DPIIT Proposes Amendments to Designs Act

On 29th January 2026, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade released a Concept Note proposing wide-ranging amendments to the Designs Act, 2000, to modernise India’s design protection regime and align it with global best practices.

Key Points

Policy Objective: The proposed reforms are aimed at advancing the vision of “Design in India, Design for the World” by ensuring India’s design law remains relevant amid digital innovation and evolving consumer experiences.
Global Alignment: The Concept Note proposes India’s accession to the Riyadh Design Law Treaty and the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs to harmonise domestic law with international systems.
Protection for Virtual Designs: The amendments seek to extend design protection to virtual and digital designs by revising the definitions of “article” and “design” under the Act.
Grace Period Introduction: A full grace period of 12 months is proposed to allow designers to seek protection after public disclosure without losing novelty.
Deferred Publication Option: Designers may be allowed to defer publication of registered designs for up to 30 months, enhancing confidentiality and commercial strategy.