At a Glance: India uses the international Nice Classification system — 45 classes covering all goods (Classes 1–34) and services (Classes 35–45). Filing under the wrong class is one of the most common and costly trademark mistakes. Use this guide to find the right class before you file.
Official Reference: The complete Nice Classification list used in India is published by IP India — CGPDTM (ipindia.gov.in). Always verify the latest edition of the class headings on the official portal before filing your application.
When you file a trademark application in India, one of the most important decisions you make is selecting the correct trademark class. Your trademark is only protected for the specific goods or services listed in the class you apply under. Use it in a class you didn’t register — or face an infringer operating in a different class — and your registered trademark may offer you little protection.
India follows the Nice Classification (officially, the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks), which WIPO updates regularly. This system divides all possible goods and services into 45 classes — Classes 1 through 34 for goods, and Classes 35 through 45 for services.
Before diving into the full class list, it’s worth reading our introduction: What Is a Trademark? A Complete Guide for Indian Businesses.
Why the Trademark Class Matters
A trademark registration in India is class-specific. This means:
- Your protection is limited to the registered class. If you register “NOVA” only in Class 25 (clothing), someone else can register “NOVA” in Class 32 (beverages) without infringing your mark.
- You pay fees per class. Each additional class costs an extra ₹4,500 (individual/MSME) or ₹9,000 (others) in government fees.
- The class cannot be changed after filing. An incorrect class means you must file a fresh application — with new fees.
- Multi-class applications are permitted. You can protect one mark across multiple classes in a single application, paying separately for each.
Classes 1–34: Goods
Classes 1–10 — Chemicals, Paints, Cosmetics, Pharma & More
| Class | Category | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemicals | Industrial chemicals, fertilisers, adhesives for industrial use, fire extinguishing compositions, photographic chemicals |
| 2 | Paints & Varnishes | Paints, varnishes, lacquers, rust-proofing products, wood preservatives, dyes, mordants, raw natural resins, metals in foil or powder form for painting |
| 3 | Cosmetics & Cleaning | Cleaning, polishing, scouring and abrasive preparations; soaps, perfumery, essential oils, cosmetics, hair lotions, toothpaste |
| 4 | Industrial Oils & Fuels | Industrial oils and greases, lubricants; fuels (including motor spirit) and illuminants; candles, wicks |
| 5 | Pharmaceuticals | Pharmaceuticals, medical and veterinary preparations; dietetic food for medical use; disinfectants; pesticides |
| 6 | Metal Goods | Common metals and their alloys, ores; metal materials for building and construction; safes, metallic hardware |
| 7 | Machinery | Machines, machine tools, motors and engines (not for land vehicles); machine coupling and transmission components; agricultural implements; incubators for eggs |
| 8 | Hand Tools | Hand tools and implements (hand-operated); cutlery; side arms; razors |
| 9 | Electronics & Software | Scientific, nautical, surveying, photographic, optical, weighing, measuring apparatus; data processing equipment, computers; software; mobile applications |
| 10 | Medical Devices | Surgical, medical, dental and veterinary apparatus and instruments; artificial limbs, eyes and teeth; orthopaedic articles; suture materials |
Classes 11–20 — Appliances, Vehicles, Firearms, Jewellery & More
| Class | Category | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Lighting & Heating | Apparatus for lighting, heating, steam generating, cooking, refrigerating, drying, ventilating, water supply and sanitary purposes |
| 12 | Vehicles | Vehicles; apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water; bicycles, motorcycles, cars, aircraft |
| 13 | Firearms | Firearms; ammunition and projectiles; explosives; fireworks |
| 14 | Precious Metals & Jewellery | Precious metals and their alloys; jewellery, precious stones; horological and chronometric instruments |
| 15 | Musical Instruments | Musical instruments and their accessories |
| 16 | Paper & Stationery | Paper, cardboard; printed matter; bookbinding material; photographs; stationery; adhesives for stationery; educational material; pens, pencils |
| 17 | Rubber & Plastics | Rubber, gutta-percha, gum, asbestos, mica, and goods made from these materials; plastics in extruded form for use in manufacture; packing and insulating materials |
| 18 | Leather Goods | Leather and imitations of leather; animal skins, hides; trunks, travelling bags, handbags, wallets; umbrellas, parasols, walking sticks; whips, harness |
| 19 | Building Materials | Non-metallic building materials; non-metallic rigid pipes for building; asphalt, pitch, and bitumen; non-metallic transportable buildings |
| 20 | Furniture | Furniture, mirrors, picture frames; containers not of metal or masonry; unworked or semi-worked bone, horn, whalebone, shell, amber, mother-of-pearl, meerschaum |
Classes 21–34 — Household, Textiles, Food, Beverages & Tobacco
| Class | Category | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Household & Kitchen | Household or kitchen utensils and containers; glassware, porcelain, earthenware; combs, sponges, brushes |
| 22 | Ropes & Fibres | Ropes, string, nets, tents, awnings, tarpaulins, sails, sacks; raw fibrous textile materials |
| 23 | Yarns & Threads | Yarns and threads for textile use |
| 24 | Fabrics & Textiles | Textiles and substitutes for textiles; household linen; curtains of textile or plastic |
| 25 | Clothing & Footwear | Clothing, footwear, headgear; T-shirts, jeans, sarees, kurtas, shoes, sandals, caps |
| 26 | Haberdashery | Lace and embroidery, ribbons and braid; buttons, hooks and eyes, pins and needles; artificial flowers; hair decorations |
| 27 | Carpets & Floor Coverings | Carpets, rugs, mats, matting, linoleum and other materials for covering existing floors; non-textile wall hangings |
| 28 | Toys & Sports | Games, toys and playthings; video game apparatus; gymnastic and sporting articles; decorations for Christmas trees |
| 29 | Food (Animal/Dairy) | Meat, fish, poultry, game; meat extracts; preserved, frozen, dried and cooked fruits and vegetables; eggs, milk and milk products; edible oils and fats |
| 30 | Food (Staples) | Coffee, tea, cocoa and artificial coffee; rice, pasta; flour and preparations made from cereals; bread, pastries, confectionery; honey, treacle; salt, mustard; spices, ice |
| 31 | Agriculture & Live Animals | Raw and unprocessed agricultural, aquacultural, horticultural and forestry products; live animals; fresh fruits and vegetables; seeds; natural plants and flowers |
| 32 | Beers & Soft Drinks | Beers; non-alcoholic beverages; mineral and aerated waters; fruit beverages and fruit juices; syrups and other preparations for making beverages |
| 33 | Alcoholic Beverages | Alcoholic beverages (except beers); wine, spirits, liqueurs; alcoholic preparations for making beverages |
| 34 | Tobacco | Tobacco; smokers’ articles; electronic cigarettes; matches |
Classes 35–45: Services
Classes 35–45 — All Service Categories
| Class | Category | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Business & Advertising | Advertising; business management; business administration; office functions; retail and wholesale services for goods; e-commerce platforms |
| 36 | Finance & Insurance | Financial affairs; monetary affairs; real estate affairs; insurance services; banking; investment; mutual funds; money lending |
| 37 | Construction & Repair | Building construction; repair; installation services; plumbing; electrical installation; maintenance of property |
| 38 | Telecommunications | Telecommunications services; broadcasting; radio and television; internet service providers; messaging services; teleconferencing |
| 39 | Transport & Travel | Transport; packaging and storage of goods; travel arrangement; courier services; logistics; warehousing |
| 40 | Material Treatment | Treatment of materials; custom manufacturing; printing; food and drink processing; textile treatment; recycling |
| 41 | Education & Entertainment | Education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities; online learning platforms; publishing |
| 42 | IT & Scientific Services | Scientific and technological services and research; industrial analysis and research; design and development of computer hardware and software; SaaS; cloud computing; IT consulting |
| 43 | Food & Drink Services | Services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation; restaurants, cafes, dhabas, cloud kitchens, food delivery platforms |
| 44 | Medical & Beauty Services | Medical services; veterinary services; hygienic and beauty care for human beings or animals; agriculture, horticulture and forestry services |
| 45 | Legal & Personal Services | Legal services; security services for the physical protection of tangible property and individuals; personal and social services rendered by others to meet the needs of individuals |
Most Popular Classes for Indian Businesses
In our experience, these are among the most common classes for Indian businesses:
- Class 35 — virtually every business that sells products or services online or through retail files here
- Class 42 — tech startups, software companies, SaaS platforms, IT firms
- Class 25 — fashion brands, clothing manufacturers, footwear companies
- Class 5 — pharmaceutical companies, nutraceutical and wellness brands
- Class 43 — restaurants, food delivery apps, cloud kitchen brands
- Class 36 — fintech companies, NBFCs, insurance aggregators
- Class 41 — ed-tech platforms, coaching institutes, training companies
Should You File in Multiple Classes?
Many businesses operate across multiple categories and should file in multiple classes. Common multi-class scenarios:
- A fashion brand selling clothes (Class 25) and running an e-commerce store (Class 35)
- A food company selling packaged goods (Class 30) and operating restaurants (Class 43)
- A tech startup building software (Class 42) and offering digital marketing services (Class 35)
- A healthcare company selling medicines (Class 5) and providing medical services (Class 44)
Important: You only need to file in classes where you actually use or intend to use the mark. Filing in unnecessary classes wastes money, and classes you never use can later be challenged for non-use. However, failing to cover key classes leaves you exposed — getting the balance right is where professional guidance pays off.
How to Choose the Right Class
Follow these steps to identify the correct trademark class for your business:
- Define your core goods or services — write down exactly what your business sells or does
- Check the IP India classification manual — search the Nice Classification for matching terms
- Consider your business model — a manufacturer (goods class) and a retailer of the same product (Class 35) have different filing needs
- Think about future expansion — if you plan to enter new categories within 2–3 years, filing early is cheaper than filing later
- Consult a trademark agent — for businesses with complex offerings, a professional can identify gaps you may have missed
Once you’ve selected your class, the next step is checking whether your mark is available. See: Trademark Search in India — How to Check Brand Name Availability.
Need help with this?
Our team can handle it for you, online, from anywhere in India.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file one trademark application for multiple classes?
Yes. A single trademark application can cover multiple classes. You pay the government fee for each class (₹4,500 per class for individuals, startups and MSMEs; ₹9,000 for other applicants). This is known as a multi-class application and is convenient and cost-effective compared to filing separate applications.
What if I file under the wrong class?
The class cannot be corrected after filing. If you filed under the wrong class, you will need to file a fresh application under the correct class and pay the fees again. The original application cannot be amended to change the class. This is why it’s critical to get the class right at the time of filing.
Is Class 35 needed for every business?
Class 35 covers “retail and wholesale services for goods.” If your business sells products through a shop, website, or platform — even if those products are covered in another class — you likely also need Class 35 to protect the retail aspect of your business. Most consumer-facing businesses file in both their product class and Class 35.
Does the same trademark need to be filed in all 45 classes for full protection?
No — and you should not do this. You only file in classes that are relevant to your actual business. Filing in all 45 classes is unnecessary, expensive, and could be challenged on grounds of bad-faith filing. Focus on the classes that genuinely reflect your goods and services.
My business is a tech startup offering a mobile app — which class should I file under?
Most tech startups and app companies file under Class 9 (downloadable apps and software) and Class 42 (SaaS and IT services), and often also Class 35 (if the app is a marketplace or has a business services component) or Class 38 (if the app provides communication or social networking features). The specific sub-class depends on the nature of the app.
Can I register one trademark in more than one class?
Yes. You can file one application covering several classes, but the government fee is charged for each class.
Official sources
This article is for general information only and is not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees change; check the latest position or talk to our team before acting.