Govt has taken steps to reduce trademark backlog: Nirmala

Government has taken several steps like hiring more examiners and strengthening online facility for filing of trademark applications to reduce pendency.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha today, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said as many as 21,706 applications have been disposed of as abandoned or rejected during 2015-16.
"A number of steps have been taken by the government to reduce the backlog of trademark applications," she said.
The steps include getting more trademark examiners on board and introduction of an auto renewal process. On top of that, the online facility for filing of applications has been bolstered so as to reduce workload and sensitisation of the examiners.

Replying to a separate question, the minister said the government remained engaged on a regular basis with trade experts and stakeholders on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.
"RCEP is yet to be finalised. India's negotiating position in RCEP takes into account its overall interest. India has neither been forced to engage with any RCEP country nor has it faced open opposition in the RCEP negotiations," she added.

To another question on exports, Sitharaman said rice exports from the country stood at Rs 6,435.4 crore in April-May of 2016-17.
In terms of quantity, it worked out to 18.10 lakh tonnes. The exports of rice have been made from the privately-held stocks.

She said that during the last three years, no exports took place on government account on a commercial basis.
In 2015-16, India's rice exports stood at Rs 37,847.5 crore.