Delays in patent approvals are hurting inventors, startups, and commercialization of breakthrough technologies, says Dr. Harilal Bhaskar.
Key Highlights
- Expert calls for faster patent approvals in India.
- Current patent grant timelines can stretch to 4–5 years.
- Delays may reduce commercialization opportunities for innovators.
- Priority processing suggested for healthcare, agriculture, and clean-energy innovations.
- Proposal includes patent examination within 90 days for high-impact ideas.
- Calls for greater use of AI-driven patent searches and expert evaluation.
- Advocates stronger support for rural innovators, MSMEs, and startups.
- Recommends linking patents with incubation and commercialization pathways.
New Delhi, June 25, 2026: India must urgently reform its patent ecosystem to prioritize speed, commercialization, and real-world impact rather than merely increasing the number of patent filings, according to innovation expert Dr. Harilal Bhaskar.
In an opinion piece titled “India’s Patent System Needs Urgency, Not Ceremony,” Bhaskar argued that lengthy patent approval timelines are preventing many promising innovations from reaching the market when they are most relevant.
According to him, while countries such as South Korea, China, and the United States have streamlined patent examination processes to support innovation and commercialization, Indian inventors often wait four to five years for patent grants.
Delays Costing India Opportunities
Bhaskar noted that prolonged approval timelines can leave inventors struggling with funding constraints, outdated technologies, and lost market opportunities.
“The cost of delay is not bureaucratic inconvenience—it is lost national opportunity,” he said.
He emphasized that in sectors driven by rapid technological change, delayed patent approvals can significantly reduce the commercial value of an invention before it reaches the market.
Key Challenges Identified
The article highlights several factors contributing to delays in India’s patent ecosystem:
- Weak patent claim drafting and legal support
- Large numbers of low-impact or ranking-driven patent filings
- Limited industry participation in innovation pipelines
- High indirect costs associated with patent prosecution and maintenance
Bhaskar argued that many academic institutions file patents primarily to improve rankings rather than commercialize technologies, increasing the burden on patent examiners.
Call for Priority Processing
The expert proposed a fast-track mechanism for inventions with strong societal or economic value.
Areas suggested for priority examination include:
- Affordable healthcare technologies
- Clean-energy solutions
- Agricultural and rural innovations
- Digital diagnostics
- Export-oriented industrial technologies
Under a proposed merit-based framework, high-impact patents could receive an initial examination within 90 days and a final decision within 180 days.
Balancing Technology and Expertise
Bhaskar also advocated greater use of digital tools for prior-art searches and novelty assessments while retaining human experts to evaluate commercial viability and societal impact.
According to him, combining technology with domain expertise can improve both efficiency and quality in patent examination.
Supporting Grassroots Innovators
The article stresses that innovation should not be limited to elite institutions.
Bhaskar highlighted the contributions of:
- Rural innovators
- MSMEs
- Independent inventors
- District-level colleges
- Local workshops
He argued that patent evaluation should focus on the quality and impact of inventions rather than the reputation of the institution behind them.
Suggested Reforms
The article proposes four immediate reforms:
- Link patents directly to commercialization and deployment channels.
- Create sector-specific patent clusters for easier licensing.
- Establish a Patent Capital Support Fund for inventors.
- Develop market intelligence units to identify global opportunities.
Author is
Chief Operating Officer (COO) and National Coordinator at I-STEM (Indian Science, Technology, and Engineering Facilities Map), under the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA), Government of India
