The Ministry of Commerce and Industry published the Patents (Amendment) Rules 2024 on 15th March 2024. Some of the salient changes introduced by the Amendment Rules include:

1. Reduction in time period prescribed for filing request for examination from 48 months to 31 months from the priority date;
2. Change in time period to keep the patent office informed regarding the updated details of corresponding foreign applications from six months from the date of filing of the corresponding foreign application to three months from the date of issuance of the first examination report;
3. Hefty petition fees for condonation of any irregularity in submitting details of corresponding foreign applications if not filed within the timeline prescribed by the Rules;
4. Working statements to be filed once in respect of every period of three financial years starting from the financial year commencing immediately after the financial year in which the patent was granted; and
5. Substantial reduction in the degree of information required to be submitted along with the annual working statements.