**Summary:**
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry's Patent Office (CGPDTM) released the Revised Guidelines for Examination of Computer Related Inventions (CRIs), 2025, on July 29, 2025. These guidelines address emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), Cloud Computing, Quantum Computing, and Blockchain. The revisions aim to enhance transparency, uniformity, and predictability in CRI examination, aligning India's patent practices with global standards.
Key features of the revised guidelines include a detailed chapter on CRI jurisprudence, a stepwise assessment methodology for Section 3(k) of the Patents Act with examples, flowcharts to aid understanding of the assessment process, and a chapter dedicated to the examination of AI, ML, DL, Blockchain, and Quantum Computing inventions, with scenario-based examples and sufficiency of disclosure requirements. An annexure provides 40 additional examples illustrating allowable and non-allowable claims under Section 3(k).
The guidelines were developed through a structured stakeholder consultation process, with Version 1.0 published on March 25, 2025, followed by consultations across Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Version 2.0 was published on June 26, 2025, incorporating initial feedback. The final revised guidelines reflect careful consideration of stakeholder suggestions.
Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks, Prof. Dr. Unnat P. Pandit, emphasizes that the revised guidelines will be a crucial reference for inventors and officials, especially for AI-implemented and disruptive technology-based inventions. The guidelines and a compilation of stakeholder feedback are available on the CGPDTM website (www.ipindia.gov.in).
Key Entities Referenced
Revised Guidelines for Examination of Computer Related Inventions CRIs, 2025: The main subject of the notification, these guidelines provide a framework for examining patent applications related to computer-related inventions.
CGPDTM: The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks, the issuing authority of the guidelines.
Artificial Intelligence AI: An emerging technology specifically addressed within the revised guidelines for patent examination.
Machine Learning ML: An emerging technology specifically addressed within the revised guidelines for patent examination.
Blockchain: An emerging technology specifically addressed within the revised guidelines for patent examination.
Quantum Computing: An emerging technology specifically addressed within the revised guidelines for patent examination.
Patents Act: The legal framework under which patents are examined, specifically Section 3k which is mentioned in the document.
Chennai, Tamil Nadu: One of the Patent Office locations where stakeholder consultations were held.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Patent Office (CGPDTM) releases Revised
Guidelines for Examination of Computer Related
Inventions (CRIs), 2025
New Guidelines incorporate provisions for AI, ML,
Blockchain, Quantum Computing, and other
emerging technologies
A major step towards transparency, uniformity, and
innovation in India’s patent ecosystem
Posted On: 29 JUL 2025 4:17PM by PIB Delhi
The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (CGPDTM) has released the Revised
Guidelines for Examination of Computer Related Inventions (CRIs), 2025. The new guidelines aim to
enhance clarity, consistency, and predictability in the examination of CRIs, while aligning India's patenting
practices with global standards. This has been done in response to the rapidly evolving technological
landscape.
The revised guidelines incorporate key considerations for inventions related to emerging technologies such as
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), Cloud Computing, Quantum
Computing, and Blockchain.
Key highlights of the revised CRI Guidelines, 2025 include:
· Inclusion of a detailed chapter on jurisprudence elaborating the nuances of CRIs;
· Step-wise assessment methodology for Section 3(k) of the Patents Act, supported by multiple
examples;
· Flowcharts to assist stakeholders, including IPO officials, in understanding the assessment process
under Section 3(k);
· A Comprehensive Chapter on Examination of Inventions related to Artificial Intelligence (AI),
Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL), Blockchain, Quantum Computing, with scenario
based examples, sufficiency of disclosure requirements and aspect(s) which may take it out of the
purview of exclusion under section 3(k),
· An annexure comprising an indicative list of 40 additional examples—apart from the 20 examples in
the main body—illustrating allowable and non-allowable claims under Section 3(k).
The Draft Guidelines for Examination of CRIs, 2025 (Version 1.0) were published on 25th March 2025,
followed by a structured stakeholder consultation process held across all four Patent Office
locations—Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Based on the feedback received, the Revised Draft
Guidelines for Examination of CRIs, 2025 version 2.0 was published on 26th June 2025 for furthercomments. After careful consideration and deliberation of stakeholder suggestions, the final revised
guidelines have now been notified.
The revised guidelines are intended to bring uniformity and transparency to CRI examination practices and
will help streamline the decision-making process within the Indian patent ecosystem. The document also
includes subject-specific examples aligned with prevailing jurisprudence to assist in effective resolution of
patentability challenges.
Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks, Prof. (Dr.) Unnat P. Pandit, stated that the revised
guidelines will serve as a crucial reference for inventors and officials alike, particularly in navigating the
patentability of AI-implemented and other disruptive technology-based inventions.
The notified guidelines are now available on the official website of the CGPDTM at www.ipindia.gov.in. In
line with the commitment to transparent and collaborative decision-making, a compilation of the feedback
received on both draft versions, along with summaries of in-person consultations held across the four
locations, has also been published.
The Office of the CGPDTM extends its gratitude to all stakeholders for their active participation and valuable
contributions throughout the consultation process.
***
Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas
(Release ID: 2149719)