India’s patent ecosystem is displaying signs of structural improvement, indicating a rise in domestic innovation and broader intellectual property awareness, as per a report. The report highlights that startups, MSMEs, and educational institutions benefit from an 80% reduction in patent filing fees. Expedited examination services are also available for startups, MSMEs, female applicants, and government institutions, groups historically less represented in formal IP filings.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal recently revealed that around 70% of total filings, amounting to 99,721, were from Indian residents, while foreign filings stood at 44,008. This marks the highest annual patent filing count for India, showcasing a multi-year growth trend attributed to policy reforms, reduced fees, and increased intellectual property awareness. Goyal emphasized that this milestone signifies a shift in India’s innovation identity towards being a source of commercially viable ideas.
Indian citizens’ domestic patent filings have surged from 24,326 in FY20–21 to 68,176 in FY24–25, a remarkable 180% increase over five years before a further acceleration in FY26. The government has streamlined patent rules, reduced the request-for-examination window from 48 to 31 months, and made electronic filing mandatory for patent agents. Fee concessions have significantly boosted participation, with Tamil Nadu leading all states in patent filings in FY 2025–26, followed by Karnataka and Maharashtra, with notable contributions from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana.
