems is a challenging task. Various techniques have been described to reduce the number of bacteria within the root canal system, which include chemomechanical instrumentation, use of various irrigants to remove or dissolve organic and inorganic debris, and to destroy bacteria. The intracanal medicament plays a key role in the success of root canal treatment. With the rise in bacterial resistance to antibiotics, there is considerable interest in the development of other classes of antimicrobials for the control of infection. Natural products are known to play an important role in human life. The use of herbal products as mouthwash has been tried and tested in the literature. However, the use of herbal intracanal medicament has been shown promising results when used under in vitro conditions, but in vivo studies are very scarce. This may be due to the limited supporting literature available to use it as intracanal medicament in patients due to the ethical concern. Hence, the purpose of this review is to highlight the current guidelines (laid by the drugs and cosmetics act as per the Gazette of India) regarding the use of herbal medicaments for the clinical trials in endodontics.

A Comparative Study to Analyse the Effectiveness of Sexual Harassment Policies of IT and Non IT Companies

The Current study aims at analysing the effectiveness of sexual harassment policies of IT and Non IT companies in India. The researcher has also made a comparison between IT and Non IT companies on the basis of the effectiveness of their sexual harassment policies. The study is based on both secondary and primary data. Secondary data was collected to study the sexual harassment policies of the companies, and primary data has been used to record the opinions of the employees towards the sexual harassment policies of their organization. The sample size of the study is 200. It was found from the study that there are mainly four factors that could be used to measure the effectiveness of the sexual harassment policies namely content, timing, actions and complaints. It was also found from the study that the sexual harassment policies of IT companies are far better than Non IT companies. Researchers have also suggested a few measures to improve the sexual harassment policies of the companies on the basis of existing sexual harassment policies of the surveyed companies and literature review.The Sexual Harassment Act has been enacted with the objective of providing women protection against sexual harassment at the workplace and for the prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is considered as a violation of the fundamental right of a woman to equality as guaranteed under Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution of India ("Constitution") and her right to life and to live with dignity as per Article 21 of the Constitution. It has also been considered as a violation of a right to practice or to carry out any occupation, trade or business under Article 19(1) (g) of the Constitution, which includes a right to a safe environment free from harassment.India finally enacted its law on prevention of sexual harassment against female employees at workplace. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 ("Sexual Harassment Act") has been made effective on April 23, 2013 by way of publication in the Gazette of India.

Kipling the Plagiarist? The Case of ‘O Baal, Hear Us!’

It is known that Kipling admitted plagiarism in the case of The Jungle Book (1894), although the precise sources remain unidentified, but an earlier instance occurs in a poem written seven years earlier, ‘O Baal, Hear Us!’.1 The poem was first published in The Pioneer on 18 July 1888, republished in the Pioneer Mail on 22 July and the Civil and Military Gazette on 23 July. The occasion for the piece is significant, being a debate over the syllabus of education at Indian schools. The poem—or ‘skit’, as Kipling refers to it in a letter to Mrs Hill2—was prefaced with a ‘Resolution of the Indian Government’: ‘An attempt should be made to prepare a moral text-book based upon the fundamental principles of natural religion, such as may be taught in all Government and non-Government colleges.’ Such a Resolution, precipitated by the findings of an Education Commission earlier in the year, had been published in the Gazette of India, 14 July.

Burden and correlates of disability and functional impairment in an urban community

Introduction: The risk of developing chronic diseases and general disability increases with aging, resulting in loss of functioning ability and decrease in performing optimally. Early diagnosis of impairment and disability may improve the quality of life of elderly and enable them to lead a full and productive life. The study is a part of a larger study done in an urban area of Delhi. Materials and Methods: Systematic random sampling was used to select a cross-sectional sample of the study subjects >20 years and above. Locomotor, Visual Hearing and Speech were assessed using the guidelines given in gazette of India, extraordinary, part II section. Visual disability was measured by the presenting visual acuity in the field area using Snellens chart using WHO guidelines. Result and Conclusion: A total of 120 study subjects out of 1300 screened were in geriatric age group. The overall magnitude of the physical disability was 43.3% among elderly. aVisual disability was most common form of disability (60%). Many study subjects were suffering from >1 disability, but treatment was sought only in 50% of disabilities. Treatment seeking for disabilities is an important and neglected issue leading to severe degree of disabilities that would be prevented if taken care of, in due time. A multidimensional approach for prevention is the need of the hour.

Assessment of educational intervention on biomedical waste management among Government Nursing College students, Bengaluru

Background: The World Health Organization states that only 20% medical waste is hazardous—toxic, infectious, or radioactive. The Gazette of India has specific details about segregation and disposal of biomedical waste. Among the health-care workers, it is the nurses who deal with the patients for most part of their hospital stay and thus are the closest to dealing with most of the biomedical waste generated. Good training in the nursing college days would lead to responsible handling, segregation, and disposal of this waste. This will indeed go a long way in curbing spread of disease and also occupational hazards among the subsequent handlers of this waste. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice toward handling of biomedical waste among nursing students, before and after an educational intervention. Materials and Methods: An interventional study conducted at Government Nursing College, Bengaluru. Among first-, second-, and third-year nursing students, 154 were assessed using an indigenous pretested questionnaire. Data were collected before and after 4 weeks of the intervention. Statistical analysis was carried out as frequency distribution in the form of percentage tables and bar diagrams. Result: Knowledge improved in all years, from 22.3% in first year, 17.5% in second year to 7.8% in third year. Pretest average score was 18.942 and the posttest average score improved to 19.695. There was improvement in practice ranging from 34.7%, 19.7%, to 8.8% in first, second, and third years of nursing, respectively. Conclusion: Knowledge, attitude, and practice have improved postintervention—given in the form of health education.

A Superstar in Biocontrol Enterprise:Trichodermaspp

The role of biocontrol agents (BCAs) is a well established fact and has become increasingly crucial in replacing the chemical pesticides for plant pathogen control. Currently, Trichoderma spp. share almost 70% of fungal BCAs market. Trichoderma is a potential biocontrol agent included in the gazette of India on 26th March 1999. Trichoderma harzianum is extensively used for its twin advantages of controlling several soil and seed borne phytopathogens in addition to its capacity to act as an effective biofertilizer. Competence of Trichoderma spp. to other fungal biocontrol agents owes to its relatively faster metabolic rates; secretion of anti-microbial secondary metabolites and physiological conformation are some of the key factors which contribute to its vigorous antagonistic effect in field conditions. On the other hand, Trichoderma spp. has also been exploited for commercial production of enzymes like cellulases, hemicellulases, proteases, and â-1, 3-glucanase. This article advertises the commercial potential of Trichoderma spp. discussing its status in various aspects viz., pest control, plant growth promotion, bioremediation and production processes.

Childhood sexual abuse and the law: More problems than solutions?

Byline: Chittaranjan. Andrade, T. Sathyanarayana Rao The Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (No. 32 of 2012) was published in the Gazette of India on June 20, 2012, after receiving the assent of the President of India on the previous day. [sup][1] This Act seeks to protect children (defined as those below the age of 18 years) from the offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and pornography; and provides for the establishment of special courts for the trial of such offences. The Act extends to the whole of India, except the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Act lists sexual offences against children to include sexual harassment, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, penetrative sexual assault, aggravated penetrative sexual assault, and use of children for pornography. All offences are defined in detail, including variations in possibilities. The Act also addresses attempts to commit a sexual offence, and the abetment of sexual offences against children. Acts of omission are included, as are acts of commission. The punishment prescribed is imprisonment for a variable term, up to a maximum of life imprisonment, depending on the gravity of the offence; for example, the punishment for penetrative sexual assault is a minimum of 7 years and can extend to life imprisonment. Punishments may include a fine, as well as payment of compensation to the child for trauma suffered and for rehabilitation, as necessary. The Act is comprehensive and necessary and brings India closer to standards established in other countries. However, it contains an extraordinary clause (Chapter VII, Clause 29) which indicates that the accused person is guilty unless proven innocent. This is a matter of jurisprudence and will not be considered further in the present article, except to state that it could complicate situations that may arise as described below. There are some ambiguities in the Act, such as the definition and identification of sexual intent with regard to certain offences, which could result in the harassment of innocent individuals; but it is hard to see how these ambiguities could have been avoided without diluting the content of the Act. The real problem for medical professionals in general and mental health professionals, in particular, lies in the provisions for mandatory reporting to the police of anticipated or actual offences under the Act. The mandatory reporting clause overrides the confidentiality of physician-client interactions, and the Act specifically states that no person shall incur civil or criminal liability for providing information in good faith. According to the provisions of the Act, the failure to report childhood sexual abuse will be punished with a fine, or with imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both. One cannot find fault with the Act for requiring the mandatory reporting of serious sexual offences. However, reporting of minor offences could result in a paradoxical situation where the solution is worse than the crime. Consider the situation where, for example, during assessment or therapy, a mental health professional learns from a child client that a male family member has exposed himself before the child, or has touched or attempted to touch the child inappropriately. Before the Act, most professionals would have handled the situation through family sessions, usually with satisfactory resolution of the affair. Under the new dispensation, however, the mandatory involvement of the police would result in the arrest of the sexual offender, and in a long drawn out criminal case. This, in turn, would trigger complications that could compromise the earning capacity of the family if the offender is an earning member, induce guilt in the victim, provoke resentment in the family against the victim, and split the family apart if sides are taken; all of which are serious matters that can have long-lasting repercussions. …

Socio-Economic and Scientific Impact Created by Whitefly-Transmitted, Plant-Virus Disease Resistant Tomato Varieties in Southern India

Research carried out to assess the impact of open-pollinated Tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV)-resistant tomatoes and hybrids on the livelihoods of resource-poor farmers in Southern India is described and discussed. Three high-yielding ToLCV-resistant tomato varieties were developed initially using conventional breeding and screening techniques involving inoculation by ToLCV-viruliferous whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. In 2003 and 2004, respectively, these varieties were released officially by the Karnataka State Seed Committee and the Indian Ministry of Agriculture through notification in the Gazette of India. From 2003 to 2005, eleven seed companies bought breeder seed of the ToLCV-resistant varieties and used them to begin breeding F1 hybrids from them. Socio-economic studies carried out to assess the benefits obtained from growing the ToLCV-resistant varieties found that farmers could gain up to 10 times the profit by growing the ToLCV-resistant varieties compared to the pre-existing ToLCV-susceptible varieties. Adoption of ToLCV-resistant tomatoes was also associated with reduced pesticide use. Extra income from tomato sales was prioritised by farmers to pay for children's education, better nutrition and medicines. In a joint effort with the commercial seed sector in India, a promotional field day was organised in 2007. As well as the three ToLCV-resistant varieties, 62 ToLCV-resistant hybrid tomatoes were exhibited during a farmer-field day by 17 commercial seed companies and several public institutes. Tomatoes with ToLCV-resistance are now grown widely in South India and seeds of the three open-pollinated varieties have been distributed to more than 12 countries. In 2007, a conservative estimate of the financial-benefit to cost of the research ratio was already more than 837:1.

Reappropriating Colonial Documents in Kolhapur (Maharashtra): Variations on a Nationalist Theme

The district histories should not become [. . .] a series of unrelated facts without any narrative which can be linked with national history, [. . .] the facts that raised problems should invariably come in the gazetteers if they are to be taken as faithful registers of the country. (Chaudhuri, History of the Gazetteers of India, 1964: 163)After India became free, it was felt that a new edition of the Gazetteers should be brought out. The life of a people never stands still. Any account of a country—and a gazetteer is no exception—must therefore be revised from time to time (Gazetteer of India: Indian Union, 1965: ii).How does a nation ‘imagine itself into existence’ (Anderson 1983), particularly after it has been subjected to colonial rule? How does it (re-)appropriate its history, and what are the means at its disposal for creating and asserting an identity or specificity of its own? India has since independence achieved some political and ideological unity: from north to south and from east to west of the peninsula, although they have contested it in a number of cases, people have developed some consciousness of being Indians, ‘sons of Mother India’.

Patenting activity in the field of biotechnology: Indian scenario

This paper analyses the trends in the patenting of inventions in India in the field of biotechnology, with reference to the provisions under the Indian Patents Act, 1970; the analysis covers the period 1972–1991. The results for the study have been generated from the Computerised Database on Indian Patents developed by the Patents Unit, Technology Utilisation Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi with financial support from the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, New Delhi. The bibliographic information contained in the Database relates to the patents accepted and notified in the Gazette of India, Part III, Section-2, a weekly publication.

A quantitative analysis of the patent information services with reference to subject and applicant/inventor name searches at the Patent Information System (PIS), Nagpur (India), 1984–1988

The article analyses quantitatively the bibliographic searches such as cumulative search reports, SDI (Selective Dissemination of Information) searches and applicant-inventor searches of the office of the Patent Information System (PIS) provided during the period from 1 March 1984 to 31 December 1988. A list of the primary and secondary sources on which the services are based is given. All the searches carried out during this brief period have been analysed in terms of searches for Indian patents through the Indian Patent classification scheme, and the Gazette of India , Part III Section 2, searches through the International Patent Classification (IPC), SDI searches through IPC and patent applicant/inventor searches. Analyses are made as to who are the actual users of these services and the services used by these users have been analysed in terms of their subject interest. Conclusions have been drawn in a tabular form on the basis of the tables and the analysis of the contents therein.