PATENT LAW IN INDIA

Patent law occupies a pivotal place in India's intellectual property regime, seeking to balance the private incentive to innovate with the larger public interest in access to technology, medicine and knowledge. This article traces the evolution of patent law in India from the colonial-era Patents and Designs Act, 1911 to the present Patents Act, 1970, examines the statutory framework governing patentability, procedure and enforcement, and analyses the manner in which Indian courts have interpreted contentious provisions such as Section 3(d) and the compulsory licensing regime under Section 84. It concludes with a review of the 2024 procedural reforms and the challenges that continue to confront India's patent ecosystem.