Summary
The Indian IP Office has published draft versions of its patent and trade mark practice and procedure manuals for stakeholder comments. The Draft Manual of Patent Practice and Procedure, Version 4.0, 2026, was published on August 19, 2026, while the Revised Draft Manual of the Trade Marks Office Practice and Procedure was published on August 21, 2026. Stakeholders have been given 30 days to comment on the Patent Manual and 15 days to comment on the Trade Marks Manual.
Indian IP Office Releases New Draft Practice Manuals
In August 2026, the Indian IP Office published two important draft manuals dealing with the procedures followed for patents and trade marks in India.
The first was the Draft Manual of Patent Practice and Procedure, Version 4.0, 2026, published for stakeholder comments on August 19, 2026. Two days later, on August 21, 2026, the Indian IP Office published the Revised Draft Manual of the Trade Marks Office Practice and Procedure and invited comments on that document as well.
The two manuals bring together the procedures followed by the respective offices at different stages of patent and trade mark prosecution and administration. Both manuals are presently in draft form, and the Indian IP Office has invited stakeholders to review them and submit comments and suggestions before the prescribed periods expire.
Draft Patent Manual 2026
The Patent Manual is titled Draft Manual of Patent Practice & Procedure, Version 4.0, 2026. It runs to 204 pages and substantially updates the manner in which Patent Office procedures are presented.
The draft refers to the amendments made to the Patents Rules over the years, including the 2024 amendments, as well as changes brought about by automation, electronic processing and revised Patent Office procedures. The Patent Manual states that these developments led to the revision and updating of the existing manual.
The Manual starts with an introduction and key definitions and then moves through the different stages of patent prosecution. Among other subjects, it covers filing of patent applications, jurisdiction, different types of applications, electronic filing, publication, provisional and complete specifications, claims and priority. It also deals with divisional applications, patents of addition, convention applications, international applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty and national phase applications.
The Manual thereafter addresses examination and other proceedings before the Patent Office, bringing a substantial part of Patent Office practice and procedure into a single document.
Download the Draft Patent Manual 2026: Download Draft Manual of Patent Practice & Procedure, Version 4.0, 2026
Revised Draft Trade Marks Manual
The Trade Marks document has been published as the Revised Draft Manual of the Trade Marks Office Practice and Procedure. The draft PDF runs to 215 pages and sets out Trade Marks Registry procedures across seven chapters.
The first chapter deals with filing documents and trade mark applications before the Trade Marks Registry. It covers general filing requirements, the persons who may file an application, the basis of an application, details required from different categories of applicants, representation of marks, specifications of goods and services and filing requirements.
The second chapter deals with examination of trade mark applications. Among other matters, it addresses classification, relative grounds under Section 11, absolute grounds under Section 9, series marks and communication of examination reports.
The remaining chapters address post examination disposal, show cause hearings, publication and registration, opposition and rectification proceedings, amendments before registration, renewal, assignment and transmission, registered users and post registration amendments. The final chapter separately deals with claims of prior use and determination of well known marks.
Stakeholder Comments Invited
The Indian IP Office has invited stakeholders to review both manuals and submit comments and suggestions. The periods allowed for comments are different, although the email addresses specified for submission are presently the same.
- Revised Draft Trade Marks Manual: Comments and suggestions may be sent to cgoffice.in@gov.in and llc-ipo@gov.in within 15 days from the date of publication of the Public Notice dated August 21, 2026.
- Draft Patent Manual 2026: Comments and suggestions may be sent to cgoffice.in@gov.in and llc-ipo@gov.in within 30 days from publication of the draft on August 19, 2026.
The draft manuals and the invitations for comments are available on the official Indian IP Office website.
References
- Indian IP Office, Draft Manual of Patent Practice & Procedure, Version 4.0 (2026), https://ipindia.gov.in/storage/uploads/others/BVlylNPNgIIG7kUMFUoeNXEVGtn3yFoS1tnAORbp.pdf (last visited Aug. 24, 2026).
- Indian IP Office, Invitation for Comments and Suggestions on Draft Manual of Patent Office (Practice & Procedure), IP India (Aug. 19, 2026), https://ipindia.gov.in/dynamic/news-details/122 (last visited Aug. 24, 2026).
- Indian IP Office, Revised Draft Manual of the Trade Marks Office (Practice & Procedure) (2026), https://ipindia.gov.in/storage/uploads/others/ZAyEj620WLCcGtFi4vdUIxKpI4vVJvUnbPwGcZOQ.pdf (last visited Aug. 24, 2026).
- Indian IP Office, Invitation for Comments and Suggestions on Revised Draft Manual of the Trade Marks Office (Practice & Procedure), IP India (Aug. 21, 2026), https://ipindia.gov.in/dynamic/news-details/124 (last visited Aug. 24, 2026).
Disclaimer
This article is based on the author’s understanding of the materials published by the Indian IP Office and is intended only for general information. It does not constitute legal advice. An AI application was used to generate parts of this article based on user inputs and prompts. Views are personal.