458 new patent examiners added to reduce application pendency

The Commerce and Industry Ministry has added 458 new patent examiners with an aim to reduce pendency of applications and enhance administration.
In March, the Commerce and Industry Ministry has said that as many as 2.37 lakh patent applications are pending with the government, mainly due to shortage of manpower.
"458 new patent examiners added to existing strength of 130; would reduce pendency and enhance administration," the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion said.
This is part of the initiatives taken by the ministry to drastically reduce the time taken for first examination of patent applications to 18 months from about 5-7 years.

In May, the government announced a comprehensive National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) policy, in a move to incentivise entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation and curb manufacturing and sale of counterfeits.
Further it said that patent filings in India has increased by 10 per cent to 46,916 in 2015-16 as compared to the previous fiscal.
Trademark filings too have shot up by 35 per cent to 283,060 in 2015-16.
The ministry has also constituted a Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM).