Most guides to DPIIT recognition list the trademark fee rebate as one line in a long benefits menu, somewhere between the tax holiday and the GeM procurement access. That's fine for a general overview, but it leaves out the mechanics that actually matter once you're the one filing: which fee…
In February 2026, a Bengaluru-based technology company called Anthropic Technologies Pvt Ltd — incorporated in Karnataka back in 2013 — filed suit in Karnataka against the US artificial intelligence company Anthropic PBC, arguing that its decade-old use of the name in India gives it rights the American company's global fame…
If you're a content creator, freelancer, or influencer in India, 2026 has quietly changed your legal status. On April 14, 2026, the Rajya Sabha passed the National Creator Economy Bill, formally recognizing social media influencers, YouTubers, and digital artists as professionals — complete with a Creator Welfare Fund for insurance…
The SIPP scheme is the most valuable benefit in India's startup ecosystem that almost no founder uses. Under the Startup Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) scheme — run by DPIIT and the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks — a recognised startup pays zero in professional fees to file…
Indian startups protect their IP through four core instruments: trademark registration (for brand names, logos, and slogans under the Trade Marks Act, 1999), patents (for technical inventions under the Patents Act, 1970), copyright (automatic for creative works under the Copyright Act, 1957), and trade secrets (through NDAs and access controls).…
Section 80-IAC of the Income Tax Act, 1961 allows eligible Indian startups to claim a 100% deduction of profits and gains from an eligible business for any 3 consecutive financial years within their first 10 years of incorporation. The startup must be a DPIIT-recognised Private Limited Company or LLP incorporated…
An ESOP (Employee Stock Option Plan) policy is a formally documented scheme under which a startup grants eligible employees the right — but not the obligation — to purchase company shares at a pre-determined price (exercise price) after completing a vesting period. In India, ESOPs for private limited companies are…
Every food business operator (FBO) in India must obtain FSSAI registration or a licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 before commencing operations. From 1 April 2026, small food businesses with annual turnover up to ₹1.5 crore need only Basic Registration (previously the limit was ₹12 lakh). Licences…
After receiving the Certificate of Incorporation (COI) from the MCA, a company must complete several mandatory steps — the most critical being: hold the first Board Meeting within 30 days, appoint the first auditor within 30 days, open a bank account, file Form INC-20A (commencement of business certificate) within 180…
Director KYC (DIR-3 KYC) is a mandatory KYC compliance filing for every person holding a Director Identification Number (DIN) in India, filed with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) under Rule 12A of the Companies (Appointment and Qualification of Directors) Rules, 2014. From 31 March 2026, the filing frequency changed…