You filed your trademark application. You paid the fees, submitted Form TM-A, and received an application number. Now what? You log into the IP India portal, search your application number, and see a status but what does it actually mean? Is everything proceeding normally, or is your application in danger of being abandoned because a deadline is silently ticking away?
This is the predicament that thousands of Indian trademark applicants face every year. The Trade Marks Registry processes over 490,000 applications annually, and each application moves through a series of internal statuses that are visible on the IP India online portal. Some statuses are purely informational confirming that the application is progressing through the administrative pipeline. Others are red-flag alerts that demand immediate action within strict statutory deadlines. Missing the distinction between a routine status update and an urgent action trigger is one of the most common and most costly mistakes that trademark applicants make.
This guide decodes every status you will encounter on the IP India trademark portal. For each status, we explain what it means in plain language, what caused it, what action (if any) you must take, how urgent the action is, and what happens if you fail to act. We also provide a complete status summary table, realistic timeline expectations for each stage, and practical guidance on monitoring your application using the IP India online tools.
| “The IP India portal is not a passive information board. It is a real-time dashboard of your trademark’s legal health. Every status change is either confirmation of progress or a call to action. Learn to read it correctly.” |
How to Check Your Trademark Application Status Online
The IP India Online Tools: A Quick Reference
The Indian Trade Marks Registry maintains several online portals for trademark applicants and the public. Understanding which portal to use for which purpose is the first step in effective application monitoring.
| Portal / Tool | URL | Purpose |
| IP India Public Search | tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in/ESEARCH | Search by wordmark, Vienna code, or phonetic similarity; check existing registrations and pending applications |
| eRegister (Status Check) | tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in/estatus | Check current status by application number; view registration details and proprietor information |
| Trade Marks Journal | search.ipindia.gov.in/tmrpublicsearch | Access weekly published journal; monitor advertised marks for opposition purposes |
| E-Filing Portal | ipindiaonline.gov.in | File new applications (Form TM-A), responses to examination reports, opposition documents, and renewals |
Step-by-Step: Checking Your Application Status
- Visit the eRegister portal at tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in/estatus.
- Enter your application number in the search field. If you do not have the application number, use the Public Search portal to find it by searching your trademark name, proprietor name, or agent name.
- Review the status field. The status displayed reflects the current stage of your application in the Registry’s processing pipeline. The status may be accompanied by a date indicating when the status was last updated.
- Check the Trade Marks Journal. If your status shows “Accepted and Advertised” or “Advertised Before Accepted,” locate the journal number and verify the advertisement date and the four-month trademark opposition period runs from this date.
| Set a Status-Check Schedule Check your trademark application status at least once every two weeks during the first 12 months after filing. After acceptance and advertisement, check weekly during the four-month opposition period. Many applicants lose their applications simply because they did not notice a status change that required a time-bound response. If you engage a trademark attorney, confirm that they have a docket management system that tracks status changes automatically. |
The Processing Pipeline: What Happens Inside the Registry
Understanding the Internal Workflow
When you file a trademark application, it does not go directly to an Examiner’s desk. It passes through a series of administrative processing stages each reflected as a distinct status on the portal. These initial stages are largely automated and administrative, but understanding them helps set realistic expectations about when substantive examination will occur.
1. New Application
This is the entry-point status. It confirms that the Trade Marks Registry has received your application (whether filed electronically through the e-filing portal or physically at one of the five Registry offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, or Ahmedabad). At this stage, the application has been logged, an application number has been assigned, and the filing date has been recorded.
What you should do: Nothing but verify that the application number, applicant name, trademark, class(es), and goods/services description are correctly recorded. Any errors in the initial filing must be corrected through a formal amendment application (Form TM-16) before examination begins. Corrections after examination are procedurally more complex.
2. Send to Vienna Codification
This status appears exclusively for device marks and composite marks (marks containing a logo, symbol, or figurative element). The Vienna Classification is an international system for classifying the figurative elements of trademarks established under the Vienna Agreement Establishing an International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (1973).
When your application shows this status, the Registry is assigning Vienna codes to the figurative elements of your mark. For example, a logo containing a star, a tree, and the letters “AB” would receive separate Vienna codes for each element. This classification enables the Examiner to search for visually similar marks during substantive examination.
What you should do: Nothing. This is an internal classification step. It typically takes 1–3 weeks. If you filed a word mark (text only, no logo), you will not see this status your application will skip directly to the formalities check stage.
3. Formalities Check Pass
This is a positive confirmation. The Registry has verified that your application is procedurally complete: the prescribed fee has been paid correctly (INR 4,500 per class for MSMEs/startups; INR 9,000 per class for others), the applicant details are complete, the trademark representation meets the format requirements, and the goods/services description corresponds to the selected Nice Classification class(es).
What you should do: Nothing immediately but this is a good time to ensure your evidence of use is being maintained (invoices, advertising materials, screenshots of the mark in commerce), because trademark examination objections may arise in the coming months that require such evidence.
4. Formalities Check Fail
This is a red-flag status. The Registry has identified a procedural deficiency in your application. Common reasons include: underpayment of fees (e.g., paying single-class fees for a multi-class application), incomplete applicant details (missing address, trade description, or MSME/startup certification), improper trademark representation (wrong format, unreadable logo, or missing transliteration for marks in non-English scripts), or mismatch between the goods/services description and the selected class.
What you should do: Identify the specific deficiency from the formalities report (visible in the e-filing portal or communicated via official correspondence) and rectify it immediately. The Registry typically allows 30 days to correct formalities deficiencies. If the deficiency is not corrected within the prescribed period, the application risks being classified as “Abandoned.”
Key Takeaway: A Formalities Check Fail is not a rejection of your trademark it is a procedural correction notice. In most cases, it can be resolved within days by filing the correct documents or paying the fee differential. Do not ignore it.
Administrative Processing Stages: EDP and PRAS
5. Send Back to EDP
EDP (Electronic Data Processing) is the Registry’s internal data management section responsible for digitising, indexing, and storing application records. When your application shows “Send Back to EDP,” it means the application has been returned to the data processing team for a correction or update typically to fix a data entry error, update scanned documents, or resolve a system processing issue.
What you should do: Monitor the status for changes over the next 2–4 weeks. If the status does not update within one month, contact the Registry or your trademark attorney to inquire about the reason for the return to EDP. This status is usually a temporary internal routing step and resolves without applicant intervention.
6. Send to PRAS
PRAS (Pre-Registration Amendment Section) handles amendments filed before registration is granted. If you filed a trademark amendment application (Form TM-16) to change the proprietor name, address, agent details, or the goods/services specification before the mark is registered, the application is routed to PRAS for processing.
Common reasons for PRAS routing include: change of applicant name (e.g., due to a company name change or marriage), change of address, addition or substitution of a trademark agent, and amendment to the goods/services description (subject to the restriction under Rule 24 that the amendment must not substantially affect the identity of the mark or expand the scope of goods/services).
What you should do: If you filed the amendment, track the PRAS processing timeline. If you did not file any amendment and the status shows PRAS, contact the Registry immediately this may indicate an administrative routing error that needs correction.
| Filing Amendments Strategically If you need to amend your application (e.g., correcting a proprietor name or updating an address), file the amendment early before the Examination Report is issued. Amendments filed during or after examination add complexity and may delay the processing timeline. Post-advertisement amendments are subject to additional restrictions under Rule 42 and may require re-advertisement. |
Examination Stages: The Moment of Truth
7. Marked for Exam
This is one of the most significant status transitions. Your application has been assigned to an Examiner and is in the queue for substantive examination. The Examiner will assess the mark against the absolute grounds for refusal (Section 9) and the relative grounds for refusal (Section 11) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, and will conduct a search of the Registry’s database for conflicting prior marks.
What you should do: Prepare proactively. Gather evidence of use, advertising expenditure, sales figures, and any other material that may be needed if objections are raised. If your mark has inherent distinctiveness risks (descriptive elements, common terms, or surname components), prepare your legal arguments in advance. The response deadline once an objection is raised is strict preparation before the objection saves critical time.
8. Exam Report Issued
The Examiner has completed the review and issued the Examination Report. This report may take one of three forms:
- Clean acceptance: No objections. The application proceeds directly to advertisement and publication in the Trade Marks Journal. This is the ideal outcome.
- Conditional acceptance: Accepted subject to conditions or limitations (e.g., disclaimer of a descriptive element, limitation to specific goods within the class).
- Objection raised: The Examiner has identified grounds for refusal. The status will change to “Objected,” and the specific objections will be detailed in the Examination Report.
What you should do: Access the full Examination Report through the e-filing portal. If the report contains no objections, confirm that the status progresses to “Accepted” or “Accepted and Advertised” within the next 1–3 months. If objections are raised, begin preparing your response immediately.
9. Objected
This is the highest-urgency action status for most applicants. The Examiner has raised formal objections to the registration of your trademark. Objections may be based on absolute grounds (the mark itself is non-distinctive, descriptive, deceptive, or scandalous under Section 9) or relative grounds (the mark conflicts with an earlier registered or pending mark under Section 11).
The Examination Report will specify the exact grounds of objection and, in the case of relative grounds objections, will cite the conflicting earlier mark(s) by application/registration number.
What you must do: File a written response within one month from the date of receipt of the Examination Report. This deadline is prescribed under Rule 33(4) of the Trade Marks Rules, 2017. Failure to respond within this period results in the application being treated as abandoned under Section 132. Your response should include legal arguments addressing each objection, evidence of acquired distinctiveness (if relevant), and any supporting case law or affidavits.
Key Takeaway: The one-month response deadline for examination objections is the single most critical deadline in the entire trademark registration process. Missing it means abandonment not refusal, not delay, but automatic abandonment with no extension of time available as of right.
10. Ready for Show Cause Hearing
If your written response to the Examination Report did not satisfy the Examiner, a show-cause hearing is scheduled. The hearing is conducted before the Registrar (or a senior officer designated by the Registrar), and you or your trademark attorney will present oral arguments in support of the application.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trade Marks Registry has adopted a virtual hearing system that has become the default mode for most hearings. Virtual hearings are conducted via video conferencing and have significantly reduced the scheduling delays that previously plagued the hearing process. Hearing notices are communicated electronically, and the date, time, and video conferencing link are published on the Registry’s website.
What you must do: Prepare thoroughly. A show-cause hearing is not a formality it is your opportunity to persuade the Registrar that the objections should be overruled. Prepare a hearing note summarising your arguments, bring supporting evidence (sales data, advertising material, consumer surveys), and be prepared to address the Examiner’s specific concerns. If the hearing is virtual, ensure your technology setup is reliable dropped connections during oral arguments are not a valid ground for adjournment.
| Hearing Strategy The most effective hearing approach combines three elements: (1) a concise written hearing note submitted 48 hours before the hearing date, (2) brief but focused oral arguments (15–20 minutes maximum) that directly address each objection, and (3) evidence folders organised by objection point. Registrars appreciate efficiency lengthy, unfocused submissions dilute the strength of your arguments. |
Positive Outcome Stages: Acceptance, Advertisement, and Registration
11. Accepted
The Registrar has determined that the application meets all the requirements of the Trade Marks Act and is approved for registration. If any conditions or limitations have been imposed (e.g., a disclaimer of a descriptive element), those conditions will be noted in the acceptance order.
What you should do: Confirm that the mark proceeds to advertisement in the Trade Marks Journal. Acceptance without advertisement is incomplete the mark must be published before the four-month opposition window opens.
12. Advertised Before Accepted
This status appears when the Registrar has ordered the mark to be published in the Trade Marks Journal before formal acceptance. This can occur under Section 20(1), where the Registrar exercises discretion to advertise the mark before acceptance typically in cases where the mark has been accepted with conditions or where the Registrar wishes to invite public comment before making a final decision.
What you should do: Monitor the Trade Marks Journal for the publication of your mark. The four-month opposition period under Section 21 begins from the date of advertisement. During this period, any person may file a Notice of Opposition. Keep your trademark attorney informed so they can monitor for opposition filings.
13. Accepted and Advertised
This is the most favourable pre-registration status. Your mark has been both formally accepted and published in the Trade Marks Journal. The four-month opposition window is now open (or has opened). If no opposition is filed during this period, the mark will proceed to registration.
What you should do: Be vigilant during the four-month opposition period. While you cannot prevent opposition filings, you can prepare by: maintaining current evidence of use and distinctiveness; ensuring your trademark attorney’s contact details are current with the Registry; and beginning to prepare a draft Counter-Statement framework so you can respond quickly if an opposition is filed.
14. Registered
Congratulations! Your mark is now a registered trademark. The Registrar has issued the Registration Certificate, and the mark has been entered in the Register of Trade Marks. Registration is valid for ten years from the date of application (not the date of registration) and the trademark is renewable indefinitely in ten-year increments under Section 25.
What you must do post-registration:
- Use the mark continuously. Non-use for five years or more exposes the registration to removal under Section 47. Maintain evidence of use (invoices, advertising, product packaging, website screenshots) across all registered classes.
- Set renewal calendar alerts. The renewal window opens six months before the expiry date. A grace period of six months after expiry is available with a surcharge. Missing both deadlines results in removal from the Register.
- Record any changes. If the proprietor name, address, or ownership changes (due to assignment, merger, or corporate restructuring), record the change with the Registry using Form TM-P (for assignment) or TM-26 (for address/name change).
- Monitor and enforce. Registration grants rights but rights are only as valuable as the enforcement behind them. Set up trademark watch services to monitor new applications that may conflict with your registration.
Adverse Outcome Stages: Opposition, Refusal, Abandonment, and Removal
15. Opposed
This is a high-urgency adversarial status. A third party has filed a Notice of Opposition under Section 21 within the four-month opposition period. The opposition is a contested proceeding essentially a mini-trial before the Registrar with structured evidence stages and a hearing.
What you must do: File a Counter-Statement within two months of receiving the Notice of Opposition. Failure to file the Counter-Statement within this period results in the application being deemed abandoned. The Counter-Statement must respond to each ground of opposition, either admitting or denying the allegations. After the Counter-Statement, the matter proceeds through evidence stages (Evidence-in-Support by the opponent under Rule 45, Evidence-in-Reply by the applicant under Rule 46, Evidence-in-Rejoinder by the opponent under Rule 47) and then to a hearing.
16. Abandoned
Abandonment is the silent killer of trademark applications. An application is classified as “Abandoned” when the applicant fails to respond within a prescribed deadline. The most common triggers are:
- Failure to respond to an Examination Report within one month (Section 132, Rule 33(4)).
- Failure to file a Counter-Statement to an opposition within two months (Section 21(2)).
- Failure to attend a scheduled hearing without obtaining an adjournment.
- Failure to correct formalities deficiencies within the prescribed period.
Can an abandoned application be revived? In limited circumstances, yes. If the abandonment was caused by circumstances beyond the applicant’s control (illness, postal failure, genuine oversight), a request for restoration may be filed. However, restoration is discretionary and is not available as of right. The far better strategy is to never reach this status maintain a docket management system that tracks every deadline.
17. Refused
The Registrar has made a final determination that the application does not meet the requirements of the Trade Marks Act, and the application is formally refused. This typically follows either an unsuccessful show-cause hearing or a failure to overcome examination objections.
What you can do: A refusal order is appealable to the High Court under Section 91 of the Trade Marks Act. The appeal must be filed within three months from the date of the refusal order (or within such extended period as the High Court may allow). High Court appeals are merits-based the Court will review the Registrar’s reasoning and the evidence de novo. Success rates on appeal depend on the strength of the evidence and the nature of the objections.
18. Removed
A registration is “Removed” from the Register when it has been cancelled. Common reasons include:
- Non-renewal: The proprietor failed to renew the registration within the prescribed period (and the six-month grace period), and the mark has been removed under Section 25(3).
- Rectification: A third party successfully filed a rectification petition under Section 47 (non-use) or Section 57 (wrongful entry), and the mark has been removed by order of the Registrar or the High Court.
- Voluntary cancellation: The proprietor requested cancellation of the registration.
What you can do: If the mark was removed for non-renewal, the proprietor may apply for restoration within one year of removal under Section 25(4), provided the Registrar is satisfied that it is just to restore the registration. After the one-year restoration window closes, the mark is permanently removed and a fresh application must be filed.
19. Withdrawn
This is a voluntary status. The applicant has chosen to withdraw the application before registration. Common reasons include: the applicant discovered a prior conflicting mark during the examination process and concluded that pursuing the application would be futile; the business pivoted and the brand name is no longer in use; or the applicant opted to file a fresh application with a modified mark or amended specification.
What you should do: If you withdrew the application, no further action is required. If you wish to protect the same or a similar mark in the future, file a new application but note that the original filing date and priority are lost upon withdrawal. A new application receives a new filing date.
Key Takeaway: Abandonment, refusal, removal, and withdrawal are all terminal statuses but with different implications. Abandonment and refusal may be challenged (restoration or appeal). Removal due to non-renewal has a one-year restoration window. Withdrawal is final and irrevocable.
Complete Status Summary: Quick Reference Table
The following table provides a comprehensive summary of all trademark registration statuses, their meaning, the action required, and the urgency level. Print this table or bookmark it it is the most practical reference tool for tracking your trademark application.
| Status | What It Means | Action Required | Urgency |
| New Application | Application filed, awaiting processing | None wait for updates | ✓ LOW |
| Send to Vienna Codification | Device/logo marks being classified under Vienna system | None – internal classification step | ✓ LOW |
| Formalities Check Pass | Application meets procedural requirements | None – proceeds to examination queue | ✓ LOW |
| Formalities Check Fail | Missing information, incorrect fees, or procedural deficiency | Rectify deficiencies immediately | ⚠ HIGH |
| Send Back to EDP | Returned to Electronic Data Processing for correction | Monitor for communication from Registry | MODERATE |
| Send to PRAS | Pre-Registration Amendment Section processing an amendment | Track amendment processing timeline | MODERATE |
| Marked for Exam | Application queued for substantive examination | None – prepare documents for potential objections | MODERATE |
| Exam Report Issued | Examiner has completed review and issued report | Review report carefully for objections | MODERATE |
| Objected | Examiner has raised objections to registration | File response within ONE MONTH – URGENT | ⚠ HIGH |
| Ready for Show Cause Hearing | Hearing scheduled before the Registrar | Prepare for oral hearing – URGENT | ⚠ HIGH |
| Accepted | Application approved, pending advertisement | None – awaiting publication in Journal | ✓ LOW |
| Advertised Before Accepted | Published in Journal before formal acceptance | Monitor for oppositions during 4-month window | MODERATE |
| Accepted and Advertised | Accepted and published in Trademark Journal | Monitor for oppositions during 4-month window | MODERATE |
| Opposed | Third party has filed opposition under Section 21 | File Counter-Statement within 2 months – URGENT | ⚠ HIGH |
| Registered | Trademark registration granted; certificate issued | Maintain use evidence; track 10-year renewal date | ✓ LOW |
| Abandoned | Application deemed inactive due to non-response | Consider re-filing or restoration if eligible | TERMINAL |
| Refused | Application rejected after examination or hearing | Appeal to High Court under Section 91 if grounds exist | ⚠ HIGH |
| Removed | Registration cancelled from the Register | Apply for restoration within 1 year if eligible | ⚠ HIGH |
| Withdrawn | Applicant voluntarily withdrew the application | Re-file fresh application if needed | TERMINAL |
Realistic Timeline Expectations: From Filing to Registration
One of the most frequent questions from trademark applicants is: “How long will registration take?” The answer depends on whether the application encounters objections, hearings, or opposition proceedings. The following table provides realistic timeline estimates based on current Registry processing speeds:
| Stage Transition | Typical Duration | Notes |
| Filing to Formalities Check | 1–4 weeks | Automated processing; faster for e-filed applications |
| Formalities Check to Examination | 3–6 months | Depends on Registry workload and application backlog |
| Examination Report / Objection | 6–12 months from filing | Government targets 30-day examination under new norms |
| Response to Objection | 1 month from receipt | Strict statutory deadline – no extensions without cause |
| Show Cause Hearing | 2–6 months after response | Virtual hearings have reduced scheduling delays |
| Acceptance to Advertisement | 1–3 months | Published in weekly Trade Marks Journal (online) |
| Opposition Period | 4 months from advertisement | Fixed statutory period under Section 21 |
| Advertisement to Registration | 6–12 months (if unopposed) | Faster if no opposition filed |
| Total (Straightforward Case) | 12–18 months | No objections, no opposition |
| Total (With Objections) | 18–30 months | Includes response, possible hearing |
| Total (With Opposition) | 24–48 months | Evidence stages, hearing, possible appeal |
| Speeding Up Your Application While you cannot directly control the Registry’s processing speed, several practices help avoid delays. File electronically (e-filed applications are processed faster than physical filings). Ensure the application is complete at filing (to avoid formalities failures). Choose an inherently distinctive mark (to reduce the likelihood of Section 9 objections). Conduct a pre-filing search (to reduce the likelihood of Section 11 citation objections). Respond to objections within days of receipt (not at the deadline). Opt for virtual hearings (shorter scheduling lead times than physical hearings). |
Monitoring Best Practices – Never Miss a Deadline Again
- Engage a trademark attorney with a docket management system. Professional docket management systems (such as Anaqua, Clarivate CompuMark, or Alt Legal) automatically track status changes and generate deadline alerts. This is the single most effective measure to prevent abandonment due to missed deadlines.
- Create a personal tracking spreadsheet. If you manage your own applications, maintain a spreadsheet that records: application number, filing date, current status, last status-check date, next action required, and deadline date. Check and update this spreadsheet at least fortnightly.
- Set multiple calendar reminders for critical deadlines. For one-month objection response deadlines and two-month opposition Counter-Statement deadlines, set three reminders: at the date of receipt, at the two-week mark, and one week before the deadline.
- Monitor the Trade Marks Journal weekly. Even if your application is not yet advertised, monitoring the Journal helps you identify potentially conflicting marks that have been published allowing you to file preemptive oppositions if needed.
- Maintain evidence of use from Day 1. Do not wait for an objection to start gathering evidence. Maintain a running archive of invoices, advertising materials, product photographs, website screenshots, and social media posts showing the mark in use.
Conclusion: Your Application Status Is a Strategic Dashboard
The trademark registration status displayed on the IP India portal is not merely a bureaucratic label. It is a real-time indicator of your application’s position in the registration pipeline and, more importantly, a signal of whether you need to take action, how urgently, and what the consequences of inaction will be.
The applicants who navigate the registration process successfully are not necessarily those with the strongest marks they are those who monitor their application status systematically, respond to deadlines promptly, and prepare for examination and opposition proactively. A mark that is inherently distinctive but abandoned due to a missed one-month deadline achieves nothing. A mark that faces objections but is supported by well-prepared evidence and persuasive legal arguments achieves registration.
At Unimarks Legal Solutions, we manage the entire trademark prosecution process for our clients from pre-filing search and application filing, through status monitoring, examination response, hearing representation, and opposition defence, to post-registration portfolio management. Our docket management system tracks every status change and deadline, ensuring that no application is lost to procedural default. Whether you are filing your first trademark or managing a portfolio of hundreds, the discipline of status monitoring and deadline compliance is what separates successful registrations from abandoned applications.
| “A trademark application is not a fire-and-forget process. It is a managed journey through a series of checkpoints, each requiring attention, preparation, and timely action. The IP India portal is your map. Learn to read it.” |
About the Author
Advocate Suresh Kumar has a law practice specialising in Intellectual Property Rights, Commercial legal advisory, debt recovery, commercial litigation, and dispute resolution for domestic and international clients. He is enrolled with the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and represents clients before all courts and forums in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. This article reflects his understanding of the current legal position and is intended solely for informational purposes.
Disclaimer
This article is published by Unimarks Legal for informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute legal advice or to create an attorney-client relationship. The contents are based on Indian law as applicable at the time of writing and are subject to change. Readers should not act upon the information in this article without seeking independent legal counsel. Every legal situation is unique, and the application of law depends on specific facts and circumstances. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. This publication is made in compliance with the Bar Council of India Rules, which prohibit advertising or solicitation by advocates. Any information received through this article should not be construed as legal advice.
