Lok Sabha Question No. 2635 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-05
Subject: IPR System
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Aditya Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2635. TO BE ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, THE 05 TH  AUGUST, 2025.

## IPR SYSTEM

## 2635.  SHRI ADITYA YADAV:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the country's Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) system, designed to protect domestic innovators, needs to adopt a more offensive to compete on the global stage;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the initiatives proposed to be taken by the Government keeping in view that our IPR system has been defensive as we started with assumption that Indian innovators cannot compete with international counterparts; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

- (a) to (c): India has a robust, equitable and dynamic Intellectual Property (IP) framework which is compliant with TRIPS and other major international IPR treaties and agreements.  India's  IPR  system  effectively  balances  the  interests  of  rightholders with larger public interest. This legal framework, supported by various judicial decisions, offers a stable and efficient foundation for the protection and promotion of Intellectual Property, and serves the needs of all stakeholders,

including domestic applicants, ensuring their interests are well safeguarded.

As  a  means  to  further  strengthen  and  improve  the IP  ecosystem  in  India, Government  over  the  past  decade,  has  taken  a  series  of  administrative measures  and  legislative  reforms  to  provide  an  enabling  framework,  for protecting and supporting innovation and creativity and stimulating IP creation and  commercialization  among  all  sectors. Among  these  some  notable measures include, introduction of National IPR Policy in 2016 which laid the foundation for a new strategy and approach to IPR protection in India, followed by amendments to the IP Rules to simplify IP filing and processing and reducing procedural delays. Obtaining IPRs (patents, design trademarks, copyrights and GI) has become significantly easier due to several key initiatives which , inter alia ,  include  the  reduction  of  filing  fees,  the  introduction  of  electronic  filing systems, simplification of the application process, and decrease in processing times. Through recent amendments in Patent Rules in March 2024, measures have been introduced to ease the process of seeking and maintaining a patent in  India,  reduce  compliance  requirements  and  bring  greater  certainty  in  the patent prosecution process.  Through changes introduced in Jan Vishwas Act in  2023,  provisions  across  different  IPRs  have  been  decriminalised  to  bring regulatory ease for businesses. The details on steps and activities undertaken over the past decade are given in  the Annexure-I.

Owing to the measures and initiatives undertaken, IP activities among Indian residents  have  increased  significantly  with  IP  filings  by  Indian  residents increasing by 44% in last five years from 4,77,533 in 2020-21 to 6,89,991 in 2024-25. The highest growth was observed in Geographical Indications (GI) with a 380% increase, followed by Designs (266%), Patents (180%), Copyright (83%),  Trademarks  (28%),  and  Semiconductor  Integrated  Circuits  LayoutDesigns  (SICLD) with a 20% rise.

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## ANNEXURE-I

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION 2635 FOR ANSWER ON 01.08.2025.

## DETAILS ON MAJOR STEPS AND ACTIVITIES TAKEN IN THE PAST DECADE

1. National  IPR  Policy  National  Intellectual  Property  Rights  (IPR)  Policy, launched in 2016, aims to foster innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship by creating  an  enabling  environment  for  the  protection  and  enforcement  of intellectual property in India.
2. Decriminalizing of Offenses - The Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 has been enacted to  enhance  the  ease  of  doing  business  by  decriminalizing  certain  offenses under the IP Acts. By replacing criminal penalties with civil penalties in specific cases, the Act reduces the burden of legal compliance for businesses while promoting a more business-friendly regulatory environment. It also introduces streamlined adjudication and appeal mechanisms to ensure that violations are addressed swiftly and effectively. These reforms are designed to encourage compliance and foster innovation and entrepreneurship by creating a balanced and facilitative intellectual property ecosystem.
3. Appropriate amendment in IPR Rules - Intellectual Property Rules have been amended  multiple  times  to  streamline  and  simplify  the  processing  of  IP applications, eliminate irregularities and bottlenecks, and enhance the integration  of  IT  and  advanced  digital  technologies,  with  an  aim  to  facilitate easier filing and processing of IP applications and to accelerate the examination and disposal process.

## 4.  Modernization & Digitization of IP Offices

-  IP  Offices  have  been  digitized  and  made  online  to  make  the  system  more compact, time bound, transparent and easier to use by applicants as well as Examiners and Registrars/ Controllers. Comprehensive E-Filing System has been introduced for  the  online filing  and  submission  of  Patent,  Design,  and Trade Mark applications and documents. Applicants no longer need to visit the IP office for filling and processing of their applications, with more than 95% of Patent and Trademark applications now filed online.
-  The IP Office website has been redesigned to improve contents and ease of access and make it more interactive, informative and easy to navigate. IP data on real-time basis has been made available on the website in respect of filing and  processing  of  IP  applications.  The  website  provides  login-free  Search facility for hassle-free dissemination of IP information to stakeholders.

## 5.  Significant Fee Concessions have been given to Startups, MSMEs, and Educational Institutions

-  80%  Fee  Reduction  in  Patents  for  Startups,  MSMEs,  and  Educational Institutions;
-  75% Fee Reduction in Designs for Startups, and MSMEs;
-  50% Fees Reduction for Trade Marks filing for Startups and MSMEs.

## 6.  Provisions for Expedited Examination have been introduced

-  Provision of Expedited  Examination  of  Patent application  has  been introduced  for  Startups,  MSMEs,  Female  Applicants,  and  Government Institutions/ Departments/ PSUs, applicants electing India an authority for international applications etc. under Rule 24(C) of Patents rules, 2003 (as amended).
-  Provision of Expedited Examination of Trade Mark applications is applicable to all category of the applicants.
7.  The 'Certificate of Inventorship' has been introduced in Patents to formally recognize the contributions of inventors in patented  inventions and  to incentivize innovation.
8. IP Dashboard Access and Features - A publicly accessible IP Dashboard has been introduced to provide real-time comprehensive data on various categories of Intellectual Property applications, including Patents, Designs, Trade Marks, Copyrights, and Geographical Indications. The dashboard can be accessed via the  official  website  at  ipindia.gov.in/dashboard.  A  quick-access  link  to  the dashboard is also available on the website's homepage for user convenience.
9. AI-powered Trademark Search Technology :  Artificial  Intelligence  (AI)  and Machine  Learning  (ML)  based  Trademark  Search  Technology  has  been introduced for a more efficient and accurate examination and faster disposal of Trade Mark applications.
10. IP  Sarthi  Chatbot : A  digital  assistant  has  been  designed  to  provide  instant support and guidance to users navigating the IP registration processes. Indian small businesses can get instant help regarding IPR by asking answers of the questions on the Chatbot.
11. 'WIPO IP Diagnostics  -  Indian  Adaptation' ,  a  self-assessment  tool,  has been designed to enable small businesses to conduct a self-assessment of their intellectual property (IP) assets, providing guidance tailored to the Indian IP  laws  and  procedures  and  enriched  with  local  examples.  By  answering targeted questions, Indian small businesses can generate customized reports that offer insights into how India's IP system can support their strategic business

objectives.  For  wider  coverage,  the  tool  has  been  made  available  multiple languages, English, Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, and Urdu.

12. National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) - The Office of the  Controller  General  of  Patents,  Designs  &  Trade  Marks  (CGPDTM) implements the National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) to conduct IP awareness programs in educational institutions. Launched in 2021, the mission aimed to educate 1 million students as part of the AzadiKaAmritMahotsav, celebrating 75 years of India's Independence. So far, about 9500 IP awareness programs have been conducted across all 28 states and 8 Union Territories, reaching over 25 lakh students and faculty.
13. SIPP Scheme - The Start-Ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) scheme was launched in 2016 to provide pro bono facilitation to Indian startups for the filing and processing of patent, trademark, and design applications. Its scope was also  expanded to  benefit  Indian  innovators  &  creators  and  educational institutions,  using  TISC  services.  Additionally,  it  now  covers  the  filing  of international  patent  applications  filed  in  India  (Receiving  Office  (RO/IN), International Bureau, WIPO (RO/IB), electing India as the International Search Authority (ISA).
14. Manpower Augmentation : Manpower in  IP  Office  has  been  augmented  by multiple times to ensure timely and quality service to the stakeholder.
- a.  Sanctioned strength of the Patent Office has increased by 233%, from 431 in 2014 to 1,433 in 2024. Similarly, the working manpower has grown by  196%,  from  281  in  2014  to  833  in  2024.  Additionally,  553  new Examiners have been recruited, of whom 407 have completed induction training.
- b.  Similarly, 200 additional posts have been sanctioned in Trade Marks, GI, and Copyright, making a 74% increase in the sanctioned strength.
15. Robust Grievance  Redressal  Mechanism - The IP Office has robust Redressal  Mechanism  which  has  been  further  strengthened  to  ensure  the prompt, fair, and transparent resolution of complaints and concerns. Daily Open House  Conference  (Jan  Sunwai)  has  been  started  to  enable  direct  daily communication of stakeholders with senior officers to provide timely solutions to  their  problems.  Open  House  IT  Helpdesk  has  been  created  as  a  singlewindow platform to swiftly address queries and grievances across all key areas of Intellectual Property.

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