File Your Patent in India with the IPO
Provisional, complete, and design applications prosecuted by registered Indian Patent Agents. Fixed two-step pricing with full DPIIT startup-rebate and Form 3 / Form 18 compliance handled in-house.
- Registered Indian Patent Agents licensed by the CGPDTM
- 80% government fee rebate for DPIIT startups & natural persons
- Two-step engagement — validate before drafting
- Provisional → 12-month window to file complete specification
Step One — Strategy & Search
Start with a fixed-fee engagement to validate patentability under the Patents Act 1970 before committing to full drafting.
- IPO patentability assessment & prior-art search
- Section 3 patentable-subject-matter screen
- Filing strategy memo (entity status, expedited route, PCT)
- Step Two only if you proceed to drafting
"We file under §3 first — there is no point drafting if your invention falls into a non-patentable subject-matter exclusion. Step One protects your time and budget."
GTC Patents Team
CGPDTM-registered Indian patent agents
Understanding Indian Patents
India is among the fastest-growing patent jurisdictions in the world — but the Patents Act 1970 has unique subject-matter rules that determine whether filing makes sense.
What Is an Indian Patent?
A patent in India is a 20-year exclusive right granted by the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trademarks (CGPDTM) under the Patents Act, 1970. It gives you the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, or importing your invention across India.
Provisional vs. Complete Specification
A provisional application secures your priority date and gives you 12 months to file the complete specification. The complete specification is the actual examined application — once granted, it becomes the enforceable patent.
Designs Act, 2000 — Industrial Designs
Ornamental appearance and shape are protected under the Designs Act, not the Patents Act. A registered design is granted for 10 years (extendable by 5) and is faster and cheaper than a patent. We file both at the IPO.
Section 3 — What Cannot Be Patented
Indian law excludes software per se, business methods, mathematical methods, mere admixtures, methods of agriculture/horticulture, and methods of medical treatment from patentability. We screen for §3 issues at Step One before drafting.
Patent · Design · Trademark — at a glance (India)
Functional inventions. 20-year term. Examined by IPO. Annual renewal fees from year 3.
Ornamental appearance. 10-year term + 5-year renewal. Faster registration than patents.
Brand identifiers. Renewable indefinitely in 10-year cycles so long as the mark is used.
Why File Your India Patent with Us?
Senior IP professionals, fixed pricing, and full DPIIT and CGPDTM compliance — built for inventors, startups, and foreign applicants entering India.
Registered Indian Patent Agents
Every Indian patent application is filed and prosecuted by Patent Agents registered with the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trademarks (CGPDTM). This is a statutory requirement to file at the IPO and to argue at examiner hearings.
DPIIT Startup & Natural-Person Rebate Built-In
Recognized DPIIT startups, individuals, and small entities qualify for an 80% concession on most IPO official fees. We confirm your eligibility, prepare Form 28, and apply the rebate at filing — most clients save ₹50,000+ over the life of the patent.
In-House Drawings & Form 3 / Form 18 Compliance
Drawings to IPO standards are bundled into Step Two — no separate per-figure invoice. We also docket and file the annual Form 3 (statement of working) and the Form 18 Request for Examination, both of which carry application-level penalties if missed.
PCT National-Phase & Convention Filings
Foreign applicants entering India via PCT national-phase (31-month deadline) or Convention route (12 months) get end-to-end coordination — translations, Form 1/2/5/26, and POA recordal handled in-house from your home jurisdiction.
Dedicated Case Management & Deadline Tracking
Indian patent prosecution is uniquely deadline-heavy: 12-month provisional cliff, 31-month RFE deadline, 6-month FER response window, annual Form 3, and renewals from year 3. Every deadline is tracked in our docketing system and surfaced in your client dashboard.
"India is the cheapest top-10 patent jurisdiction in the world for startups — but Form 3 and Form 18 catch out half the applicants we audit. Our docketing exists precisely for those statutory deadlines."
GTC Patents Team
CGPDTM-registered Indian patent agents
Total Cost of India Patent Filing
All-in budget scenarios from Step One through Request for Examination. IPO official fees are passed through at cost; our professional fees are fixed.
Natural Person / DPIIT Startup
Solo inventors, recognized DPIIT startups, women applicants
| Step One — Strategy & Search | $699 |
| Step Two — Drafting & IPO Filing | $1,800 |
| IPO Government Fees (filing + RFE) | ~₹9,000 (~$110) |
Small Entity Utility
MSMEs and small Indian companies
| Step One — Strategy & Search | $699 |
| Step Two — Drafting & IPO Filing | $1,800 |
| IPO Government Fees (filing + RFE) | ~₹22,000 (~$265) |
Large Entity / Foreign Applicant
Companies > MSME thresholds and foreign applicants
| Step One — Strategy & Search | $699 |
| Step Two — Drafting & IPO Filing | $1,800 |
| IPO Government Fees (filing + RFE) | ~₹44,000 (~$530) |
Included in our professional fees
- IPO patentability search and Step One strategy memo
- Section 3 patentable-subject-matter screening
- Provisional and complete specification drafting (claims, abstract, drawings)
- Form 1, Form 2, Form 5, Form 18 (RFE), Form 26 (POA)
- DPIIT entity-status verification and Form 28
- Annual Form 3 (statement of working) reminder & filing
- Deadline tracking through grant
FER responses, Controller hearings, pre-grant/post-grant opposition, and expedited examination (Rule 24C) are quoted separately when applicable. Renewal fees are payable annually from year 3 and are passed through at cost.
How We Compare on India Patent Filings
Registered Indian Patent Agent representation at fixed pricing — without the boutique firm hourly bill or the DIY filing risks (missed RFE, missed Form 3, lost rebate).
| Feature |
Best Value
GTC
|
DIY / IPO portal | Boutique IP firm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step One (search & §3 screen) | $400 fixed | Not provided | ₹15,000 – ₹40,000 |
| Complete spec drafting (utility) | $1,800 fixed | Self-draft | ₹60,000 – ₹2,50,000 |
| Registered Indian Patent Agent | |||
| DPIIT rebate verified & applied | Often missed | ||
| Drawings included (in-house) | Up to 10 figures | Self-prepare | Extra cost |
| Form 3 annual reminder & filing | Often forgotten | ||
| Form 18 RFE deadline tracking | |||
| FER hearing representation |
Comparison reflects typical Indian boutique IP firm rates as of 2026 and the IPO's published fee schedule. Government fees are set by the IPO and identical across providers.
“I've had the pleasure of working with Rajat for many years. He has expertly guided me through the process of registering my company in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and more. His deep knowledge of trademark law across jurisdictions is impressive.”
“We had various US trademarks to submit, and the team at Modi & Zaidi handled the entire process. They are friendly, knowledgeable and punctual. We will definitely use their services again.”
“Working with Maryam & the team of Rajat Modi has been an exceptional experience. Her professionalism, knowledge, and commitment to my case have been evident throughout the process.”
“I am a regular customer of GTC. They have done more than 15 Multi-Countries Trademarks for me so far. Their service quality and turnaround time is exceptional.”
“I had infringed on the copyright of a big brand, which threatened to lose my business. However, thanks to the professional work of this team, we signed the best possible contract and saved the business.”
“Global Trademark Company is the best in the business and I've used them for a number of my applications. Highly recommended for anyone looking for reliable trademark services.”
India Patent Prosecution Lifecycle
From Step One engagement to grant — typically 36–60 months. Expedited examination under Rule 24C can reduce this to 12–18 months for eligible applicants.
Step One — Strategy & Search
IPO patentability search, §3 subject-matter screen, and a written strategy memo on entity status, expedited examination eligibility, and PCT vs Convention routing.
Provisional Drafting & Filing
Provisional specification drafted to secure your priority date. Filed at the IPO with Form 1, Form 2 (provisional), and Form 26 (POA to Indian Patent Agent).
Complete Specification
Full specification with claims, abstract, drawings, and Form 5 inventorship declaration filed at the IPO. Hard deadline — loss of priority if missed.
Form 18 — Request for Examination
RFE must be filed within 31 months of the earliest priority date (or 48 months for expedited). Application is deemed withdrawn if missed — no extension available.
First Examination Report (FER)
An IPO Controller examines for novelty, inventive step, industrial applicability, and §3 exclusions. The FER itemizes objections and required clarifications.
FER Response & Controller Hearing
Written response with arguments and amendments. Examiner interviews and Controller hearings are often used to resolve substantive objections before final order.
Grant & Patent Certificate
Once granted, the patent is published in the Patent Office Journal and a sealed certificate is issued. Enforceable rights date back to the priority date.
Renewal Fees & Form 3
Renewal fees due annually from year 3 to year 20 to keep the patent in force. Form 3 (statement of working) must also be filed annually by 30 September — non-filing is a punishable offence.
Benefits of India patent registration
- 20-year exclusive right to make, use, sell, or import your invention across India (Patents Act §53)
- Enforceable in Delhi, Madras, Bombay, Kolkata, and Calcutta High Courts and Commercial Courts with growing case law on injunctions and damages
- Often a prerequisite for technology transfer agreements, government tenders, and DPIIT-recognized startup status
- Critical asset for Series A / B funding rounds and M&A in Indian deep-tech, pharma, and SaaS sectors
- Defensive value — your published application becomes prior art that blocks competitors' filings
- Launchpad for international filings via PCT (many countries) or Convention route within 12 months
- Brand value for D2C, manufacturing, and biotech companies competing with MNCs
- Recognized intangible asset on the company balance sheet for accounting and acquisition purposes
What you'll need to get started
- 1Invention disclosure — written description of how your invention works (and why it's new)
- 2Inventorship — full legal names and addresses of all inventors (Form 1)
- 3Sketches, drawings, or photographs of the invention (we redraft these to IPO standards)
- 4Form 5 declaration as to inventorship (filed with complete specification)
- 5Form 26 — Power of Attorney to your registered Indian Patent Agent
We treat all disclosures as confidential. For detailed technical information, we recommend signing an NDA before the second meeting.
Beyond India — Coordinated IP Protection
An Indian patent is often the first step in a broader IP strategy. We coordinate global patent filings, trademarks, and copyrights from a single point of contact.
PCT International Filing
One application preserves rights in many countries for up to 30 months — buy time before national-phase decisions.
Learn more about pct international filingUS Patent (USPTO)
USPTO-registered patent attorneys for provisional, utility, and design patents. Two-step pricing from $699.
Learn more about us patent (uspto)European Patent (EPO)
File a single European patent application that, once granted, can be validated in the EPC contracting states.
Learn more about european patent (epo)China Patent Filing (CNIPA)
Invention, utility model, and design patents through CNIPA. Translation and Chinese-agent representation handled in-house.
Learn more about china patent filing (cnipa)All Patent Jurisdictions
Browse the full list of patent jurisdictions we file in — US, EPO, India, China, UK, Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia, and PCT.
Learn more about all patent jurisdictionsIndia Trademark & Brand Protection
Patents protect inventions; trademarks protect your brand. Indian trademark registration with the IP India trademark registry.
Learn more about india trademark & brand protectionFrequently asked questions
Filing in multiple countries?
Consider PCT international instead of India alone.
One PCT application filed via WIPO preserves your priority right in many countries for up to 30/31 months — including India — giving you 18 extra months to evaluate commercial viability before committing to national-phase filings.
Request your India patent consultation
Tell us about your invention. A registered Indian Patent Agent will respond within one business day. All disclosures are treated as confidential.
Start your patent application
Tell us about your invention through our guided intake. A senior patent professional reviews your India filing goals and responds with a strategy and Step One quote — no payment required upfront.
- Registered patent attorneys & agents — confidential consultation
- Flat $699 Step One — strategy, prior-art search & filing-route recommendation
We respond within one business day. No obligation.
