Rule 20 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rule 20 answers two questions for every applicant: which system of classes is used, and where to find the list of goods and services under each class. Goods and services are classified as per the current edition of the Nice Classification published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the Registrar publishes a class-wise and an alphabetical index. The choice of class affects the fee, the scope of protection and the later steps of your trademark registration.
For registration, goods and services shall be classified as per the current edition of the International Classification of Goods and Services (Nice Classification) published by WIPO (rule 20(1)). The Registrar shall publish a class-wise and an alphabetical index of goods and services, including goods and services of Indian origin (rule 20(2)). Other rules require your specification to follow that published list as far as may be.
Sub-rule (1): the Nice Classification, current edition
Rule 20(1): "Classification of goods and service for the purpose of registration of trademark, the goods and services shall be classified as per current edition of 'the International Classification of goods and services (NICE classification)' published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)."
Two details are worth noting.
- "Current edition." The rule does not fix the edition as of 2017. It follows whichever edition is current, so the classification can change without a change in the rule. The text gives no number of classes or editions.
- Purpose. The classification is "for the purpose of registration of trademark". It is an administrative tool for filing and searching. The rule does not say that it limits what the trademark owner may do beyond the goods and services in the registration.
The Act's provisions on classification are in sections 7 and 8, including the Registrar's power to classify and to publish an alphabetical index. Rule 20 is the working rule for those provisions.
Sub-rule (2): the published index
Rule 20(2): "The Registrar shall publish a class wise and an alphabetical index of such goods and services, including goods and services of Indian origin."
| Feature | What the text says |
|---|---|
| Who | The Registrar |
| What | A class-wise index and an alphabetical index |
| Covers | Goods and services classified under sub-rule (1), including goods and services of Indian origin |
| Where | The text does not say; the published index is the one other rules refer to |
The phrase "goods and services of Indian origin" shows that the published list is not only a copy of the WIPO list. It also takes in items that are particular to India. The rule does not describe how the Indian items are chosen or when the index is updated. Check the Registry's current published index rather than any printed copy.
Where else the Rules use this index
Rule 20(2) is a hinge for other rules.
- Rule 23(5), proviso: names of goods and services in an application "shall, as far as may be, correspond to those given in the classification of the goods and services published by the registrar under sub-rule (2) of rule 20".
- Rule 21: the application for the Registrar's preliminary advice on distinctiveness is made "in respect of any goods or services comprised as published by the Registrar under sub-rule (2) of rule 20".
- Rule 23(6): where the Registrar finds that the goods or services fall in class or classes in addition to those applied for, the applicant must restrict the specification or add classes on Form TM-M with the appropriate fee.
- Rule 2(1)(e): the "class fee" is the fee for filing an application in a particular class. As notified in 2017 (check the current Schedule), entry 1 of the First Schedule sets the application fee for each class and for each mark, at Rs 5,000 (physical) or Rs 4,500 (e-filing) for an individual, startup or small enterprise, and Rs 10,000 or Rs 9,000 in all other cases.
So the class you choose decides how many fees are payable.
A practical way to use rule 20
- Write down what the brand actually does: the goods it sells and the services it renders.
- Look for each item in the Registrar's published class-wise and alphabetical index.
- Use the wording of the index where it fits, since rule 23(5) asks for correspondence "as far as may be".
- Group the items by class and count the classes, because each class carries a fee.
- For broad claims, remember that under rule 23(5) the Registrar may refuse an application covering all goods or a large variety of goods in a class unless the specification is justified by use or intended use.
Example: Sagar Snacks Pvt Ltd makes packaged namkeen and also runs a small café under the same name. The goods and the café service fall in different classes in the classification. The company can file one application covering both classes, paying the fee per class, or file separately. If it names only the goods but the Registrar finds the café service also sits in a further class, rule 23(6) requires it either to restrict the specification or to add the class on Form TM-M.
For a plain-language guide to choosing classes, see our article on classification of goods and services under the Nice system. Our article is a how-to; always check the current published index.
Version note
This article reflects the Rules as notified on 6 March 2017. Later amendments should be checked, along with the current edition of the Nice Classification and the Registrar's current index.
Need help with choosing the right class?
A wrong class can mean a later objection, an extra fee or a gap in protection. Our trademark registration team can map your goods and services to the published index before you file.
Key takeaways
- Goods and services are classified under the current edition of the Nice Classification published by WIPO.
- The Registrar publishes a class-wise and an alphabetical index, including goods and services of Indian origin.
- Applications should use index wording as far as may be (rule 23(5), proviso).
- The application fee is payable for each class and each mark.
- The rule names no number of classes; check the current classification.
Read next
- Rules 21–22: preliminary advice on distinctiveness and request for search
- Rule 23: form and signing of the application
- Rule 19: agency and authorisation of an agent
- Trademark classes explained: how to choose the right class
Disclaimer: Based on the Trade Marks Rules, 2017 as notified on 6 March 2017, as consulted on 1 October 2026. Later amendment rules, forms and fees should be checked in their current form. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.