The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), on January 29, 2026, notified regarding the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade proposes an amendment to the Designs Act in line with global best practices.
The following has been stated namely:-
• The aim is to modernise India's design protection framework and bring it in line with international best practices. The concept paper also proposes acceding India to the Riyadh Design Law Treaty (DLT) and the Hague Convention on International Registration of Industrial Designs.
• Key proposals outlined in the concept note include:
• To provide protection to virtual designs by making material changes to the definitions of 'article' and 'design'.
• Start of the 12-month grace period
• Option to defer publication of designs for up to 30 months
• Introduction of relief provisions in timeframes consistent with the Design Law Treaty.
• Statutory compensation.
• Amendment of the period of protection.
• Introduction of multiple design files in a single application.
• Choice of classification of applications
• DLT and other miscellaneous changes in line with the Hague Convention
[Press release ID. 2220013]
