<h1>Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2021: 80% Fee Reduction for Educational Institutions, SIPP Scheme Extended for Startups Until March 2023.</h1> The Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2021, effective from September 21, 2021, revised the Patents Rules, 2003, defining 'educational institution' and reducing their patent fees by 80%. The Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) Scheme, initiated in 2016, was extended until March 2023, offering startups professional services through registered agents, with fees covered by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. Applications via Technology and Innovations Support Centres also benefit from the SIPP Scheme. The Indian government is enhancing the Intellectual Property Rights ecosystem through modernization, e-services, and procedural simplifications. This was reported in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.