CGPDTM Releases Draft Patent and Trademark Office Manuals for Public Consultation

The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (CGPDTM) released two new draft manuals on 20 August 2026, inviting stakeholders to submit comments and suggestions within 30 days on the Draft Manual of Patent Office (Practice & Procedure), 2026, and separately on the Draft Manual of Trade Marks Office. These draft manuals represent significant updates to the patent office and trademark office procedural frameworks that govern how patent examiners and trademark officials conduct examination, issue objections, and process applications. The manuals establish the detailed practice and procedure rules that patent agents, trademark practitioners, and applicants must follow when prosecuting patents and trademarks before IP India. Patent applicants and trademark applicants should review the specific procedural changes in both drafts to understand how examination timelines, objection handling, documentation requirements, and filing procedures may shift once finalized. This consultation period is critical for industry stakeholders—including patent agents, trademark attorneys, pharmaceutical companies, software developers, and other IP-intensive businesses—to identify potential compliance challenges and provide feedback before the manuals take effect. Businesses with active patent and trademark portfolios should prepare to adapt their prosecution strategies once the final manuals are notified.