In 2025, the Indian government unveiled a new intellectual property (IP) strategy aimed at reforming the design registration process to enhance efficiency, accessibility, and protection for creators. The strategy focuses on simplifying the design filing process, reducing the time taken for design approvals, and ensuring that design rights are more accessible to startups, small businesses, and individual creators across various industries. These reforms aim to create a more dynamic and inclusive IP ecosystem that encourages innovation and fosters growth in India’s design-driven sectors.

Key aspects of the new strategy include the digitalization of design filing systems, making it easier for applicants to submit designs online, track their application status, and receive faster approvals. Additionally, the government plans to introduce simplified forms and user-friendly guidelines, which will allow a broader range of stakeholders, including small-scale designers and regional creators, to easily navigate the process of design registration. The reform also includes increased awareness campaigns to educate businesses on the benefits of design protection and how it can help maintain a competitive edge in both domestic and international markets.

Experts believe that these reforms will significantly boost the number of design registrations in India, ensuring that creators can protect their innovative designs more effectively. As more individuals and businesses seek legal protection for their visual creations, India is poised to strengthen its position as a global leader in intellectual property protection. The new IP strategy is expected to foster a culture of innovation, improve India’s ranking in global IP indices, and contribute to economic growth by supporting industries reliant on creative design.