India and Australia Sign Agreement on Access to Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (CSIR-TKDL) to Strengthen Protection of Traditional Knowledge

India and Australia have signed an agreement granting IP Australia access to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (CSIR‑TKDL). The deal, concluded at the 3rd India‑Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne on 9 July 2026 and witnessed by the Prime Ministers of both countries, aims to help Australian patent examiners identify prior art and prevent patents on knowledge already documented in India’s traditional heritage. The TKDL, established in 2001, contains over 5.2 lakh formulations from Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Yoga, translated into five languages, and has already contributed to the revocation or rejection of more than 375 patent applications worldwide. Implementation will be overseen by senior officials from IP Australia and CSIR.