Traditional knowledge should move beyond conventional systems of medicine and develop deeper linkages with modern medicine, contemporary science and emerging technologies to expand its societal impact, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said during a visit to the CSIR-Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (CSIR-TKDL).

The Minister called for a broader and more interdisciplinary approach to traditional knowledge, stressing that it should not be viewed only through the lens of Ayurveda and other indigenous medical systems. 

He said stronger connections with scientific, academic and medical institutions could help expand research, innovation and evidence-based applications.

Dr. Jitendra Singh urged CSIR-TKDL to strengthen collaborations with academic and medical institutions, including through greater scholarly engagement and opportunities for co-guidance of postgraduate medical students. Such partnerships, he said, could help bring traditional knowledge research closer to students and the wider scientific community.

The Minister also highlighted the potential of combining India's traditional knowledge repository with cutting-edge digital technologies and modern scientific capabilities. He said the country's strengths in both areas offer an opportunity to build a more integrated model of research and innovation.

During the visit, Dr. Jitendra Singh was briefed on the evolution of TKDL from a digitisation initiative into a structured knowledge resource that translates traditional knowledge into formats and terminology accessible to the modern scientific and intellectual property ecosystem.

Institutionalised in 2001, TKDL initially focused on Ayurveda formulations and was subsequently expanded to cover other areas of traditional knowledge. Its standardised data architecture and terminology enable patent examiners to search documented traditional knowledge and assess whether patent claims are based on existing knowledge.

Dr. Jitendra Singh called for greater educational outreach to familiarise young researchers with traditional knowledge documentation, intellectual property protection and evidence-based research. Discussions also covered online learning and capacity-building initiatives aimed at expanding access to knowledge about traditional knowledge systems.

The Minister emphasised that collaboration between traditional knowledge institutions and organisations working in modern medicine could help create new avenues for scientific investigation, while ensuring that research involving traditional practices is supported by appropriate evidence and contemporary scientific methodologies.

The programme was attended by Dr. M. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR; Dr. Viswajanni Sattigari, Head, CSIR-TKDL; and Shri Mahendra Kumar Gupta, Joint Secretary, CSIR, among others.