Faculty

About the DPIIT-IPR CHAIR:

The DPIIT-IPR Chair at Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur (MNLU Nagpur) was instituted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, in 2020. The Chair was established under the Scheme for Pedagogy and Research in IPRs for Holistic Education and Academia (SPRIHA), with the objective of producing high-quality research, strengthening intellectual property pedagogy, facilitating public policy dialogue, and promoting academic collaboration in the field of intellectual property rights.

The overall objectives of the IPR Chair are laid down in the Amended SPRIHA Scheme. The Chair seeks to contribute to the strengthening of intellectual property education, research, teaching capacity and curricula in accordance with the objectives of the National IPR Policy, 2016. It also aims to position MNLU Nagpur as a national and international centre of excellence in intellectual property education, research and policy development.

The activities of the Chair encompass a broad range of initiatives, including specialised research, curriculum development, capacity-building programmes, academic events, policy engagement and outreach activities. The Chair undertakes research exclusively in the field of IPR law and policy, in collaboration with national and international stakeholders such as law firms, corporate entities, government departments, public sector undertakings, funding agencies and academic institutions.

The Chair is also committed to advancing IPR education through workshops, seminars, symposia, roundtable conferences, training programmes, expert lectures and online academic initiatives. These programmes address both foundational and emerging areas of intellectual property, including innovation, technology, artificial intelligence, cyber law, start-ups, data analysis, business IP management and the legal framework governing the acquisition and protection of intellectual property rights.

Further, the Chair promotes awareness and informed discussion among students, researchers, academicians, legal practitioners, industry professionals and other stakeholders. Through its academic and outreach initiatives, it provides a forum for the exchange of contemporary perspectives, legal developments, technological innovations and policy concerns relating to intellectual property. The Chair also undertakes survey-based studies, policy research and analytical projects, and provides expert inputs and recommendations to the legislature, executive and judiciary on emerging issues in IPR law and policy.

Through these diverse initiatives, the DPIIT-IPR Chair at MNLU Nagpur seeks to foster a robust culture of intellectual property learning and research, support evidence-based policy development, and contribute to the effective use of intellectual property for innovation, economic growth and social development in India.