India Witnesses 44% Surge in IP Filings Over Five Years, Driven by Key Policy Reforms and Digitization

2025-07-22 Information

Details of the total number of IP applications filed in India over the last five years by Indian citizens are provided in the table below:-

IP/ FY

Patents

Designs

Trade Marks

SICLD

2020-21

24,326

10,594

4,18,594

23,957

2021-22

29,508

19,245

4,34,084

30,748

116

2022-23

43,301

18,170

4,53,325

29,439

210

2023-24

51,574

26,536

4,63,108

36,710

134

2024-25

68,176

38,804

5,38,665

44,066

274

IP filings in the last five years have increased by44%, rising 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 Layout-Designs (SICLD) with a 20% rise.

The Government has undertaken several initiatives to enhance intellectual property (IP) activities and foster innovation and boost IP filing in India. Details of the major steps are as follows:

IP laws and rules have been amended to streamline and simplify the processing of IP applications, eliminate irregularities and bottlenecks, enhance the use of IT and digital technologies:

Patents

Trade Marks

Designs

Geographical Indications

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

Provisions for Expedited Examination have been introduced

The ‘Certificate of Inventorship’ has been introduced in Patents to formally recognize the contributions of inventors in patented inventions and to incentivize innovation.

Modernization 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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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 Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, 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.

National Intellectual Property (IP) Awards are conferred every year to recognize and reward the top achievers comprising individuals, institutions, organizations and enterprises, for their IP creations and commercialization, in order to encourage creativity and innovation in the country.

IPR Internship Programme

With the aim of contributing to the fulfillment of the objectives outlined in the National IPR Policy, the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) has recently started four week IPR Internship Programme for students, research scholars, and professionals.

SIPP Scheme: SIPP Scheme: The Start-Ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) scheme was launched in 2016 to provide pro bono facilitation to startups for the filing and processing of patent, trademark, and design applications. Under this scheme, the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (CGPDTM) bears the professional fees payable to facilitators. Its scope was also expanded to benefit Indian educational institutions using TISC services. Additionally, it now covers the filing of international patent applications filed in India.

Manpower Augmentation

Manpower in IP Office has been augmented multiple times to ensure timely and quality service to the stakeholder.

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.

Similarly, 200 additional posts have been sanctioned in 2025 in Trade Marks, GI, and Copyright, making a 74% increase in the sanctioned strength.

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 has been started to enable direct daily communication of stakeholders with senior officers to provide timely solutions to their problems and Open House IT Helpdesk has been created as a single- window platform to swiftly address queries and grievances across all key areas of Intellectual Property.

From 2004 to 2025, the registration of Geographical Indication (GI) applications in India exhibited a gradual increase, with domestic applications constituting the majority. Initial years showed a low registration trend, followed by steady growth and stabilization between 2010 and 2019, averaging around 20–30 applications annually. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a sharp decline in GI registrations during 2020–21. However, this was promptly followed by a significant surge in applications from 2022 onwards, peaking 160 applications in 2023–24 the highest recorded in a year.

This overall trend reflects growing awareness and emphasis on protecting local products through GI registration. The increasing domestic engagement with GI protections is likely driven by government initiatives and greater recognition of the economic and cultural value of GIs.

Total Geographical Indications Registered as on Date: 697

State-wise Number of GI tags issued till date: List attached as Annexure.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

*****

Abhishek Dayal/Abhijith Narayanan/Shabbir Azad

ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY PART (d) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 293 FOR ANSWER ON 22^ND JULY, 2025.

Year wise Registered GI Applications as on date

Financial

Years

Indian

Applications

Foreign

Applications

No of

Applications

2004 – 2005

2005 – 2006

2006 – 2007

2007 – 2008

2008 – 2009

2009 – 2010

2010 – 2011

2011 – 2012

2012 – 2013

2013 – 2014

2014 – 2015

2015 – 2016

2016 – 2017

2017 – 2018

2018 – 2019

2019 – 2020

2020 – 2021

2021 – 2022

2022 – 2023

2023 – 2024

157

160

2024 – 2025

Totals

658

697

Goods wise Registered GI Applications as on date

SL.

Goods

No of

Applications

Handicraft

366

Agricultural

218

Manufactured

Food Stuff

Natural

Totals

697

Goods wise Registered GI Applications Indian & Foreign as on date

SLo

Goods

Indian

Applications

Foreign

Applications

Total

Applications

Handicraft

365

366

Agricultural

218

Manufactured

Food Stuff

Natural

Totals

658

697

State wise – Details of GI Applications Registered as on date

SL No.

State

Registered

Andaman & Nicobar (UT)

Andhra Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh

Assam

Bihar

Chandigarh

Chattisgarh

Goa

Gujarat

Haryana

Himachal Pradesh

Jammu & Kashmir

Jharkhand

Karnataka

Kerala

Ladakh (UT)

Lakshadweep (UT)

Madhya Pradesh

Maharashtra

Manipur

Meghalaya

Mizoram

Nagaland

Odisha

Pondicherry

Punjab

Rajasthan

Sikkim

Tamil Nadu

Telangana

Tripura

Uttar Pradesh

Uttarakhand

West Bengal

Dadra and Nagar Haveli

India (In Multiple States)

Foreign

Totals