AI patents surge in India post-2018: TCS–CII Report

The report concludes that while AI capabilities are expanding, risks related to autonomy, coordination, and goal misalignment are increasing. It recommends robust IP risk mitigation strategies, alignment with emerging regulations, and best practices

1. AI patent filings surged after 2018, with 83,059 patents filed from 2019 onwards, compared to 3,931 filings during 2010–2018.
2. Based on insights from 73 global experts, the report calls for clearer IP governance and robust regulatory mechanisms.
3. TCS said the study aims to help enterprises, MSMEs and policymakers build resilient IP strategies for responsible AI adoption.
4. Challenges such as affordability, infrastructure gaps, talent shortages and regulatory complexity continue to limit wider AI adoption.

A joint report by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) highlights a dramatic rise in artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GenAI) patenting in India, underscoring a rapidly evolving intellectual property (IP) landscape. Titled “Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property – Navigating Opportunities and Challenges in a Transformative Era,” the report was released at the CII Global Summit on Technology, R&D & IP in New Delhi.

The report reveals that AI patent filings in India surged sharply after 2018, with 83,059 patents filed between 2019 onwards, compared to just 3,931 filings during 2010–2018. This growth reflects India’s accelerating adoption of AI across sectors such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and retail, supported by government initiatives and public-private partnerships.

Despite the rapid expansion, the report notes that Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) face significant challenges in protecting intellectual property. These include technical complexity, unclear ownership of AI-generated outputs, evolving legislation, and governance concerns such as transparency, bias, misinformation, and deepfakes. The study, based on insights from 73 global experts, emphasizes the urgent need for robust legal frameworks, ethical standards, and clearer IP governance.

TCS stated that the report is designed to help enterprises, MSMEs, technologists, entrepreneurs, IP professionals, and policymakers navigate responsible AI adoption while building resilient IP strategies. Challenges such as affordability, infrastructure gaps, talent shortages, and regulatory complexity continue to slow broader AI adoption, especially among smaller businesses.

Speaking at the launch, Ashvini Saxena, VP and Head, TCS CEG & DSS, said AI-driven innovation will be central to India’s $5 trillion economic vision. He stressed that balancing innovation, strong IP management, and entrepreneurship is critical for India to emerge as a global AI powerhouse, particularly as GenAI, agentic systems, and large language models reshape industries.

Vivek Shah, Vice-Chair, CII National Committee on IP, emphasized the importance of close collaboration between industry and government, highlighting the need for supportive policy frameworks, incentives, and infrastructure to help Indian businesses compete globally.

The report concludes that while AI capabilities are expanding, risks related to autonomy, coordination, and goal misalignment are increasing. It recommends robust IP risk mitigation strategies, alignment with emerging regulations, and best practices to safeguard innovation and maintain trust. Through continued collaboration, TCS and CII aim to strengthen India’s IP ecosystem, supporting innovators, startups, and enterprises in unlocking greater economic value from AI-led transformation.