Dear Members and Distinguished Colleagues,

It is with deep gratitude and humility that I assume the Presidency of the APAA India Group, the second-largest recognised group within the Asian Patent Attorneys Association, with over 400 active members drawn from the finest IP practices across India. I am honoured by the trust you have placed in me and fully committed to upholding the legacy built by my distinguished predecessors.

We stand at a genuinely historic juncture. The Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative has given fresh impetus and urgency to India’s IP agenda. As India strives for self-reliance across manufacturing, technology, and innovation, a robust intellectual property framework becomes not merely supportive but foundational. The fruits are evident from the significantly growing domestic IP filings in recent years.

Consequently, India now features for the first time in the global top ten across all three major IP categories of patents, trademarks, and designs and this clearly evidences an innovation culture taking root in our educational institutions, startups, MSMEs, research institutions, and grassroots enterprises. The present wave demands that IP be introduced into the curriculum at the high school level, to orient young minds towards the path of innovation. For IP practitioners, this moment calls us to a higher standard of advocacy and thought leadership.

To sustain and accelerate this momentum, the APAA India Group will intensify its engagement on policy advocacy, capacity building, and member collaboration. We will work to amplify the voice of Indian IP practitioners within the broader APAA framework, contribute meaningfully to the evolution of India’s IP ecosystem, and ensure that our members are equipped professionally and strategically to serve innovators at every stage of their journey. The energy visible in India’s rising filings across patents, trademarks, and designs must be matched by an equally vigorous community of practitioners ready to guide and support it with professional skill and expertise, in a manner consistent with the standards of conduct our profession demands.

I am blessed with a dynamic team of talented and outstanding professionals, and together we look forward to serving with dedication and purpose. This moment also calls for the upholding of the highest professional and ethical standards across all professional roles.