Banglashree PRS — 50% Patent Subsidy up to ₹5L for West Bengal MSMEs
West Bengal's Banglashree PRS scheme reimburses 50% of patent registration expenses for eligible manufacturing MSMEs, capped at ₹5 lakh per approved project.
- Funding amount
- ₹5L (subsidy)
- Funding type
- Subsidy
- Provider
- Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles, Government of West Bengal (Government)
- Application deadline
- Closed (31 Mar 2025)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
The Subsidy for Patent Registration (PRS) is one of the sub-schemes offered under Banglashree for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the fiscal incentive programme administered by the Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles, Government of West Bengal. It has a narrow, practical purpose: an eligible enterprise that has paid to register a patent gets half of that spend back, subject to a ceiling of ₹5,00,000 for each approved project.
The parent Banglashree framework sets the wider agenda. It is meant to draw entrepreneurs into setting up and growing micro, small and medium units across West Bengal, to spread development more evenly through the MSME sector, to build an ecosystem that sustains itself and uses resources efficiently, to generate fresh employment, and to widen the reach of the state's enterprises so West Bengal can claim a leading position in India's MSME landscape.
Patent registration is expensive, and the bill usually arrives when a young manufacturing unit is least able to absorb it. PRS is designed to soften that blow. By bearing a large share of the registration cost, the scheme nudges MSMEs towards formally protecting their technologies and products, which keeps research and development alive and gives these enterprises a firmer competitive footing in the market.
The scheme has been in force since April 1, 2020 and stays operational until March 31, 2025. Claims are filed online through the state's Shilpasathi single-window portal, and a first application must reach the government within 12 months of the enterprise's Date of Commencement of Commercial Production (DOCCP), or within 12 months of the date Banglashree was notified, whichever falls later.
Highlights
- Up to ₹5,00,000 reimbursed per approved project
- Covers 50% of the cost of registering a patent
- Open to manufacturing MSMEs in West Bengal
- Production must have begun on or after April 1, 2019, with DOCCP by March 31, 2025
- Scheme runs from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2025
- Apply online through the Shilpasathi portal
Who can apply
The subsidy is reserved for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises that work in the manufacturing sector and operate in West Bengal.
- Business type: the applicant must qualify as a micro, small or medium enterprise, and its activity must fall within manufacturing.
- When production began: commercial production must have started on or after April 1, 2019.
- DOCCP window: the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production must fall between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2025.
- Who may own the unit: private sector businesses, cooperative sector units, joint sector undertakings, state-government-owned companies and Industrial Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are all permitted to apply.
Banglashree PRS — 50% Patent Subsidy up to ₹5L for West Bengal MSMEs is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Deadline & timing
The most recent application window for Banglashree PRS — 50% Patent Subsidy up to ₹5L for West Bengal MSMEs closed on 31 Mar 2025. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
Approved enterprises are reimbursed 50% of the expenditure they have incurred on obtaining patent registration, and this reimbursement is capped at ₹5,00,000 for each approved project.
- The support comes as a government subsidy released against the cost of registering a patent.
- The ₹5,00,000 ceiling applies per approved project, so it is the upper limit any single claim can bring in.
- Nothing has to be repaid — the assistance is an incentive, not a borrowing.
Because the state absorbs a large part of the registration bill, an MSME can protect its intellectual property without a prohibitive upfront outlay. The scheme also eases the patenting process itself, which matters for locking in market advantage and for attracting further investment into new products and processes.
About the provider
Banglashree PRS — 50% Patent Subsidy up to ₹5L for West Bengal MSMEs is offered by Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles, Government of West Bengal, a government body. As a government-backed subsidy, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Banglashree PRS — 50% Patent Subsidy up to ₹5L for West Bengal MSMEs, keep the following documents ready:
- A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
- Company registration documents and PAN
- Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
- Recent financial statements or projections
- Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available
Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.
Who this is best for
Banglashree PRS — 50% Patent Subsidy up to ₹5L for West Bengal MSMEs is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹5L. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
How much money does the PRS subsidy give?
It refunds 50% of the amount your enterprise has spent on obtaining patent registration. The reimbursement cannot cross ₹5,00,000 for any single approved project, so that figure is the maximum you can receive even if your registration cost is higher.
Who is eligible to apply for this patent registration subsidy?
Your unit must be a Micro, Small or Medium Enterprise operating in the manufacturing sector. Commercial production should have begun on or after April 1, 2019, and the Date of Commencement of Commercial Production must fall between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2025.
Which types of organisations can claim the subsidy?
The scheme is open to private sector enterprises, cooperative sector units, joint sector undertakings, companies owned by the state government, and Industrial Self-Help Groups (SHGs), provided they also satisfy the MSME and manufacturing conditions.
Is the scheme only for manufacturing units?
Yes. The eligibility criteria are built around the manufacturing sector, so an enterprise must be engaged in manufacturing rather than in trading or purely service activity to qualify.
What is the last date to apply?
The scheme remains in force until March 31, 2025, which is effectively the final cut-off. There is also an individual clock to watch: your first application has to be submitted within 12 months of your Date of Commencement of Commercial Production, or within 12 months of the date Banglashree was notified, whichever of the two is later.
How do I apply for the subsidy?
Applications are made online on the Shilpasathi portal (silpasathi.wb.gov.in). You start with a new user registration, choosing your applicant type and entering your registration number. After logging in, pick 'MSME Incentive' from the list of services and create your Common Application Form (CAF), filling in the eligibility form and all mandatory fields. That takes you to your dashboard, from where you proceed to Online Form-A, preview it and save. Next, select your year-wise subsidy items under 'Apply Subsidy' and enter the details under 'Fill Up Subsidy', using 'Add More' if the claim covers several years. Finally, upload the relevant documents, preview everything, tick the declaration box and submit on the VERIFY & SUBMIT screen. You will then receive an application reference number to track the claim.
Does the government take equity or expect repayment?
No. This is a reimbursement subsidy rather than an investment or a loan, so the government does not take a stake in your business and the amount released to you is not paid back.
What documents do I need to submit?
The published details of the scheme do not itemise a fixed document list. The portal does require you to upload all relevant documents at the final stage of the application, before you verify and submit. Keep digital copies of your enterprise registration particulars and the expenditure records behind your patent registration claim ready for that step.
Can an enterprise that started production before April 1, 2019 apply?
No. Commercial production must have commenced on or after April 1, 2019 for the unit to be considered under this scheme.
Who runs the scheme and how long has it been running?
It is administered by the Department of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles, Government of West Bengal, as a sub-scheme of Banglashree for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. It has been operational from April 1, 2020 and continues until March 31, 2025.
Is DPIIT recognition required for Banglashree PRS — 50% Patent Subsidy up to ₹5L for West Bengal MSMEs?
No. DPIIT (Startup India) recognition is not listed as a mandatory requirement for Banglashree PRS — 50% Patent Subsidy up to ₹5L for West Bengal MSMEs, though having it can strengthen your application and unlock other benefits.
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