Assistance for IP Protection Support — Puducherry Patent Subsidy (₹2L–₹5L) — Frequently Asked Questions

The department reimburses 50% of what a unit spends on protecting its patent. For a domestic patent the reimbursement is capped at ₹2 lakh, and for an international patent the ceiling is ₹5 lakh, so the total support ranges between ₹2 lakh and ₹5 lakh depending on the type of filing.

Micro, Small, Medium and Large Industries are all covered, so there is no upper size limit. The unit must be in the Union Territory of Puducherry and must have made the investment on or after 1 April 2017. It also has to give at least 60% of its total employment to residents of Puducherry and keep that share intact for the period stated in its affidavit. The conditions listed for this assistance do not include DPIIT recognition or MSME registration.

No. The scheme is rolling and remains open, so a unit can register its claim at any point rather than waiting for an application window to open.

Fees paid to patent attorneys, charges from patent service centres and patent registration fees all count as eligible expenditure, and the 50% is calculated on that. Travel expenses and hotel charges are excluded.

Neither. It is a subsidy, so the amount does not have to be repaid and no equity or ownership stake in the unit changes hands.

Disbursement happens only after the patent is published or notified, and it may arrive as a single instalment or be split into several depending on the funds available. A self-financed unit is paid directly. If a bank or financial institution has financed the unit, the subsidy is channelled through that institution and is usually adjusted against the existing loan or applied towards creating additional fixed assets or working capital.

Yes. At least 60% of the unit's total employment strength must go to people from the Union Territory of Puducherry, and that proportion has to be maintained for the period specified in the affidavit the unit files.

No. Fixed assets cannot be transferred or disposed of for 5 years, counted from whichever is later — the date the application is submitted or the date the subsidy is disbursed.

Additional investment made by a new or existing unit after availing a first claim can also be subsidised, subject to the ceiling. Where the same person or group sets up several units, each can be treated as a separate applicant provided the units are located in different places and registered separately.

Download the prescribed claim form from the official website of the Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Puducherry. Fill in every mandatory field and attach self-attested copies of the supporting documents the form requires, then submit the signed application to the concerned authority within the Directorate. Collect an acknowledgment carrying the date and time of submission and any unique identification number issued to you. After that, the Directorate scrutinises the claim on merit and places it before the State Level Committee for a decision.

No. DPIIT (Startup India) recognition is not listed as a mandatory requirement for Assistance for IP Protection Support — Puducherry Patent Subsidy (₹2L–₹5L), though having it can strengthen your application and unlock other benefits.

Assistance for IP Protection Support — Puducherry Patent Subsidy (₹2L–₹5L) is offered by Industries and Commerce Department, Government of Puducherry, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.

Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.