Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 15: India’s intellectual property landscape is undergoing a structural shift, with a sharp rise in patent filings and growing participation from domestic innovators, according to a new report on the country’s innovation ecosystem.
The report highlights that India’s patent framework is increasingly being strengthened through policy reforms, fee reductions, and awareness initiatives aimed at expanding access to intellectual property rights.
Startups, MSMEs, and educational institutions currently benefit from an 80 per cent reduction in patent filing fees, while expedited examination is available for startups, MSMEs, women applicants, and government bodies — categories that have traditionally been underrepresented in formal patent systems.
Under the National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission, around 9,500 outreach programmes have been conducted across states and Union Territories, reaching more than 25 lakh students and faculty members, helping build awareness about innovation protection.
According to data cited in the report and shared by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, India recorded 99,721 domestic patent filings — around 70 per cent of the total — compared to 44,008 filings from foreign applicants. The figures represent the highest annual patent filing count in the country’s history.
The government has attributed this surge to sustained reforms, reduced costs, and increased awareness of intellectual property rights. Officials say the trend signals a shift in India’s innovation identity from primarily a manufacturing and services hub to a growing source of original, commercially viable ideas.
Domestic filings have shown consistent growth over the past five years, rising from 24,326 in FY 2020–21 to 68,176 in FY 2024–25, marking an increase of nearly 180 per cent before further acceleration in FY 2025–26.
Key policy changes include simplifying patent procedures, reducing the request-for-examination timeline from 48 months to 31 months, and mandating electronic filing for patent agents to streamline the process.
Fee concessions have also played a significant role in encouraging wider participation from emerging innovators and institutions.
State-wise trends show Tamil Nadu leading in patent filings in FY 2025–26, followed by Karnataka and Maharashtra, with notable contributions from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana.
Officials say the continued rise in filings underscores a maturing innovation ecosystem, supported by both policy intervention and expanding participation from grassroots inventors, academia, and industry.