Economic Survey 2025: India's Patenting Story Is On An Upwards Trajectory

On the heels of a robust intellectual property ecosystem, India now ranks sixth among the top 10 patent filing offices globally, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25.

"There is a more than 2-fold increase in patent filing since 2014-15, and patent grants have increased by more than 17-fold from 2014-15," the survey notes.

To promote a culture of creativity and innovation, India’s patent growth story has received a significant push from the government. From amendments and measures to ensure that applications are filed and processed faster, to making sure that the department stayed on top of the Covid-19 pandemic disruptions, significant progress has been made.

It is a well-known fact that the life of a patent is 20 years from the date of its filing, but if the application is processed at a snail’s pace, then it is tantamount to sounding a death knell to the patent.

The survey points out that the Patent (Amendment) Rules 2024 have simplified processing, filing, and maintenance related to patents.

The government has expedited patent examination for startups, small and medium enterprises, women inventors, government departments, and academic institutions. Further, the government has simplified disclosure requirements for patent working and foreign filings, reducing the timeline for examination from 48 months to 31 months, as per the survey.

The survey notes that significant fee reductions for patent filings have also been implemented for startups, MSMEs, and educational institutions.

Through the startup intellectual property protection scheme, the government has provided financial and technical assistance to startups in filing and processing patents. The IP Saarthi chatbot also offers instant support and guidance to users regarding IP registration and grant processes.

The survey further states that patent filings by domestic educational institutes have tripled from 7,405 in fiscal 2022 to 23,306 in fiscal 2024. Patent filings by women applicants increased from a meagre 15 in fiscal 2015 to 5,183 in fiscal 2024.