50 months on average: Delayed patent examinations stifle inventors

Mohan Jindal, a Bengaluru-based entrepreneur says he will need to be patient enough for at least a year to hear back about his two recent patent applications on cutting-edge technology for semiconductor security and performance. Experts say such delays in the patent examination may become a speed bump for Indian innovators if not improved soon.

According to a recent study by tech industry body Nasscom, the average pendency time for a final decision on patent applications in India was around 50 months, as per the latest data of 2021. The pendency time in India is three times more compared to