Recognising the importance of nurturing innovation and creativity in a knowledge economy, India is taking great strides in strengthening its intellectual property ecosystem.

Further, given the key role played by MSMEs in the economic growth of India, it is proposed to reduce the fees for various IPRs as follows:

IPR	ACTIVITY	CATEGORY	CURRENT FEES	PROPOSED FEES	REDUCTION (%)
PATENTS	FILING	MSME	4000/ 4400	1600/ 1750	60
	REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION		10000/ 11000	4000/ 4400	60
	EXPEDITED EXAMINATION (only e-filing)		25000	8000	68
	RENEWAL		2000 to 20000 (+10% for physical filing)	800 to 8000 (+10% for physical filing)	60
DESIGNS	FILING	MSME/ Startup	2000	1000	50
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS	REGISTRATION	AUTHORISED USER	500	NIL	100
	ISSUANCE OF REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE		100	NIL	100
	RENEWAL		1000	NIL	100

Fees structure is for e-filing/ physical filing. Draft Rules for amendment in GI Rules have been notified.

National IPR Policy adopted by the Government in 2016 has paved the way to further strengthen the IPR regime in the country. Already, the concrete steps undertaken in the past 5 years have seen IP filings rise:

Filing of IP applications	Increase from 2013-14 to 2018-19 (%)
Patents	18
Trademarks	69

Domestic filing for patents has increased from 22% in 2013-14 to 34% in 2018-19. Awareness programmes for IP are being conducted at schools, colleges, universities, R&D institutes and industry clusters. Multi-pronged strategies have been used to address the issue of pendency in IP applications, including manifold augmentation of manpower and streamlining of procedures. These strategies have paid rich dividends, and there has been a sharp jump in the disposal of IP applications:

Disposal of IPR applications	Increase from 2013-14 to 2018-19 (%)
Patents	353
Trademarks	395

 

Intellectual property fee reductions boost MSME access to patents, designs and geographical indications, enhancing innovation incentives. The Government lowered statutory IPR fees to enhance access for MSMEs and startups, cutting patent filing, examination (including expedited e examination), renewal fees, and reducing design and geographical indication registration and renewal fees, with separate rates for e filing and physical filing; draft GI Rule amendments have been notified and complementary awareness and procedural measures aim to increase filings and reduce pendency.