You filed a patent application, received an acknowledgement number and then heard little from the Patent Office. Does that mean something is wrong? Not necessarily. Patent applications can spend considerable time waiting for publication or examination, and a status such as "under examination" does not mean the patent has already been granted.
You can check the public status of a published Indian patent application on the official IP India system using its application number. The useful part is not merely the status label: it is the list of documents, dates and actions behind that label. A First Examination Report (FER), hearing notice or missed examination-request deadline can change what you need to do next.
This guide explains how to check patent application status in India, what the main stages mean, the deadlines applicable in 2026 and when you should take action rather than wait.
A public search may not show an application that has not yet been published. Also, portal information is not a substitute for a notice served on the applicant or the record available in an authorised patent e-filing account. For any legal deadline, check the actual notice and the applicable rule.
Quick answer: where to check patent application status in India
- Official IP India public search: Indian Patent Office — Public Search Official ↗.
- Application-number status search: Patent Application Status — IP India Official ↗.
- E-services and patent register: IP India E-Services Official ↗.
Public searching is generally free. If a linked system temporarily fails or changes its layout, start from IP India's main website and follow Patents → Public Search / E-Services rather than a third-party tracking page. CAPTCHA or other verification may be required.
Check your application in three actions
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Find your application number
Use the number printed on the Indian filing acknowledgement, not a trademark or design number.
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Search the official record
Enter the application number and complete any verification requested by IP India's search page.
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Read the documents and dates
Check publication, examination request, FER, hearing and order entries, not just the overall label.
How to check patent application status by application number: step by step
Step 1: Find the correct application number
Open your filing acknowledgement, patent agent's filing report or related Patent Office correspondence. The Indian application number is not necessarily the eventual patent grant number. An international PCT publication number is also not the same thing as an Indian national-phase application number.
Copy the complete number exactly as shown. Older applications sometimes use office-style number formats; newer applications use a different numeric format. Avoid guessing digits or changing the format when entering it.
Step 2: Open the official IP India search
Visit the Patent Application Status search Official ↗ or navigate there through the Patent Office public-search page Official ↗. The website may offer separate patent search, publication search, application status and e-register tools.
Step 3: Enter the number and complete verification
Type the number into the appropriate field, complete the CAPTCHA if requested, and submit the search. If the system says "record not found," first check the format and whether the application has been published. A missing public result does not by itself prove that the filing was rejected or never submitted.
Step 4: Confirm you opened the correct application
Compare the record with your documents: applicant name, invention title, filing date, priority information and application number. Where available, also check publication number, publication date and relevant Patent Office branch.
Step 5: Read the application history
Open the record or relevant document-history view. Look for the filing acknowledgement, publication, Form 18 / Form 18A request for examination, First Examination Report (FER), applicant's replies, hearing notices, written orders and grant information. Not every record displays these in exactly the same order.
Step 6: Record the next deadline
Download the available notices and note each issue date, due date, action required, form and responsible person. If an agent filed for you, compare the public record with the agent's private filing acknowledgements; the latest public label may lag behind an actual filing.
Save a dated PDF or screenshot of the public status and keep a separate deadline register. For legal purposes, preserve the actual Patent Office notices and filing receipts; screenshots alone may not establish compliance.
Patent application status meanings: what the stages tell you
| Stage or status | What it usually means | What you should check next |
|---|---|---|
Application filed | Patent Office received an application and assigned its number | Filing date; provisional or complete specification |
Awaiting publication / not yet public | Record is not publicly available or publication is pending | Expected publication date; whether secrecy or other exceptions apply |
Published | Details have become publicly accessible | Publication date; examination request; possible opposition |
Request for examination filed | Examination has been requested, not necessarily completed | Form 18/18A receipt and subsequent report |
Under examination / FER issued | Examiner has raised objections or examination is progressing | Exact FER and compliance deadline |
Reply filed / response under consideration | Applicant has supplied a response | Acknowledgement; further objection or hearing notice |
Hearing scheduled | Controller may hear submissions on outstanding issues | Hearing notice and filing instructions |
Granted | Patent has been granted | Patent number, grant date, status and renewal fees |
Refused | Controller has rejected the application by order | Signed order and available remedies / time limits |
Deemed abandoned | Required compliance was not completed within the legally applicable time | Exact missed step; professional assessment of remedies |
Deemed withdrawn | A statutory condition, commonly failure to request examination, was not satisfied | Grounds and timing; whether any permissible remedy exists |
Lapsed / ceased | Granted patent no longer in force, often because renewal fees were unpaid | Renewal history and restoration eligibility |
These are explanatory descriptions. The exact wording displayed by IP India can differ across its search, status and e-register systems.
Why "published" does not mean "patented"
Patent applications ordinarily become public 18 months after the earliest applicable filing or priority date. Applicants may also request early publication through Form 9. However, publication is only disclosure of an application; it is not a grant or a finding that the invention is patentable.
Some applications are not published under the ordinary timetable, including cases involving secrecy directions, certain withdrawals and provisional filings that are abandoned. See Rule 24 Official ↗ and the Patent Office FAQ Official ↗.
Why "under examination" is not a rejection
The examiner may object to novelty, inventive step, industrial applicability, exclusions under the Act, clarity or formal filing requirements. A negative objection in an FER is not necessarily a final refusal. The applicant has an opportunity to respond under the applicable procedure and within the available time.
Why a "granted" patent can still face challenges
Section 25 provides for pre-grant opposition after publication and before grant, and a qualifying interested person may bring a post-grant opposition within the statutory period. A patent can also be subject to other legal challenges. Grant should be verified through the actual official register and orders, not inferred from a search-result snippet.
Patent application deadlines in India: 2026 reference table
| Action | Ordinary time limit | Official basis |
|---|---|---|
Complete specification after provisional | Within 12 months of filing provisional specification | |
Ordinary publication | After 18 months from filing or priority, whichever is earlier, subject to exceptions | |
Request for examination — applications filed on or after 15 March 2024 | Generally 31 months from filing or priority, whichever is earlier | |
Request for examination — applications filed before 15 March 2024 | Earlier 48-month rule preserved for qualifying applications | |
Put application in order for grant after FER | Generally 6 months from issue of first statement of objections | |
Standard FER extension | Up to 3 months, by timely Form 4 request and fee | |
Other extension/condonation route | Rule 138 may allow a further period up to 6 months, subject to its conditions and Controller's decision | |
Patent term | Ordinarily 20 years from filing (special PCT date rule applies) |
The table is a general planning aid, not a deadline calculator for every PCT, divisional, secrecy-direction, hearing, opposition or restoration case. Do not assume a deadline has been extended until the required application has been made and the relevant authority's requirements have been met.
Can the 31-month examination-request period be extended? The Patent Office's official FAQ Official ↗ describes a Rule 138 route for seeking up to six months of additional time by Form 4 and prescribed fee. That relief is not automatic; applicants should plan to meet the original 31-month deadline and obtain case-specific advice before relying on an extension.
Example: calculating the examination-request deadline
Suppose a hypothetical Indian application was first filed on 10 January 2025, with no earlier priority claim. The 31-month period would ordinarily run to 10 August 2027. That is the date to check when filing Form 18, not the date on which the applicant eventually remembers to review the application.
If there is an earlier priority claim or a special filing category, the calculation may differ. The office's own filing records and Rule 24B Official ↗ control the assessment.
Example: an FER issued in June
Assume an FER was issued on 10 June 2026. The ordinary six-month period to put the application in order for grant runs to 10 December 2026. A prescribed three-month extension, if validly obtained, can extend that standard period; Rule 138 is a separate, conditional power and not an automatic extra six months.
This matters because merely uploading a short reply may not mean every requirement is resolved. The applicant must deal with the substantive and formal objections within the applicable framework.
How to know whether the Request for Examination (RFE) is filed
An Indian patent application is not examined automatically merely because you filed it. The request is ordinarily submitted using Form 18; eligible applicants can seek expedited examination through Form 18A under Rule 24C Official ↗.
To confirm the request:
- Check the public record's document history for Form 18 or Form 18A.
- Confirm the application number, filing date and fee acknowledgement.
- Compare the request date with the original filing/priority dates.
- If the public record is incomplete, obtain the receipt from the authorised filer or agent.
Expedited examination is available only to eligible applicants and does not guarantee patent grant. It may shorten the examination queue, but novelty, objections, hearings and opposition must still be addressed.
First Examination Report (FER): what to do when one appears
An FER sets out the Patent Office's objections and requirements. Some are substantive—for example, whether the claimed invention is new or inventive—and others may concern claims, drawings, forms or clarity.
Responding to an FER
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Read every objection
Separate technical objections, claim objections and procedural requirements.
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Collect relevant evidence
Review prior-art references, the original specification and available technical evidence.
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Prepare an issue-by-issue reply
Explain and support amendments without adding impermissible new subject matter.
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File the required documents
Submit the response and any appropriate amendments or supporting forms through the authorised route.
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Recheck the record
Confirm acknowledgement, monitor further communication and attend a hearing if required.
| FER issue | Documents or action to review |
|---|---|
| Novelty or inventive step | Prior-art citations, distinguishing technical features and supporting analysis |
| Patentability exclusion | Applicable statutory provision and technical/legal response |
| Claim clarity or support | Amended claims and references to original disclosure |
| Formalities | Corrected forms, declarations, sequence listings or drawings where applicable |
| Foreign applications / Section 8 | Review Form 3 obligations and relevant Rule 12 Official ↗ deadlines |
| Hearing notice | Hearing date, appearance arrangements and subsequent submissions ordered by Controller |
Patent prosecution is a technical legal exercise. If the FER cites several prior documents or complex claim objections, obtain qualified drafting assistance rather than responding with a generic letter.
What to do if your patent status shows abandoned, withdrawn or refused
These labels have different consequences, so the first step is to read the underlying order or communication, not assume the case can be reopened.
Deemed abandoned
A failure to meet Section 21 requirements within the applicable period can result in abandonment. The applicant should establish which requirement was outstanding, the original due date and whether an extension was correctly sought. Relief cannot be assumed after the event.
Deemed withdrawn
Failure to submit a valid request for examination within the prescribed period can result in deemed withdrawal under Section 11B. A provisional filing without a timely complete specification presents a different consequence under Section 9. Check the specific statutory ground before advising whether refiling is possible.
Refused
A refusal is a reasoned decision of the Controller, not merely an examination objection. Obtain the order and promptly review the legally applicable appeal or other remedy and limitation period.
Lapsed after grant
A granted patent may cease to have effect if renewal fees are not paid. Rule 80 Official ↗ sets out the renewal-fee framework, and Section 60 Official ↗ provides a limited restoration process, generally requiring an application within 18 months from lapse. Restoration is not automatic.
Patent application status not showing? Troubleshooting checklist
- Number entered incorrectly: Copy it from the official acknowledgement. Do not substitute the publication or patent-grant number.
- Application not yet published: Some details may be confidential. Check your private e-filing acknowledgement or ask the authorised agent.
- Searching an Indian record using only a PCT number: First identify the corresponding Indian national-phase number.
- CAPTCHA or site error: Refresh the page or start from the official IP India E-Services gateway. Avoid unknown third-party tracking sites requesting personal details.
- Reply filed but not reflected publicly: Keep the electronic acknowledgement and monitor subsequent updates. Contact the Patent Office or your agent if needed.
- Two records appear similar: Verify the applicant, title and filing date before relying on either result.
- Status appears inconsistent with correspondence: The underlying communication, electronic filing receipt and orders matter more than a simplified status description.
Do not share the applicant's portal password, OTP or confidential unpublished invention documents with a website offering "instant patent status." Official public searching should not require you to disclose these credentials to a third party.
What happens after patent grant?
After grant, an applicant becomes a patentee and should verify the patent number, grant details, renewal-fee history and any proceedings affecting the patent. A patent ordinarily lasts for 20 years from the filing date, not 20 years from the grant date. For PCT applications, the special international-filing-date rule applies. Patents Act, Section 53 Official ↗
Annual renewal fees are relevant from the third year, subject to the rules governing payment and grant timing. Also check whether Form 27 working statements become due under the current three-financial-year cycle; a granted patent may carry continuing obligations beyond fees. See Rule 131 Official ↗.
Practical checklist: what to keep in your patent file
- ○ Application acknowledgement and correct Indian application number
- ○ Provisional and complete specifications, with filing receipts
- ○ Priority details and relevant supporting documents
- ○ Request-for-examination acknowledgement (Form 18 or 18A)
- ○ Publication record and journal details, where available
- ○ Every FER, objection, response and amendment acknowledgement
- ○ Hearing notices, submissions and signed Controller orders
- ○ Statutory deadline tracker, with owner and reminders
- ○ Grant certificate, renewal challans and working-statement records (if granted)
Need help understanding a patent application status?
If your patent is awaiting examination, has received an FER or displays a concerning status, start by obtaining the underlying official record and the dates. TaxQue's patent registration service is a starting point for discussing patent filing and prosecution assistance. Confirm the professional scope and applicable fees before engagement.
For related reading, see patent search in India, trademark application status and copyright registration. If copyright protection is relevant, see TaxQue copyright assistance. Patent, trademark and copyright records are maintained under different legal frameworks, so use the correct portal for the intellectual property concerned.
Explore Patent Registration Assistance
Official sources and further reading
- IP India — Public Search Official ↗: entry point for patent search.
- IP India — Application Status Official ↗: application-number enquiry.
- Patents Rules — Rule 24B Official ↗: request for examination and FER periods.
- Patents Rules — Rule 24C Official ↗: expedited examination.
- Patents Rules — Rule 138 Official ↗: additional discretionary extension powers.
- Patents Rules — Rule 55 Official ↗: pre-grant opposition procedure.
- Patents Act — Section 53 Official ↗: patent term and lapse.
- Patent Office official FAQs Official ↗: explanatory answers on the application process.
This educational guide reflects public information reviewed on 19 October 2026. It is not an assessment of any particular patent application and does not replace legal advice from a registered patent agent or qualified legal professional.
