Wellspring of Ingenuity

India's intellectual property ecosystem is undergoing a transformative leap, as evident in its record patent filings, institutional reforms, freely breathing innovation, and IP-conscious innovators

- ANIL RAJPUT

World Intellectual Property Day, celebrated on April 26 every year, calls for reflection on how far a country has progressed in cherishing and protecting the ideas that define its future. Originally commemorated in 2000 by the World Intellectual Property Organisation on the occasion of the enforcement of the WIPO Convention in 1970, it is now an international reminder that creativity, innovation, and invention are the building blocks of progress.

India's journey over the last half decade has been nothing short of transformative in this arena. During this period, the nation has transformed from an emerging voice in the IP conversation to one of the world's most vibrant ecosystems for intellectual property.

Patent applications in India have risen exponentially, with recent years registering double-digit growth consistently. Alone in 2023, India saw the most rapid growth in patent applications among the global leading economies, with resident inventors for the first time contributing to over half of the total filings. The size and speed of grants also reached new heights, witnessing a sharp increase in both productivity and innovation quality. More than 100,000 patents were issued in the previous fiscal year—an average of almost 250 grants per working day—demonstrating that innovation is not only happening but being recognised and protected at speed.