Mumbai: Maharashtra govt has set up a state-level committee to strengthen the innovation and intellectual property ecosystem in the state. While the number of patents being filed across colleges and universities is on the rise, many are aimed to boost publication records for promotions and as means to augment ‘academic performance indicators’ (APIs). These innovations, therefore, rarely progress to the stage of commercialisation or industry application. The state committee, therefore, aims to address the gaps in the implementation.A govt resolution (GR) released on Tuesday announced the formation of the committee under the chairmanship of Prof Aniruddha Pandit, vice-chancellor of ICT, Matunga, and also enlisted its objectives. Pandit told TOI that very few patents filed by Indian institutions reach the commercialisation stage. “Patents are often viewed by academicians as means to secure promotions under career advancement schemes. Even in leading institutions, the rise in the number of patents filed is not proportionate to those that progress to the licensing stage. There is very little effort to take these innovations to the next level, either to recover research costs or to create meaningful industry impact. This initiative could be a positive step toward making research more impactful, at the same time helping institutions become more self-sustainable,” he said. The eight-member committee, headed by Pandit and Ravindra Kulkarni, the vice-chancellor of Mumbai University, is expected to submit its report in three months through the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE). The GR mentioned that IP cells, though, existed in most institutions, their work is limited to providing information only, and the patent cell lacks the necessary skills for evaluation, technology transfer, and collaboration with industry. The committee will suggest solutions for building capacity by training professors, and researchers in aspects such as patentability, drafting skills, filing procedures, etc. It has also recommended setting up a state-level facilitation centre. The GR also emphasises the need for evaluation and scoring of patents by an expert committee and also creating a patent bank by collecting information on patents by all institutions, classifying them (as filed, granted, commercialised), and publishing the database on DTE’s portal. The committee will also formulate policies to recognise patents as contributions of institutions or professors, determine criteria for considering patent subject matters in NAAC and institutional evaluation. The GR also asked the committee to devise ways to control misuse, and one of the misuses has been listed as the ‘tendency to apply for patents only for academic qualities’.

After Sunjay Kapur passed away last year in June, his widowed wife Priya Sachdev Kapur has been in a legal battle with his ex-wife Karisma Kapoor’s children, his mother Rani Kapur and his sister Mandhira Kapur Smith. This battle is regarding his inheritances of Rs 30,000 crore. Amidst that, Priya who serves as both a trustee and beneficiary of the RK Family Trust, has formally issued a notice removing Rani Kapur from her role as trustee, effective March 25, 2026. The notice, dated March 24, 2026, comes amid an ongoing dispute between the parties over the control and management of the trust, according to ANI. As per the communication, the RK Family Trust was established in 2017 as a private and irrevocable trust, with the late Sunjay Kapur as its sole beneficiary during his lifetime. Following his passing in June 2025, the beneficial interests are said to have passed on to his children—Master Azarias Suri Kapur, Ms. Samaira Kapur, and Master Kiaan Kapur.The notice highlights concerns regarding certain actions allegedly taken by Rani Kapur after the demise of the sole beneficiary, and also references a cease-and-desist notice issued earlier in January 2026. It further notes that Rani Kapur has moved the Delhi High Court, challenging the legitimacy of the trust and seeking relief concerning its assets.In her communication, Priya Sachdev Kapur has asserted that these actions are inconsistent with the trust deed and violate the provisions of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, stating they go against the interests of the beneficiaries. Citing Clause 8.11 of the trust deed, she has formally conveyed Rani Kapur’s removal as trustee.The notice makes it clear that, from March 25, 2026 onward, Rani Kapur will have no authority to represent the trust or deal with its assets, documents, or affairs. It also states that any actions undertaken in the name of the trust after this date would be deemed invalid, with legal remedies reserved in case of non-compliance.This development unfolds against the backdrop of a wider dispute between the parties. It is also understood that Rani Kapur has taken steps regarding the trusteeship, including actions affecting Priya Sachdev Kapur’s position, indicating competing claims over the administration of the trust.

SRINAGAR: PDP legislator Waheed Parra’s private member’s bill proposing the creation of 16 new districts in J&K and two additional divisions in Jammu, has come in for scathing criticism from governing NC as well as opposition BJP, who questioned the intent behind the proposed legislation.NC said the bill was a “deliberate attempt to arouse public opinion and sabotage the govt’s intent to empower sub-regions”. BJP called the proposal divisive, and alleged it was in line with the design of Pakistan and ISI to create a ‘Greater Kashmir’.Parra submitted the Jammu and Kashmir Territorial Administrative Reorganisation Bill to the Assembly secretariat, proposing new administrative divisions and districts across the Union Territory to “improve governance and administrative reach”.The bill seeks the creation of two new divisions in Jammu — Chenab and Pir Panjal. It also proposes carving out eight additional districts each in Kashmir and Jammu. At present, J&K has two divisions, Jammu and Kashmir, each having 10 districts.The bill has gained traction on social media, stirring a debate, forcing political parties to respond. NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said PDP’s move to bring in the proposals even as the govt is working towards empowerment of sub-regions reflected a different intent. It indicated a sabotage attempt, he alleged, questioning why the Mehbooba Mufti-led party was discussing new districts and divisions despite lacking the legislative strength to see the proposals through.During the tenure of PDP-BJP in 2016-17, a similar set of recommendations made by an expert committee was rejected by the govt. “Now when the NC govt is planning to empower sub-regions, the PDP is bringing in such bills to create distrust among people,” he said, terming it a “sabotage bill”.BJP alleged the proposals made in the bill aligned with ISI’s agenda. “The bill proposes two additional divisions for Jammu — one comprising Kishtwar and Doda, and another Rajouri and Poonch. They are referring to these as Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal regions. We do not accept these terms. This was part of ISI design in the 1990s to merge these Muslim majority areas with Kashmir and carve out a ‘Greater Kashmir.’ PDP is working on the same agenda. We will not allow it,” BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur said.Pointing out that Kashmir has three regions traditionally referred to as Maraz (south Kashmir), Kamraz (north Kashmir), and central Kashmir, he asked: “Why don’t they create three divisions here as well? Why do they only want to break Jammu?”However, Thakur said there could be a case for creating three new districts in Kashmir, and if at all needed, three existing police districts in the Valley could be upgraded into full-fledged districts.