IP India guides

Guides to the Indian patent process

Each guide answers one question about getting a patent in India, from filing to renewal, with the section of the Patents Act or the rule behind every deadline and fee.

1. How to file a patent in India, step by step

   Every step from prior art search to grant, with the forms and deadlines at each one.

2. Provisional vs complete specification in India

   When to file a provisional, what it must contain, and the 12-month deadline for the complete.

3. How to write patent claims, with examples

   Claim structure, independent and dependent claims with worked examples, and the claim objections raised in India.

4. Patent fees in India (2026)

   Every official Indian patent fee from filing to renewal, with a fee calculator.

5. Form 18: request for examination in India

   The Form 18 deadline, fees, expedited examination on Form 18A, and what happens if you miss it.

6. How to respond to a First Examination Report (FER)

   The FER deadline, common objections, how to structure the reply, and the hearing.

7. Indian patent timeline, from filing to expiry

   Each stage of an Indian patent with its statutory deadline, from filing to the end of the 20-year term.

8. How to check Indian patent application status

   Where to check an Indian patent application's status, and what each status means.

9. The Indian Patent Journal, explained

   What the weekly Indian Patent Journal publishes and how to search it.