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…
A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is an electronic credential issued by a government-licensed Certifying Authority (CA) that authenticates the identity of the person signing a digital document. In India, it is the legal equivalent of a handwritten signature for electronic filings. As of 2026, only Class 3 DSC is issued…
A prior art search in India is a systematic investigation of all publicly available information — patents, published patent applications, scientific literature, product disclosures, and non-patent literature — that predates an invention and may affect its novelty or patentability. It is conducted primarily before filing a patent application to assess…
A trade secret in India is commercially valuable confidential information — a formula, algorithm, process, customer list, business strategy, or know-how — that derives its value from being kept secret, and which the owner takes reasonable steps to protect. Unlike patents, trademarks, or copyrights, India has no dedicated statute for…