India’s patent filings doubled in five years, now ranks 6th globally

India’s patent and industrial filings doubled between 2018 and 2023, with trademark filings increasing by 60%. The country now ranks 6th globally, with 64,480 patent filings, a 15.7% rise, driven by resident innovation, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

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India’s intellectual property (IP) landscape has shown impressive growth, with patent and industrial filings doubling between 2018 and 2023, and trademark filings rising by 60%, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. India now ranks 6th globally in patent filings, reaching 64,480—a 15.7% increase driven largely by resident innovation. This upward trajectory has positioned India among the global leaders in IP, underscoring the country’s commitment to fostering innovation.

The Indian IP office now holds the second-highest position globally for trademark registrations, with 3.2 million trademarks registered in 2023 alone. This growth has also boosted the country’s Patent-to-GDP ratio, which increased significantly from 144 to 381 over the past decade. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted India’s progress in a post on X (formerly Twitter), citing the nation’s role as a global innovation leader. “India has exhibited remarkable growth in patents, designs, and trademark filings, as per the WIPO Indicators 2024 report,” he stated, attributing the country’s IP expansion to the government’s long-standing commitment to building a robust innovation ecosystem.

“For over a decade now, the Modi government has nurtured a thriving ecosystem for innovation and IP protection. This has not only driven the country’s ascent globally but also fueled opportunities for our startups, entrepreneurs, and researchers,” Goyal remarked, emphasizing the IP sector’s role in creating broader economic opportunities.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in its annual World Intellectual Property Indicators report, noted that India recorded the fastest growth in patent filings among the top 20 nations, marking five consecutive years of double-digit growth in 2023. This momentum aligns with India’s broader push to advance resident innovation and protect intellectual property.

India’s trademark filings rose by 6.1% in 2023, securing the country’s rank as the 4th largest globally for trademark activity. Resident applications made up nearly 90% of these filings, with health, agriculture, and clothing as the top sectors. In industrial design, India now ranks 10th globally, achieving a 36.4% increase in 2023. Key sectors driving this growth include textiles and accessories, tools and machines, and health and pharma, collectively accounting for nearly half of all design filings.

With continued growth in IP filings, India is enhancing its role in global innovation, contributing to a diverse range of sectors while setting a strong foundation for future technological and economic advancements.