About: Uttam Gupta
Uttam Gupta (31st Aug 1953) is an Indian author, columnist and expert on a wide range of subjects like Fertilizers; Oil & Gas; Power; Intellectual Property Rights or IPRs; Agriculture, World Trade Organization WTO agreements, Crop protection etc. which are critical to sustainable economic development.
He is a leading author having published close to 550 articles in Indian national newspapers viz., Economic Times, Business Line, Financial Express, Business Standard, Indian Express, Hindustan Times, Observer of Business & Politics et al. He also published articles in Asia FAB – a fertilizer international publication brought out by the British Sulfur Publishing Group, London. All his articles till date can be accessed through his official website.www.uttamgupta.com
Dr Gupta has authored a book on ‘Fertilizer Subsidy: The Inevitable Monster’. The book captures the nuances of evolving fertilizer pricing and subsidy policies till the end of 90s decade. The issues raised therein continue to be relevant to contemporary fertilizer scene.
He has represented India in the International Visitors Program sponsored by the United States Information Agency (USIA) (1993) and has undertaken several professional assignments for the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. He has lectured extensively on the subject of fertilizer pricing and subsidy, IPRs (patent & data protection or Information privacy), crop protection et al.
Dr Uttam Gupta has also made pioneering contribution in the field of Intellectual property rights (IPRs) with particular reference to patent & protection of regulatory data (PRD). He was associated with the inter-ministerial Committee under Secretary, Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals set up in 2004 to ‘examine Article 39.3 of TRIPs agreement on PRD’. A series of articles published by him were hugely instrumental in ‘de-mystifying’ this critical & yet controversial form of IPR.
He is an expert commentator and quoted extensively on major policy issues by business magazines viz., Business World, Business Today, Outlook etc and leading newspapers viz., Financial Express, Economic Times, Business Line et al. and has dwelt with issues addressed by several Committees. Notable amongst these were: Dr GVK Rao Committee on ‘Consumer price of fertilizers’ (1987); Joint Parliamentary Committee on ‘Fertilizer Pricing’ (JPC) (1992); Dr Vijay Kelkar Committee (1991) & Dr TL Shanker Committee (1997) on ‘structure of gas pricing’; High Powered ‘Fertilizer Pricing Policy Review’ Committee (HPC) (1998) and Expenditure Reforms Commission (ERC) (2000) on ‘phased de-regulation of fertilizers'.
Dr Gupta’s contributions in ‘Key’ areas
Retention price scheme (RPS) for fertilizers
RPS was a scheme unique to fertilizers that forged perfect harmony between the interest of fertilizer producers and farmers aimed at maximizing domestic production and ensuring supplies at ‘affordable’ prices for desired increase in consumption. The scheme was a potent instrument of achieving food security. Dr Gupta played a profound role in highlighting its merits, rebutting un-founded criticism and preventing adverse changes in policy parameters. Some of his published articles in this area are:
De-regulation of urea sector: Tackle inter-unit cost differences first
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2000/01/06/stories/040629ma.htm
RPS is not WTO-incompatible
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2000/02/28/stories/042829ut.htm
Have fertiliser units made unintended gains?
http://hindu.com/businessline/2000/10/14/stories/041429ml.htm
New urea retention prices defy normative principle
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/11/29/stories/042929mi.htm
Impact of proposed changes in urea pricing
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/12/14/stories/041429f1.htm
Urea pricing: Challenges before ministerial group
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2002/03/21/stories/2002032100111000.htm
Options for using surplus urea
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2002/04/13/stories/2002041300030800.htm
Urea: RPS and NPS — Six of one, half-a-dozen of the other
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/11/12/stories/2003111200100900.htm
Urea industry under VII and VIII pricing periods -- Not a wholesome impact
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2002/05/22/stories/2002052200061000.htm
Fertilizer pricing: Time to scrap the archaic scheme
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/fertiliser-pricing-time-to-scrap-the-archaic-scheme/article1657937.ece
Fertiliser Policy: Need For A Review
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/fertiliser-policy-need-for-a-review/41202/0
Urea pricing policy needs a flexible approach
http://www.financialexpress.com/old/fe20010817/an4.html
Alternative policy options
In 1991 when India initiated the process of economic reforms and liberalization, a major objective was to rationalize and reduce fertilizer subsidy thereby help in reducing fiscal deficit. Several committees set up by GOI came up with pricing policy options as alternative to RPS. Dr Gupta conducted incisive analyses of these options, pointed out flaws and inconsistencies and thus help in thwarting changes detrimental to fertilizer industry. Some of his published articles in this area are:
Govt's dilemma over new fertiliser policy
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2000/08/04/stories/040429ug.htm
Urea concession scheme -- An unviable proposition
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2000/12/01/stories/040129ma.htm
Urea concession scheme: Still no saving in subsidy
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/03/07/stories/040729ma.htm
ERC's nutrient-less package
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/04/13/stories/041329ju.htm
Urea: Proposed uniform pricing scheme - Ensure parity in feedstock price, first
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/07/16/stories/041629ju.htm
Urea: Partial decontrol defies logic
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2002/02/23/stories/2002022300201200.htm
Savings on urea subsidy: What about farmers' interests
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2002/03/08/stories/2002030800041200.htm
Urea pricing: Challenges before ministerial group
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2002/03/21/stories/2002032100111000.htm
ERC/DoF proposals on uniform concession scheme: Putting cart before horse
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2002/06/25/stories/2002062500180800.htm
DoF proposals on long-term urea policy: Flaws in merit-based pricing
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2002/07/12/stories/2002071200100800.htm
No sign yet of urea decontrol
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/09/24/stories/2003092400040800.htm
Urea prices: Why import parity makes better sense
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/01/27/stories/2004012700070800.htm
Uniform pricing may spell doom for many urea plant
http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/fe/daily/20010226/fco26080.html
Fertilizer sector reforms
For several decades, all key aspects of the fertilizer sector in India viz., pricing, distribution, production, imports, feedstock supply & pricing etc have been under control. As economic reforms progressed, Government felt dire need to remove controls on fertilizer as well. Dr Gupta tracked various changes and constantly reminded policy makers on the need for smooth transition avoiding pitfalls. Some of his published articles in this area are:
Towards An Alternative Fertilizer Policy
http://www.cpim.org/pd/2001/april08/april8_fertilisers.htm
The urea investment policy quagmire
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-01-14/news/36331641_1_urea-npk-tonne
A fertilizer plant closing near you
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/column-a-fertiliser-plant-closing-near-you/1083656
Missing links in the fertiliser subsidy scheme
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/column-missing-links-in-the-fertiliser-subsidy-scheme/1057565/0
Fertiliser Policy: Need For A Review
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/fertiliser-policy-need-for-a-review/41202/0
New urea-pricing policy has lacunae
http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/fe/daily/19980825/23755444p.html
No effort to rein in subsidies
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/no-effort-to-rein-in-subsidies/article4479331.ece
Urea pricing – Government must walk the talk
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/urea-pricing-government-must-walk-the-talk/article4386596.ece
End the oil, fertilizer subsidy raj
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/end-the-oil-fertiliser-subsidy-raj/article4127190.ece
Fertilizer policies pull in opposite directions
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/fertilisers-policies-pull-in-opposite-directions/article4031405.ece
Fertilizer subsidy can be checked
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/fertiliser-subsidy-can-be-checked/article3206842.ece
Fertilizer subsidy: Not ready yet for Nilekani model
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/not-ready-yet-for-nilekani-model/article2412561.ece
So much for fertilizer decontrol
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/so-much-for-fertiliser-decontrol/article2158906.ece
Fertilizer sector awaits reforms
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/fertiliser-sector-awaits-reform/article986431.ece
Fertilizer Policy: Time to take hard decisions
http://news.tootoo.com/Agriculture/Agrochemicals_Pesticides/20080728/150864.html
Fertilizer reforms: Two steps forward, one step back
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/08/28/stories/2004082800031000.htm
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2004082800031000.htm&date=2004/08/28/&prd=bl&
Who benefits from the surging fertiliser subsidy?
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/07/06/stories/2004070600071000.htm
Ambiguities in fertiliser policy — Major stumbling block to privatisation
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/02/27/stories/2004022700040800.htm
The hassles of payment on sales
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/12/31/stories/2003123100030800.htm
Making NFL privatisation work
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/10/08/stories/2003100800100800.htm
Fertilizer subsidy imbroglio: Decontrol the only way out
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/04/08/stories/2003040800070800.htm
Pitfalls of targeting subsidies
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/02/25/stories/2003022500070800.htm
Fertilizer subsidy coupons: Impracticable?
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2000/11/16/stories/041629mn.htm
Fertilizer subsidy conundrum
http://hindu.com/businessline/2000/09/19/stories/041929ju.htm
Tax on subsidy: An impractical move?
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-63650930/india-tax-subsidy-impractical.html
Excise on fertilizer makes no sense
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/excise-on-fertiliser-makes-no-sense/article1715495.ece
WTO agreements & fertilizer subsidy
With the coming in to force of WTO agreement from January, 1995, India was required to abide by various obligations under it including commitments with regard to reduction in agricultural subsidies including subsidies on agricultural inputs. Dr Gupta conducted a thorough analysis and suggested appropriate ways of ensuring compliance without compromising on India’s national interest especially in regard to food security. Some of his published articles in this area are:
RPS is not WTO-incompatible
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2000/02/28/stories/042829ut.htm
WTA: Have developed countries honoured commitments?
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2000/08/26/stories/042629ml.htm
Fertiliser subsidies -- Gearing for a WTA-compatible regime
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/01/12/stories/041229ma.htm
Rewrite the Agreement on Agriculture
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/05/03/stories/040303ma.htm
Urea fertiliser: Safeguarding India's interests at Doha
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/11/08/stories/040829ut.htm
WTO ministerial: Beat developed countries at their own game
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/09/05/stories/2003090500070800.htm
Doha Round: The challenge beyond Hong Kong
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2006/02/14/stories/2006021400321000.htm
The WTO angle to urea buy-back from oman
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/the-wto-angle-to-urea-buyback-from-oman/36439
Challenges for urea and QR-free regime
http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/fe/daily/20000104/fed04065.html
Oil and gas pricing
Oil and gas are two major sources of feedstock & fuel to fertilizers, power and a host of other industries. Their pricing is of critical importance especially to fertilizers where huge payments of subsidy is involved due to overriding compulsion of keeping their selling prices low and ‘affordable’ levels to the farmers to ensure food security. Dr Gupta studied the linkages in-depth, assessed implications of high oil & gas prices and suggested required course corrections consistent with reining in subsidies and stress on Government budget. Some of his published articles in this area are:
De-regulation of urea sector: Tackle inter-unit cost differences first
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2000/01/06/stories/040629ma.htm
Feedstock prices, energy costs: Can Indian urea win on global turf?
http://hindu.com/businessline/2000/10/06/stories/040629mn.htm
Urea: Proposed uniform pricing scheme - Ensure parity in feedstock price, first
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/07/16/stories/041629ju.htm
LNG: No panacea for fertiliser woes
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/07/28/stories/042829ju.htm
High feedstock cost hits competitiveness
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2001/12/28/stories/042829ut.htm
Gas pricing: Key to energy security
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2002/12/06/stories/2002120600060800.htm
Delinking LNG from oil prices vital
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-22351771_ITM
LPG and kerosene: Few gains from notional decontrol
http://thehindubusinessline.in/2003/07/05/stories/2003070500110800.htm
Gas pricing — Decontrol user industries first
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/08/08/stories/2003080800180800.htm
Gas price: De-regulation brooks no delay
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/05/31/stories/2004053100010800.htm
Oil & Gas sector: Reforms still in the pipeline
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2006/09/22/stories/2006092202091100.htm
End the oil, fertilizer subsidy raj
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/end-the-oil-fertiliser-subsidy-raj/article4127190.ece
No case for hike in KG gas price
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/no-case-for-hike-in-kg-gas-price/article4164346.ece
Crippling effects of oil subsidies
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/crippling-effects-of-oil-subsidies/article4320019.ece
Don't play around with gas allocation
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/dont-play-around-with-gas-allocation/article4562168.ece
No basis to gas price hike
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/no-basis-to-gas-price-hike/article4881500.ece#comments
Can’t do gas pricing in a vacuum
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/column--can-t-do-gas-pricing-in-a-vacuum/1062228/
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/column-can-t-do-gas-pricing-in-a-vacuum/1062228/4
One step forward, two steps back
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/one-step-forward-two-steps-back/article5703038.ece
A crude demand for royalty
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/a-crude-demand-for-royalty/1216114/4
Gas pricing rewards the defaulter
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/gas-pricing-rewards-the-defaulter/article5535057.ece
Oil PSUs squeezed mercilessly
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/oil-psus-squeezed-mercilessly/article5214492.ece
Gas policy – from one mess to another
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/gas-policy-from-one-mess-to-another/article5186568.ece
Running out of gas
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/running-out-of-gas/1147907
Debate – Should gas prices be raised as per Rangarajan plan?
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/should-gas-prices-be-raised-as-per-rangarajan-plan-/1118828/0
Fleecing consumers and producers
http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/fe/daily/19971110/31455103.html
Gas users suffer artificial costs
http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/fe/daily/19970726/20755183.html
Restrictive regime for feedstock is a mockery of reforms
http://www.financialexpress.com/old/fe/daily/20010312/fec12074.html
Oil and gas PSUs need to be uncaged for survival and growth
http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/fe/daily/20010122/fec22077.html
Robbing Peter to pay Paul
http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/fe/daily/20001014/fec14059.html
High cost of feedstock hampers us
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2002-04-20/news/27360293_1_group-retention-pricing-urea-units-import-parity-price
Agriculture subsidies and food security
From the days India faced acute food shortage in 60s and went around with a begging bowl to meet food needs of an ever expanding population, for decades India vigorously pursued the goal of self-sufficiency in food production. However, with launching of reforms in early 90s, reforms in agriculture too have engaged Government’s attention though progress here has been comparatively slow. Dr Gupta kept a close tab on the developments in agriculture and brought to the centre-stage critical areas that needed urgent attention. Some of his published articles in this area are:
Is the Vajpayee Government really pro-poor?
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/02/22/stories/042220ju.htm
Panel on long-term grain policy: Populism under a new garb
http://thehindubusinessline.in/2002/08/15/stories/2002081500020800.htm
Coating bitter pills with sugar
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/03/26/stories/2003032600240900.htm
Common Minimum Programme: At cross purposes with FRBM?
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/06/19/stories/2004061900401000.htm
Budget: Good intentions drained by leaks
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/07/23/stories/2004072300371100.htm
Agriculture needs a paradigm shift
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/agriculture-needs-a-paradigm-shift/article1730807.ece
Why should government fix Bt cottonseed price?
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2006/08/16/stories/2006081600610900.htm
Food for all, but not through dole
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/food-for-all-but-not-through-dole/article2879710.ece
Let's not delay direct cash transfer of subsidy
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/lets-not-delay-direct-cash-transfer-of-subsidy/article4088032.ece
Cash transfers: Food for thought
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/cash-transfers-food-for-thought/article4287357.ece
Cause for indigestion
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/cause-for-indigestion/1163777/0
Food Security Act – A recipe for disaster
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/a-recipe-for-disaster/1140322/0
No reason to fear WTO on farm subsidy
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/no-reason-to-fear-wto-on-farm-subsidy/article5441978.ece
Why beg at Bali?
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/why-beg-at-bali-/1203391/0
Why genuflect before WTO?
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/why-genuflect-before-wto/article5387818.ece
Stand firm on farm subsidies
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/stand-firm-on-farm-subsidies/1180013/0
No effort to rein in subsidies
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/no-effort-to-rein-in-subsidies/article4479331.ece
Fertilizer subsidy: Food Security nexus
http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF01049750.pdf#page-2
Economic reforms and liberalization
Indian economic reforms process initiated in early 90s focused inter alia on abolition of licensing or License Raj, removal of controls, export and import liberalization, free exchange regime, de-regulation of interest rates, financial sector reforms, fiscal consolidation, abolition of subsidies (Subsidy), public sector dis-investment & privatization, promotion of joint ventures etc. Dr Gupta tracked these changes, pinpointed flaws, policy reversals/retreats giving timely alerts and need for course correction. Some of his published articles in this area are:
Chasm between rhetoric and reality
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-60049085/india-chasm-between-rhetoric.html
Corporates still on Mat
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2000/04/13/stories/04136402.htm
Why is Oman dithering now?
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-63297744/india-why-oman-dithering.html
Fertilizer subsidy coupons: Impracticable?
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2000/11/16/stories/041629mn.htm
DPC-MSEB slugfest: Needed, a concialiatory approach
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/05/11/stories/041156ju.htm
The limited mobility pipe-dream
http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/06/07/stories/040768ju.htm
Will US-64 survive beyond May '03?
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/iw/2002/09/01/stories/2002090100070700.htm
Power reforms: Shed populism for success
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2002/09/21/stories/2002092100050800.htm
PSU divestment brooks no delay
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2002/10/02/stories/2002100200060800.htm
No dividend in taxing shareholders
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2002/10/21/stories/2002102100140800.htm
Debt-swap scheme: Stalemate continues
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2002/11/20/stories/2002112000060800.htm
Will Kelkar's paradigm shift spur growth?
http://thehindubusinessline.in/2002/12/24/stories/2002122400040800.htm
Industry alone cannot drive growth
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/05/23/stories/2003052300120900.htm
Making NFL privatisation work
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/10/08/stories/2003100800100800.htm
Concession scheme for phosphatic fertilizers: Turning clock back to pre-reform era
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/11/29/stories/2003112900030800.htm
Joint venture urea project in Oman: Buyback agreement needs a fresh look
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/12/24/stories/2003122400090900.htm
Trapped in a protectionist mindset
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/04/07/stories/2004040700070800.htm
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2004040700070800.htm&date=2004/04/07/&prd=bl&
Strategic dis-investment: Unshackling profit-making PSUs
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/bline/2005/08/11/stories/2005081100271000.htm
Why bail out private power producers?
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/why-bail-out-private-power-producers/article4598875.ece
Fiscal consolidation – a joke
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/fiscal-consolidation-a-joke/article4921274.ece
Price controls and fiscal cliffs
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/column-price-controls-and-fiscal-cliffs/1070391
Safeguarding local joint ventures
http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/fe/daily/19991118/fed18048.html
Buyback pact in urea plan is faulty
http://www.financialexpress.com/old/fe/daily/19981028/30155184p.html
Telecom: Unjust and arbitrary act
http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/fe/daily/19990813/fex13093p.html
The monster of corruption continues to grow with greater intensity
http://www.financialexpress.com/old/fe20010504/an4.html
Oil and gas PSUs need to be uncaged for survival and growth
http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/fe/daily/20010122/fec22077.html
The SSI sector needs to be freed from MNC encroachment
http://www.financialexpress.com/old/fe20010526/inc3.html
Robbing Peter to pay Paul
http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/fe/daily/20001014/fec14059.html
Navaratnas beginning to feel the pinch of globalization
http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/fe/daily/20001120/fec20054.html
Unshackling banks: key to their bail out
http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/fe/daily/20000420/fec20090.html
An Overdose Of Subsidies
http://m.outlookindia.com/story.aspx?sid=4&aid=211302
Unfair vantage in urea
http://www.readabstracts.com/Business-international/UNFAIR-VANTAGE-IN-UREA-INDO-OMAN-11-BN-UREA-JV-RUNS-INTO-MORE-TROUBLE.html#b
Mauritius bonanza at whose cost?
http://www.hvk.org/2000/0900/56.html
IPRs – Patent and Data Protection
A number of myths exist in regard to contentious issues of Patent and data protection. These have contributed in no small measure, to existing void in legislation in regard to protection of innovators rights in area of Crop protection and Pharmaceuticals industry. This has hamstrung investment in R&D and bringing new products for benefit of farmers and patients. Dr Gupta published a series of articles to dispel these myths. Some of his published articles in this area are:
Data protection a must for sustainable agriculture
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/04/26/stories/2004042600160900.htm
Data protection demystified
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/data-protection-demystified/article2164354.ece
Patent ordinance: Innovator still to get desired comfort
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/patent-ordinance-innovator-still-to-get-desired-comfort/article2171526.ece
Patent law: Whither the incentive to innovate
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/patent-law-whither-the-incentive-to-innovate/article2176358.ece?css=print
[[Crop protection]] products: Data-holder deserves a better deal
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2005/06/15/stories/2005061501270800.htm
Patents (Amendment) Act 2005: Setback for innovators and R&D
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/patents-amendment-act-2005-setback-for-innovators-and-rd/article2190091.ece
Data protection: A win-win for all stakeholders
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/data-protection-a-winwin-for-all-stakeholders/article2196133.ece
Needed, a fair deal for patent seekers
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/needed-a-fair-deal-for-patent-seekers/article2199610.ece
Data Exclusivity vs Patent: The myths and the realities
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/data-exclusivity-vs-patent-the-myths-and-the-realities/article1733824.ece
Developers vs Generic Manufacturers: Innovators need a booster dose
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/developers-vs-generic-manufacturers-innovators-need-a-booster-dose/article1738679.ece
A patently anomalous provision
http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2006/12/15/stories/2006121500860900.htm
Crop protection measures: Needed, a policy armour
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/crop-protection-measures-needed-a-policy-armour/article1653765.ece
Data protection for agro-chemicals
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/data-protection-for-agrochemicals/article1664734.ece
Agro-chemicals: Overhaul of regulations called for
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/agrochemicals-overhaul-of-regulations-called-for/article1626597.ece
Glivec Verdict: Don't kill the goose that lays golden eggs
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/don-t-kill-the-goose-that-lays-golden-eggs/1099510/0
Patent linkage: A logical step to honour patents
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/column-a-logical-step-to-honour-patents/1102900/0
Education and academic achievements
Dr Uttam Gupta passed High School (with physics, chemistry and mathematics as mains) in 1969 and thereafter completed graduation with Physics hons in 1972. He did his Masters in Economics from University of Delhi in 1974.
After a stint of teaching at Delhi University, he pursued advance research at the Centre for International Trade & Development (CITD), School of International Studies in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). He registered with CITD in 1977. His doctoral work was on ‘Population density and patterns of trade and development’. He was awarded PhD in 1980.
Dr Gupta’s research work provided new insights in to the Hollis B. Chenery (World Bank) type/trajectory of analyzing trade and development patterns using temporal and cross-section data. It helped in better understanding of how ‘densely’ populated countries could better exploit trade opportunities for development by encouraging and leveraging labor intensive industries.
Dr Gupta’s research was funded by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – India’s central bank - under an arrangement whereby he committed to work in its research department on successful completion of the doctoral program.
Professional career
Dr Gupta worked as Consultant with the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) – a leading Indian think-tank on economic policy, New Delhi. Dr Gupta joined NCAER in early 1981 where he worked with Dr Ashok Desai (economist) (Dr Desai later joined GOI in 1991 as Chief Economic advisor to Dr Manmohan Singh, then Finance Minister). During his stint at NCAER for close to 2 years, he worked on two major projects in steel and cement sector. In a seminar held at IIC (India International Center), New Delhi, Dr Gupta made a presentation on ‘Pre-calcinator technology in cement industry’. He received acclamation from Dr Manmohan Singh who was Governor, RBI then and Chief Guest in the seminar. In September, 1982 he joined the Institute of applied Manpower Research (IAMR) – a lead research institution on manpower and employment related issues – under Planning Commission (India).
Dr Gupta joined Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) – an umbrella organization of fertilizer manufacturers in the public, private, co-operative and joint sector as Chief Economist on September 17, 1982 . In-charge of its economic and policy division, he steered FAI agenda for over 2 decades viz., 1982-2003. In 2001, he was re-designated as Additional Director & Chief Economist. He worked under able guidance of Mr S. Venkitaramanan, Vice-chairman FAI (he later became Finance Secretary eventually taking charge as Governor, RBI) and other Directors of FAI board.
Dr Gupta also contributed to deliberations of Committees set up by central Government to address various dimensions of fertilizer pricing and subsidy policies. Notable amongst these committees were: Dr GVK Rao Committee on ‘Consumer price of fertilizers’ (1987); Joint Parliamentary Committee on ‘Fertilizer Pricing’ (JPC) (1992); Dr Vijay Kelkar Committee (1991) & Dr TL Shanker Committee (1997) on ‘structure of gas pricing’; High Powered ‘Fertilizer Pricing Policy Review’ Committee (HPC) (1998) and Expenditure Reforms Commission (ERC) (2000) on ‘phased de-regulation of fertilizers’.
Dr Gupta provided core inputs to the outreach/publication division of the Association by way of writing editorials for monthly publication ‘Fertilizer News’; ‘Background Paper’ for the press conference held during the Annual Seminar and preparing speeches for Chairman encapsulating industry position on burning issues. He was well known and rated high for his interface and handling of the media. He communicated effectively with journalists/editors on the industry perspectives/stance on policy changes brought about by the Government from time to time.
In 2003, Dr Gupta took charge of Delhi office of CropLife India (CLI), an association of R&D based and technology driven companies committed to responsible crop care & sustainable development of Indian agriculture. He spent about a decade with CLI initially as Resident Director and later as Executive Director. Dr Gupta has made pioneering contribution in the field of Intellectual property rights (IPRs) with particular reference to patent & protection of regulatory data (PRD).
Since February 2013 he is a ‘Policy Analyst’ providing authentic and credible analysis of policy changes and other developments in critical sectors viz., oil & gas, fertilizers, power, agriculture, crop protection etc besides closely tracking the macro-economic scene.
Personal Life
Dr. Uttam Gupta is married to Mrs Nalina Gupta, has one son and a daughter. His Son Nikhil Gupta is a renowned Astrologer and Daughter Deepti Gupta is holding a senior management post in a leading industrial conglomerate.