India Advances as Innovation Hub Through Streamlined Patent and Copyright Registration, Says Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal

Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal, expressed strong satisfaction with recent reforms in the examination and granting processes for patents, designs, copyrights, and trademarks. Speaking during a review of the Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (CGPDTM) in Mumbai, Shri Goyal emphasized that these measures significantly enhance the ease of doing business and will propel India’s emergence as a global innovation hub.

The Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to strengthening the ecosystem surrounding patents, designs, trademarks, and Geographical Indications (GI). He underscored the importance of encouraging innovation, research and development, and bringing India’s traditional knowledge and heritage systems to the global stage. Shri Goyal noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has closely monitored developments in the intellectual property domain since 2014.

Highlighting the CGPDTM’s efforts to expedite application processing, Shri Goyal stated, “The pendency in the IPR department has come down drastically. It has also been decided that any pending application should be completed within days and not months.” This accelerated disposal aims to reduce delays and improve service delivery.

In a move to support startups, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and women entrepreneurs, the department has slashed filing fees by 80%. This reduction is designed to foster greater participation in the IP system from these key sectors.

Shri Goyal also emphasized the adoption of digital technologies in the IP process. Now, every application is processed online from submission to final decision, with hearings conducted via phone, eliminating the need for physical travel to patent offices. This digital transformation enhances accessibility and efficiency.

During the review, Shri Goyal proposed further initiatives to make the IP process more user-friendly. He called for increased awareness campaigns about the significance of GI tags and suggested instituting scholarships for students pursuing intellectual property law. Additionally, he recommended engaging faculty from prestigious institutions on a part-time basis to assist in patent examination.

Officials from the CGPDTM detailed how the IP process has been simplified and streamlined. They highlighted re-engineering efforts, including new timelines for application disposal and a shift to digital modes to promote ease of filing and service delivery. For instance, under the Trade Mark Rules, 74 forms have been consolidated into 8 streamlined forms.

Special attention is being given to expedite examination of patents filed by startups and women entrepreneurs. The impact of these measures is evident in the surge of e-filing, which has increased from 30% to over 95%.

Statistical data underscores the success of these reforms. The number of patents granted rose sharply from 6,326 in 2015-16 to 28,391 in 2020-21. Trademark registrations similarly surged from 65,045 to 255,993 during the same period. Copyright grants increased from 4,505 in 2015-16 to 16,402 in the last fiscal year.

These developments have contributed to a marked improvement in India’s standing on the Global Innovation Index, climbing 33 places from 81st in 2015-16 to 48th in 2020.

The CGPDTM, headquartered in Mumbai under the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, supervises the implementation of the Patents Act, 1970, Designs Act, 2000, and Trade Marks Act, 1999. The Patent Office head office is located in Kolkata, the Trade Mark Registry in Mumbai, and the GI Registry in Chennai. Additional offices include the Patent Information System and the National Institute of Intellectual Property Management in Nagpur.

These coordinated efforts reflect India’s strategic focus on building a robust IPR infrastructure to support innovation-led growth and global competitiveness.