What Are Trademark Classes?
When you register a trademark in India, you do not protect your brand name or logo in the abstract — you protect it for the specific goods or services you actually sell. Those goods and services are sorted into 45 standardised buckets called trademark classes. Picking the right class (or classes) is the single most important decision in a trademark application: file in the wrong class and your registration may give you no protection where it matters, while a competitor in your real class is free to use a confusingly similar mark.
India follows the international NICE Classification system, which divides all commercial activity into 45 classes — 34 classes for goods (Classes 1 to 34) and 11 classes for services (Classes 35 to 45). A bakery selling bread files in Class 30; a software company licensing a SaaS platform files in Class 42; a clothing label files in Class 25. The same brand name can be registered by different owners in different classes, which is why "Apple" can be both a computer company and a record label.
The NICE Classification (13th Edition, 2026)
The framework is set by the Nice Agreement (1957), an international treaty administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). India is a member of the Nice Agreement, and the Trade Marks Registry classifies every application according to the NICE Classification. The current version in force is the 13th Edition, version 2026 — NCL (13-2026) — which entered into force worldwide on 1 January 2026. WIPO publishes a new edition every five years and a new version each year, so the class numbers are stable but the detailed contents are refined over time.
A few practical points about the 2026 edition that Indian applicants should know:
- Eyewear moved from Class 9 to Class 10. Spectacles, eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, frames and lens cases are now classified in Class 10 (to reflect their medical/optical nature). Ordinary "smart glasses" with computing functions stay in Class 9. Marks registered for eyewear before 2026 remain in Class 9 and are not reclassified, but new applications should use Class 10.
- Food flavourings are now all grouped in Class 30, and essential oils are split by purpose — industrial use in Class 1, fragrance/personal-care use in Class 3.
- Notarial services are now expressly listed in Class 45.
Existing registrations never need to be re-filed when a new edition arrives — your mark keeps the classification that applied on its filing date. The edition only governs how new applications are classified.
The Complete List of All 45 Trademark Classes
Below is the full NICE class list as applied by the Indian Trade Marks Registry, with a plain-English description and concrete examples for each class. Goods occupy Classes 1 to 34; services occupy Classes 35 to 45.
Goods — Classes 1 to 34
| Class | Covers (plain English) | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Industrial and scientific chemicals; raw plastics; fertilisers | Industrial chemicals, manures/fertilisers, unprocessed resins, adhesives for industry |
| 2 | Paints, varnishes, colorants and preservatives against rust | Paints, varnishes, printing inks, anti-rust coatings, dyes |
| 3 | Non-medicated cosmetics, toiletries and cleaning preparations | Soaps, shampoo, perfume, toothpaste, cosmetics, detergents |
| 4 | Industrial oils, greases, lubricants, fuels and candles | Lubricating oils, motor fuel, industrial grease, candles |
| 5 | Pharmaceuticals, medical and sanitary preparations, supplements | Medicines, dietary supplements, baby food, sanitary napkins, disinfectants |
| 6 | Common metals, metal hardware and building materials of metal | Steel, metal pipes, locks and hardware, safes |
| 7 | Machines, machine tools, motors and engines (not for vehicles) | Industrial machinery, agricultural machines, electric motors, pumps |
| 8 | Hand tools and implements; cutlery; razors | Hand tools, cutlery, razors, hand-operated implements |
| 9 | Computers, software, electronics and scientific/optical apparatus | Computers, mobile apps and downloadable software, mobile phones, smart glasses, batteries |
| 10 | Medical, surgical and dental apparatus; eyewear (from 2026) | Surgical instruments, medical devices, spectacles, sunglasses, contact lenses |
| 11 | Lighting, heating, cooling, cooking and sanitary apparatus | Lamps, refrigerators, air conditioners, water heaters, taps and sanitaryware |
| 12 | Vehicles and apparatus for transport by land, air or water | Cars, motorcycles, bicycles, tyres, vehicle parts |
| 13 | Firearms, ammunition, explosives and fireworks | Firearms, ammunition, fireworks |
| 14 | Precious metals, jewellery, watches and clocks | Jewellery, gold and silver articles, watches, precious stones |
| 15 | Musical instruments | Guitars, pianos, harmoniums, musical instrument stands |
| 16 | Paper, stationery, printed matter and packaging materials | Books, magazines, stationery, paper packaging, printed publications |
| 17 | Rubber, plastics in extruded form, insulating and packing materials | Rubber, insulating materials, non-metal flexible pipes and hoses |
| 18 | Leather goods, bags, luggage and umbrellas | Handbags, wallets, luggage, umbrellas, saddlery |
| 19 | Non-metallic building materials | Cement, bricks, sand, timber, non-metal pipes |
| 20 | Furniture, mirrors, picture frames and non-metal containers | Furniture, mattresses, mirrors, plastic storage containers |
| 21 | Household and kitchen utensils, glassware, crockery and brushes | Kitchenware, crockery, glassware, combs, brushes |
| 22 | Ropes, nets, tents, tarpaulins, sacks and raw textile fibres | Ropes, tents, tarpaulins, packing sacks, raw fibres |
| 23 | Yarns and threads for textile use | Sewing thread, knitting yarn, spun thread |
| 24 | Textiles, fabrics and household linen | Bed sheets, curtains, towels, fabrics by the metre |
| 25 | Clothing, footwear and headwear | Apparel, shoes, sarees, caps and hats |
| 26 | Haberdashery: buttons, zips, ribbons, artificial flowers | Buttons, zips, lace, ribbons, artificial flowers, hair accessories |
| 27 | Carpets, rugs, mats and wall/floor coverings | Carpets, rugs, mats, linoleum, wallpaper |
| 28 | Games, toys, sporting goods and gymnastic articles | Toys, board games, cricket bats and sports gear, video game machines |
| 29 | Meat, dairy, oils and preserved/processed foods | Milk, ghee, butter, paneer, edible oils, jams, pickles, frozen foods |
| 30 | Staple foods: coffee, tea, flour, bread, spices, confectionery | Tea, coffee, atta/flour, biscuits, namkeen, spices, chocolate, ice cream |
| 31 | Fresh agricultural produce, live plants and animal feed | Fresh fruits and vegetables, grains and seeds, live plants, cattle feed |
| 32 | Beers and non-alcoholic beverages | Soft drinks, packaged drinking water, fruit juices, beer |
| 33 | Alcoholic beverages (except beer) | Wine, whisky, rum, spirits, liqueurs |
| 34 | Tobacco, smokers' articles and matches | Cigarettes, e-cigarettes, lighters, matches, hookah products |
Services — Classes 35 to 45
| Class | Covers (plain English) | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Advertising, business management and retail/e-commerce services | Advertising agencies, business consulting, retail and online store services, HR/recruitment, accounting/bookkeeping |
| 36 | Financial, banking, insurance and real-estate services | Banking, NBFC and fintech services, insurance, real-estate broking, investment advisory |
| 37 | Construction, installation, repair and maintenance services | Building construction, vehicle repair, plumbing and electrical maintenance, AMC services |
| 38 | Telecommunications services | Telecom and internet service providers, mobile networks, video/message transmission |
| 39 | Transport, logistics, warehousing and travel arrangement | Courier and logistics, taxi/cab services, packers and movers, travel agencies, warehousing |
| 40 | Treatment and processing of materials; custom manufacturing | Contract manufacturing, recycling, printing services, tailoring, water treatment |
| 41 | Education, training, entertainment and sporting/cultural activities | Schools and coaching, ed-tech training, event and film production, gyms, online publishing |
| 42 | Science, technology, IT and software development services | Software development, SaaS and cloud platforms, web and app design, engineering, R&D |
| 43 | Food and drink services and temporary accommodation | Restaurants, cafés, cloud kitchens, hotels, catering services |
| 44 | Medical, veterinary, beauty and agricultural services | Hospitals and clinics, dental and diagnostic services, salons and spas, gardening/landscaping |
| 45 | Legal, security and personal/social services | Legal and advocacy services, notarial services, security guarding, matrimonial and dating services |
How to Find the Right Class for Your Product or Service in India
Identifying your class correctly avoids objections, wasted government fees (which are non-refundable) and gaps in protection. Here is the practical process used in India:
- List exactly what you sell. Write down each product and each service your business offers and plans to offer in the near future. Protection is granted only for what you specify.
- Use the official IP India classification search. The Trade Marks Registry provides a goods-and-services classification tool, and a public search portal at tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in, where you can look up a term and see the class it falls in. WIPO's Madrid Goods & Services Manager (MGS) is a free companion tool that maps thousands of terms to NICE classes.
- Run a trademark public search in your class. Before filing, search the IP India database for identical or similar marks already registered in your class, so you can gauge the risk of objection or opposition.
- Watch for goods-versus-service splits. Many modern businesses straddle a product and a service. A downloadable mobile app is a good in Class 9, but the underlying SaaS or development work is a service in Class 42. A clothing brand sells goods in Class 25 but its online store is a Class 35 retail service.
Common multi-class scenarios in India include: a D2C apparel brand (Class 25 for the clothing + Class 35 for online retail); a restaurant that also bottles its own sauces (Class 43 for the restaurant + Class 30 for the sauces); a fintech startup (Class 9 for the app + Class 36 for financial services + Class 42 for the platform); and a cosmetics company with a salon (Class 3 for products + Class 44 for beauty services).
Filing in India: The Trade Marks Act 1999, Form TM-A and Fees
Trademark registration in India is governed by the Trade Marks Act 1999 and the Trade Marks Rules 2017, administered by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM). A new application is filed on Form TM-A, either online through the IP India e-filing portal or physically at a Trade Marks Registry office.
Single-class vs multi-class applications. Form TM-A allows you to file a single-class application (one class) or a multi-class application covering several classes under one form and one application number. The government fee, however, is charged per class — a multi-class application is not cheaper than filing each class separately; it is simply administratively consolidated. Many practitioners still prefer separate single-class applications because if one class is objected to, the others are not held up.
Government fees (per class, as of 2026). Under the First Schedule to the Trade Marks Rules 2017:
| Applicant type | E-filing (per class) | Physical filing (per class) |
|---|---|---|
| Individual / Startup (DPIIT-recognised) / Small Enterprise (Udyam/MSME) | ₹4,500 | ₹5,000 |
| Companies, LLPs and all other applicants | ₹9,000 | ₹10,000 |
The concessional ₹4,500 rate is a major reason to obtain Udyam (MSME) registration or DPIIT startup recognition before filing — it halves the government fee in every class. These fees are per class per mark and are non-refundable, even if the application is objected to or refused, so getting the class right the first time directly protects your money. Professional or attorney fees are charged separately, typically ₹1,500 to ₹7,000 per application.
Which class do common Indian businesses fall in? A few quick anchors: a restaurant or cloud kitchen is Class 43; a software/SaaS company is Class 42 (and Class 9 if it sells a downloadable app); a clothing label is Class 25; an FMCG snack or biscuit brand is Class 30; a dairy is Class 29; a cosmetics brand is Class 3; a coaching institute or ed-tech is Class 41; a logistics or courier firm is Class 39; a jewellery brand is Class 14; and a fintech or NBFC is Class 36.
Putting It Into Practice
Once you have pinned down your class (or classes), the next step is to run a clearance search and file Form TM-A. Our companion guide to trademark registration in India walks through the full process end to end — clearance search, filing, examination, the journal publication and opposition window, and renewal — along with the documents and timelines involved. If your brand spans both products and services, plan your class strategy before filing so a single objection in one class does not stall protection for the rest of your portfolio.