Why Indian startup patents are dying even before they are born

Patent filing has largely become a cynical marketing exercise that says little about real innovation

- PRAVIN KAUSHAL

At first glance, the Indian startup ecosystem appears to be in the midst of a historic intellectual-property (IP) boom.

Patent filings by DPIIT-recognized startups have crossed 13,000 since 2021, trademark filings have exceeded 44,000, and every pitch deck seems to carry the familiar phrase: “Patent filed.” This surge may look like an innovation renaissance. But the shine wears off if one looks beyond the filing numbers. Fresh Lok Sabha data confirms what many insiders have whispered for years: a large share of Indian startup patents never reach examination stage and are not granted. Many others are quietly withdrawn or abandoned—dying far before they are born.

Between 2021 and 2025, startups filed 13,089 patent applications. Yet only 2,174 patents were granted. Barely 1 out of 6 filings survived the journey. Even more telling, nearly 500 startup patent applications were withdrawn or abandoned early, often because filers did not complete specifications, nor respond to further actions needed.

The pattern is similar for trademarks: startups filed 44,517 trademark applications, but over 1,300 were abandoned—another indicator that filings often serve more as brand optics than as part of a disciplined IP strategy.