Kolkata, March 12 (IANS) The total number of applications for patent in India, which was 34,000 last fiscal, stood at 37,000 in this financial year, a top government official said Saturday.

"The number of applications for patent in FY11 has increased compared to last year. The number of applications for patent in this fiscal stands at 37,000. The figure for the last fiscal was 34,000," P.H. Kurian, controller general of patents, designs and trade marks, ministry of commerce and industry, told reporters on the sidelines of a programme organised here by the Indian Chamber of Commerce.

He, however, said that about 80 percent of the applications came from abroad.

"In India, about 75 percent of the total applications for patent are granted," he said.

"The total number of applications for trade marks this fiscal is 1.7 lakh. The figure was 1.4 lakh last year," he said.

Stating that the number of industrial design applications was not increasing, Kurian said the number of applications for industrial design this fiscal was 6,500.

He said the facility of electronic filing of applications for industrial design will be available from the next fiscal.

"We have received Rs.250 crore revenue from fees till now this fiscal. Last year, it was Rs.180 crore," he said.

He also informed that the total number of employees in the department, 150 at present, would be increased in the next three to four months.

On the rectification petition filed against the patent given to Darjeeling tea, Kurian said: "The petitioner had stated that the Tea Board was not representing all Darjeeling tea producers. We sought the Tea Board's comment on that. The board's reply has come."

"The case is now pending," he added.