In India, you can file several types of patent applications depending on the development stage of your invention. Patent applications can be filed under different categories depending on the nature and stage of the invention. Here are the main types:
Filed when the invention is still under development. It secures a priority date and gives the applicant 12 months to file the complete specification. Ideal for early-stage innovations.
Filed when the applicant has a complete and finalised invention. It must include a full specification with detailed descriptions, drawings, and claims. Can be a direct or subsequent filing (after a provisional patent application).
Filed in India within 12 months of filing a similar application in a convention country. It allows the applicant to claim priority from the earlier foreign filing.
A single international filing under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) that gives the applicant up to 31 months to enter multiple countries. It includes international search and examination reports to assess patentability.
Filed in individual countries (including India) after an international PCT application. Must be submitted within 31 months from the priority date to seek protection in that country.
Filed for improvements or minor modifications to an already filed or granted patent. It does not require a separate renewal fee and expires with the main patent.
Filed when an application claims more than one invention. The original (parent) application is divided, and each division retains the same priority date as the original.