This is an answer provided by the Minister of State, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Shri B.L.Verma) in response to an unstarred question no. 2773 (ΟΙΗ) in Lok Sabha. The question was asked by SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY on 17.12.2025, regarding whether "Om" can be used as a trademark for vegetarian Satvik dishes and food items. The answer states that the Trade Marks Act, 1999, has no specific provision regulating the use of religious symbols such as "Om", but Section 9(2)(b) of the Act prohibits the registration of any trademark that could hurt religious sentiments. Furthermore, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has no records of the trade mark “Om” being used commercially.
Key Entities Referenced
Trade Marks Act, 1999: Indian law regulating trademarks; this document references sections relevant to registering religious symbols.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: The primary ministry answering the parliamentary question about trademarks.
Section 9(2)(b) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999: Specific clause within the Trade Marks Act prohibiting trademarks that hurt religious sentiments.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade: Department responsible for maintaining trademark records.
ORIGINAL IN HINDI
Government of India
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Department of Consumer Affairs
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2773 (OIH)
TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025
TRADEMARK FOR VEGETARIAN SATVIK DISHES AND FOOD ITEMS
2773. SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY:
(OIH)
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC
DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:
(a) whether ''Om'' can be used as a trademark for vegetarian Satvik dishes and food items to provide
guarantee of purity of vegetarian food to the users just like Halal;
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government and its future plan chalked out in this regard;
(c) whether there is any mechanism to find out if "Om" which is a religious symbol and word that has
been used for centuries has already been registered or used as a trademark by other entity in food
products or related categories (such as edible oils, spices and restaurant services); and
(d) if so, the details thereof including the reaction of the Government thereto?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI B.L.VERMA)
(a) & (b) : There is no specific provision in the Trade Marks Act, 1999 regulating the use of words such
as “Om” or other religious symbols. However, Section 9(2)(b) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, expressly
prohibits the registration of any trade mark that contains or comprises matter likely to hurt the religious
susceptibilities of any class or section of the citizens of India.
(c) & (d) : The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has no records of the trade mark
“Om” being used commercially.
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