**Summary:**
According to the Department of Atomic Energy, intellectual property (IP) generated by the department related to atomic energy cannot be patented in India, as per Section 4 of the Patents Act, 1970, in conjunction with Section 20(1) of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. However, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) actively patents intellectual property resulting from R&D and spinoff technologies related to its nuclear power program, specifically when the applications of these products, processes, and technologies extend beyond the realm of atomic energy.
As of July 2025, the DAE has secured 235 patents in India since 1985 and 143 patents outside India since 2001.
Several patented technologies developed by the DAE have been successfully commercialized, including:
* Electronic Voting Machine (Indian Patent No. 199087)
* A Method for Treating Exhaust Gas Emission Produced During Combustion of Coal in a Coal Combustion Plant for Reducing Suspended Particulate Matters (Indian Patent No. 194122)
* An Improved Process for the Preparation of Magnetisable Cellulose Particle (Indian Patent No. 193445)
* Nanotube Incorporated Ballistic Resistant Armour Panels and Products Thereof BHABHA Kavach (Indian Patent No. 528921)
* Hybrid granular SBR for waste water treatment GST (Indian Patent No. 381341)
* An Apparatus to Generate Large Plasma Arc Plume for Waste Disposal and Thermal Processing Applications (Indian Patent No. 432380)
* Plasma pyrolysis system and process for the disposal of waste using graphite plasma torch (Indian Patent No. 272122)
* Plasma pyrolysis system for safe disposal of organic waste using plasma torch with a novel endogenous gas source (Indian Patent No 281527)
* A Liquid Nitrogen Based Portable Refrigeration System for Carrying Refrigerated Goods SHIVAY (Indian Patent No. 502550)
* Ultrafiltration Membrane Water Purification Device (Indian Patent No. 195961)
* Process for Preparation of AntiLeprosy Vaccine (Indian Patent No. 153031)
* A Penetration Enhancing Flux Formulation for Tungsten Inert Gas TIG Welding of Austenitic Stainless Steel and its Application (Indian Patent No. 266346)
This information was provided by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on July 23, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Atomic Energy: The government department responsible for atomic energy in India.
Patents Act, 1970: Indian legislation concerning patents, specifically Section 4 is mentioned regarding atomic energy inventions.
Atomic Energy Act, 1962: Indian legislation governing atomic energy, specifically Section 20 is mentioned.
India: The country where the Department of Atomic Energy operates and where patents are obtained.
Electronic Voting Machine: A patented technology developed in India, patent number 199087.
BHABHA Kavach: A patented Nanotube Incorporated Ballistic Resistant Armour Panels and Products Thereof, patent number 528921.
Dr. Jitendra Singh: Union Minister of State Independent Charge for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where a written reply was given.
Department of Atomic Energy
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY RIGHTS
Posted On: 23 JUL 2025 3:38PM by PIB Delhi
As stipulated in the Patents Act, 1970 Section 4, which stipulates: "No patent shall be granted for an
invention related to atomic energy that falls within sub-section (1) of Section 20 of the Atomic Energy Act,
1962 (33 of 1962)”, the intellectual property generated by the Department related to Atomic Energy can’t
be patented in India. However, the Department obtains a significant number of patent rights through R&D
and spin-off technologies developed for the nuclear power program of India. These patents pertain to
application of its products, processes and technologies in various domains other than atomic energy.
DAE has obtained 235 patent rights in India since 1985. (Details attached as Annexure 1) DAE obtained
143 patent rights outside India since 2001. (Details attached as Annexure -2)
There are many significant achievements with respect to commercialization of patented technologies.
The details of the significant achievements are listed below:
(i) Electronic Voting Machine – Indian Patent No. 199087.
(ii) A Method for Treating Exhaust Gas Emission Produced During Combustion of Coal in a Coal
Combustion Plant for Reducing Suspended Particulate Matters – Indian Patent No. 194122.
(iii) An Improved Process for the Preparation of Magnetisable Cellulose Particle – Indian Patent No.
193445.
(iv) Nanotube Incorporated Ballistic Resistant Armour Panels and Products Thereof – Indian Patent No.
528921 (BHABHA Kavach).
(v) Hybrid granular SBR for waste water treatment (GST) – Indian Patent No. 381341
(vi) An Apparatus to Generate Large Plasma Arc Plume for Waste Disposal and Thermal Processing
Applications – Indian Patent No. 432380.
(vii) Plasma pyrolysis system and process for the disposal of waste using graphite plasma torch – Indian
Patent No. 272122
(viii) Plasma pyrolysis system for safe disposal of organic waste using plasma torch with a novel
endogenous gas source – Indian Patent No 281527
(ix) A Liquid Nitrogen Based Portable Refrigeration System for Carrying Refrigerated Goods – Indian
Patent No. 502550 (SHIVAY).
(x) Ultrafiltration Membrane Water Purification Device– Indian Patent No. 195961 (xi) Process for
Preparation of Anti-Leprosy Vaccine– Indian Patent No. 153031.
(xii) A Penetration Enhancing Flux Formulation for Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welding of Austenitic
Stainless Steel and its Application– Indian Patent No. 266346.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science
and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of
Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
***NKR/PSM
(Release ID: 2147273)