The Annual Report issued by the Office of the Controller General
of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (CGPDTM) for the financial year
2019-20 illustrates it's continued efforts in strengthening the
IPR framework of the country and aligning it with global standard
in the said year. Simplification and IT-enabled functioning of
procedures as well as growth in technical manpower has considerably
improved timelines of processing applications as well reduced
existing backlogs. Out of 220 Examiners of Patents and Designs
recruited last year, 181 have also been trained and inducted in
their respective groups.
Though in March 2020 performance was affected due to the
lockdown attributable to the Covid-19 pandemic, the IPO took the
requisite steps to revive its functions for efficient online
activities, extension of procedural timelines as well as
work-from-home facilities for its officers. Examinations, hearings,
grants, and other essential functions were all conducted
