(Section 3 of the (Indian) Patents Act, 1970

The following are not patentable in India:-

  1. An invention, that is frivolous or that claims anything obviously contrary to well established natural laws;
  2. An invention, the primary or intended use of which would be contrary to law or morality or injurious to public health;
  3. The mere discovery of a scientific principle or the formulation of an abstract theory;
  4. The mere discovery of any new property or new use for a known substance or of the mere use of a known process, machine or apparatus unless such known process results in a new product or employs at least one new reactant;
  5. A substance obtained by a mere admixture resulting only in the aggregation of the properties of the components thereof or a process for producing such substance;
  6. The mere arrangement or rearrangement or duplication of known devices, each functioning independently of one another in a known way;
  7. A method of agriculture or horticulture;
  8. Inventions relating to atomic energy.
  9. Any process for the medicinal, surgical, curative, prophylactic or other treatment of human beings or animals.
  10. Plants and animals in whole or any part thereof other than microorganisms.
  11. Mathematical or business method or a computer program per se or algorithms.
  12. literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works, cinematographic works, television productions and any other aesthetic creations.
  13. Mere scheme or rule or method of performing mental act or playing game.
  14. Presentation of information.
  15. Topography of integrated circuits.
  16. An invention which in effect, is traditional knowledge or is based on the properties of traditional knowledge.

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