The Patents Rules, 2003 were amended by the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2021 which came into force on 21^st September 2021 vide Notification G.S.R. 646(E) of the even date. Vide the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2021, the term 'educational institution' was defined in sub-rule (ca) of rule 2 of the Patents Rules, 2003 and the First Schedule of the Patents Rules, 2003 was also amended. Consequently, the said educational institutions will be eligible for benefit of reduced fee which is around 80% lower than the fee that is payable by other entities.

The scheme for facilitating Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP Scheme) was initiated, on pilot basis, in 2016. The SIPP Scheme was run for the benefit of Start-ups, by providing for facilitators (registered patent agents, registered trade mark agents, lawyers, government organisations like TIFAC, NRDC, etc.) who would provide their professional services to the Startups but claim their fees from the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM). Based on the experience gained, the SIPP scheme was extended for a period of three years with effect from 1^st April 2017 to 31^st March 2020 and further from 1^st April 2020 till 31^st March 2023. With effect from 1^st April 2020, applications filed through Technology and Innovations Support Centres (TISCs), established by collaboration between World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), can also avail the benefit of the SIPP Scheme.

Government of India has taken several initiatives to strengthen Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) ecosystem in the country, which includes modernization of Intellectual Property Rights offices, adopting e-service delivery system, real-time public dissemination of dynamic intellectual property (IP) knowledge, manpower augmentation, setting up of feedback mechanism, amendments in specific IP legislation for simplification of procedures, such as reduction of forms, incentivizing e-filing and reducing compliance burden.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Shri Som Parkash, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

Reduced patent fees for educational institutions under amended Patents Rules expand eligibility and fee concessions for applicants. Amendments to the Patents Rules create a concessional fee category by defining educational institutions and revising the First Schedule so such institutions are eligible for substantially reduced patent fees. The Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP Scheme) remains operational and expanded to include applications via Technology and Innovation Support Centres, using registered facilitators whose professional fees are reimbursed by the Office, as part of broader IPR modernization measures.