India sees surge in AI patent filings with over 83,000 applications since 2019: TCS–CII report
TCS and CII said the findings are intended to serve as a practical guide for enterprises, startups, technologists, IP professionals and policymakers in shaping responsible AI strategies and resilient intellectual property frameworks in an increasingly complex technological environment.
New Delhi, December 17: India has witnessed a sharp rise in artificial intelligence-related patent filings over the past six years, with 83,059 AI patents filed between 2019 and 2025, according to a new joint report by Tata Consultancy Services and the Confederation of Indian Industry.
The report, Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property – Navigating Opportunities and Challenges in a Transformative Era, was unveiled at the CII Global Summit on Technology, R&D and IP in New Delhi. It highlights a significant acceleration in AI-driven innovation, compared to just 3,931 AI patent filings recorded between 2010 and 2018.
The study examines the rapidly evolving AI and intellectual property landscape in India, identifying both opportunities and emerging challenges for enterprises, policymakers and innovators. While AI adoption is expanding across sectors such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing and retail, the report notes that micro, small and medium enterprises continue to face hurdles related to IP protection, including technical complexity, unclear ownership frameworks and evolving regulatory norms.
Based on inputs from 73 global experts, the report also flags governance concerns linked to AI deployment, including transparency, algorithmic bias, misinformation and deepfakes. It underscores the need for stronger legal frameworks, ethical standards and risk mitigation strategies to ensure responsible AI adoption.
The report notes that government initiatives and public–private partnerships have played a key role in accelerating AI adoption in India, particularly among MSMEs. However, affordability constraints, infrastructure gaps, talent shortages and regulatory complexity remain significant barriers to scale.
“As India advances toward its $5 trillion economic vision, AI-driven innovation will be a cornerstone of growth,” said Ashvini Saxena, vice president and head of the TCS Components Engineering Group and Digital Software and Solutions. He said India’s ability to balance innovation, robust IP management and entrepreneurship will be critical to positioning the country as a global AI powerhouse.
Vivek Shah, vice-chair of the CII National Committee on Intellectual Property and chief executive officer of Meril Life Sciences, said industry must take a proactive role in embracing innovation and IP as growth drivers. He stressed the importance of close collaboration between industry and government to build enabling policy frameworks, incentives and infrastructure.
The report also highlights emerging risks associated with advanced AI systems, including autonomy, agentic behaviour, coordination failures and goal misalignment. It recommends that enterprises adopt comprehensive IP risk mitigation strategies aligned with evolving regulatory standards to safeguard innovation and maintain trust.
TCS and CII said the findings are intended to serve as a practical guide for enterprises, startups, technologists, IP professionals and policymakers in shaping responsible AI strategies and resilient intellectual property frameworks in an increasingly complex technological environment.
