India witnesses 44% surge in IP filings over five years, driven by key policy reforms and digitization

India has observed a substantial 44% increase in Intellectual Property (IP) filings over the past five years, a development primarily driven by strategic policy reforms and extensive digitisation initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. The total number of IP applications from Indian citizens escalated from 477,533 in 2020-21 to 689,991 in 2024-25. Geographical Indications (GI) demonstrated remarkable growth, soaring by 380%, followed by Designs at 266%, Patents at 180%, Copyright at 83%, Trademarks at 28%, and Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout-Designs (SICLD) at 20%. These figures underscore the government's steadfast commitment to safeguarding indigenous products and fostering a robust innovation ecosystem.
Key reforms include the simplification of IP laws and rules, the mandatory electronic submission of patent documents, and a 10% fee reduction for online patent filings. The examination period for patents has been reduced to 31 months, and the frequency for filing 'working statements of patents' is now triennial. Significant fee concessions have been introduced for Startups, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and Educational Institutions, including an 80% fee reduction for Patents. The IP Offices have been modernised with a comprehensive e-filing system, enabling over 95% of applications to be filed online. Initiatives like the 'IP Sarthi Chatbot' and the National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) have further bolstered IP awareness and accessibility across the nation. As of today, 697 Geographical Indications have been successfully registered, reflecting a growing emphasis on protecting local products. This information was shared by Minister of State for Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Mr. Jitin Prasada.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.