New Delhi, Aug 2 (KNN) The number of patents granted has increased from 6,326 in 2015-16 to 28,391 in 2020-21, while trademarks registration has risen from 65,045 in 2015-16 to 2,55,993 in 2020-21, the commerce and industry ministry said.

Similarly, while 4,505 Copyrights were granted in 2015-16, a total of 16,402 were granted last fiscal, it added.

The Ministry further said that the government is committed to bolstering the ecosystem of patents, design, trademarks, and Geographical Indication (GI) systems to encourage innovation, research and development in the country.

"The number of patents granted has gone up from 6,326 in 2015-16 to 28,391 in 2020-21, while Trade Marks registration has shot up from 65,045 in 2015-16 to 2,55,993 in 2020-21," an official statement from the ministry said on Sunday.

The pendency in the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) department has come down drastically, the statement quoted Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal as saying.

The minister said that emphasis has been laid on using Digital means adding, ''Every application is now processed online from start to finish, hearings are conducted on phones, people don’t have to travel to patent office’s now.''

Goyal reiterated the government's commitment to bolster the ecosystem of patents, design, trademarks, GI systems; to encourage innovation, research & development in the country and bring newer inventions and knowledge from India's heritage systems to global platforms.

He also emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been closely monitoring developments in this field since 2014 itself.

Goyal said that the filing fees for Startups, MSMEs, and Women entrepreneurs has been reduced by 80 per cent.