Forms 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.
The Second Schedule to the Trade Marks Rules, 2017 lists eight forms for applicants and others: TM-A, TM-M, TM-R, TM-C, TM-O, TM-P, TM-U and TM-G. The Third Schedule lists four forms that the Registrar himself uses: RG-1 to RG-4. This article explains what each form is for, which sections and rules it serves as printed, and which First Schedule entry carries its fee.
The Second Schedule has four columns: form number, section and rules of the Act and Rules, title for which the form may be used, and entry number of the First Schedule. The eight forms cover applications for registration (TM-A), miscellaneous requests (TM-M), renewal and restoration (TM-R), search (TM-C), opposition and rectification (TM-O), post-registration changes and assignments (TM-P), registered users (TM-U) and trademarks agents (TM-G). The Third Schedule lists RG-1 (non-completion of registration), RG-2 (certificate of registration), RG-3 (expiry notice) and RG-4 (agent's certificate).
How the forms are organised
The forms are called for throughout the Rules; rule 11 on forms and electronic filing is explained in Rule 11, and the fees in the First Schedule article. Where the older posts on this site use form numbers from the 2002 Rules, the 2017 Rules replaced them with the names here. If you are not sure which form fits your step, our trademark registration team can check it against the Schedule.
Two features of the forms are worth knowing before the table.
- One request per form. Forms TM-M, TM-P and TM-U each carry a note that one form is meant for one request only; if more than one request is made in one form, "the first one will be entertained and rest of the requests will be ignored" (the note as printed in TM-M and TM-U).
- Parts. TM-M and TM-U are divided into Parts A, B and C: Part A (applicant details) and Part C (signature and documents) are compulsory, and Part B is the choice of purpose.
The Second Schedule at a glance
| Form | Sections and rules shown in column 2 | What it is for (column 3, summarised) | First Schedule entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| TM-A | Sections 15, 15(3), 18(1), 18(2), 63(1), 71, 71(1), 154(2) | Application for registration of a trademark in one or more classes; of collective marks; of certification marks; of a trademark as a series | 1 |
| TM-M | Sections 18(4), 22, proviso to 22, 23(2), 43, 58, 66, 74(2), 127(c), 131, 133(1), 137, 148(2); Rules 23, 36, 36(1), 41, 56(3), 108, 109, 122, 124, 127 | Miscellaneous requests: amendment in an application, grounds of decision, preliminary advice, regulations of collective or certification marks, certified copy, duplicate certificate, extension of time, review of decision, inspection, particulars of advertisement, interlocutory petitions, inclusion in the well-known list, and other matters not covered in other TM forms | 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 |
| TM-R | Section 25, proviso to 25(3), 25(4) | Renewal; renewal with surcharge; restoration | 3, 4, 5 |
| TM-C | Rules 22(1), 22(3) | Application for search certificate | 11, 12 |
| TM-O | Sections 21, 21(1), 47 to 57, 59, 64, 66, 68, 73, 77 and section 25 of the Geographical Indications Act, 1999; Rules 99, 105, 130, 136 | Notice of opposition; application for rectification; applications under rules 99, 135 and 140; invalidation of a trademark under the GI Act, or counterstatement | 2 |
| TM-P | Sections 16(5), 40(2), 41, 42, 43, 45, 58, 59, 60; Rules 75, 80, 83, 85 | Replace a subsequent proprietor as registered proprietor; amend details of proprietors or registered users; amend a registered trademark or its specification; conversion of goods; dissolution of association between trademarks | 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| TM-U | Sections 49, 50, 50(1)(a), (b), (c) or (d); Rule 95 | Record registered users; amend details; cancel or vary; third-party intervention | 10 |
| TM-G | Rules 147, 153, 154 | Registration of a trademarks agent; continuation; restoration; alteration of details | 19, 20, 21, 22 |
The heading of each form in the Schedule adds detail: for example, TM-R is titled "Application for Renewal/Restoration of registration of a trademark", TM-P "Application for Post registration changes in the trademarks", TM-O "Opposition/Application for Rectification of the Register/Counter statement / Refusal or invalidation of a trademark under Geographical Indication of Goods (Regulation and Protection) Act, 1999", TM-U "Application for registration of Registered User/Variation of Registered User/Cancellation of Registered Users and Notice of intention to intervene in proceeding in cancellation/variation", and TM-G "Trade Marks Agent Registration/Renewal/Restoration/Alteration".
The eight forms in plain terms
TM-A: the application. Used for a standard trademark, a collective mark, a certification mark or a series of marks. The form asks the applicant to choose the nature of the application and whether the applicant is an individual, startup, small enterprise or other (which decides the fee under entry 1). The Rule that introduces it is rule 23; see the article on Form TM-A for the practical steps, checked against this Schedule.
TM-M: miscellaneous requests. The widest form. Part B offers different purposes, among them a request for the Registrar's certificate under section 40(2), approval under section 41, advertisement directions under section 42, extension of time and consent to assign a certification mark. In the rules, TM-M is named for adjournment requests (rule 50(2)), extension of time (rule 109), review (rule 119), certified copies (rule 122), well-known determination (rule 124), division (rule 108) and noting a certificate of validity (rule 127).
TM-R: renewal and restoration. Covers renewal, renewal with surcharge and restoration of a trademark; fees are entries 3 to 5.
TM-C: search. Rule 22(1) and 22(3) name it as the request for search; entry 11 is the ordinary request and entry 12 the expedited one. Drafting slip: the printed heading of Form TM-C refers to "section 45(1) of the Copyright Act, 1957" although the form is under the Trade Marks Act.
TM-O: opposition and rectification. The notice of opposition, the counterstatement, applications for rectification or removal (rules 97, 135, 140), applications under rules 99 and 103, and requests for refusal or invalidation under the GI Act (rule 106).
TM-P: post-registration changes. Recording assignments and transmissions (rule 75), directions on advertisement (rule 80), the Registrar's certificate or approval (rule 83), extension of time to register a company (rule 85), and alterations of address and of the mark (rules 101, 102 and 105).
TM-U: registered users. Registration (rule 86), variation and cancellation (rules 92, 93) and notice of intervention (rule 95(2)).
TM-G: agents. Registration (rule 147), restoration (rule 153) and alteration (rule 154); the Schedule also lists continuation as a purpose.
Slips between column 2 and the Rules
Column 2 of the Second Schedule is a guide, not a complete index. Some points as printed:
- For TM-O, column 2 lists "Rules: 99, 105, 130, 136". In the Rules, rule 105 uses Form TM-P, and rules 130 and 136 are the opening rules of Parts II and III, while rules 131 and 137 name TM-A. Rules 97, 98, 103, 135 and 140 do name TM-O but are not all in the list.
- For TM-P, rules 96, 101, 102 and 105 name TM-P in the text but are not in column 2.
- The Rules name TM-M in several places that column 2 does not list (for example, rule 50(2) on adjournment).
The practical lesson is to read the rule that applies to your step to confirm the form, and then the First Schedule for the fee.
The Third Schedule: forms used by the Registrar
| Form | Section / rule | Title | What the form says |
|---|---|---|---|
| RG-1 | Section 23(3); rule 52 | Notice of non-completion of registration | The registration has not been completed by reason of default of the applicant; unless the default is rectified within twenty-one days from the date of the notice, the application will be treated as abandoned |
| RG-2 | Section 23(2); rule 56(1) | Certificate of registration of trade mark | Certifies registration in the register in the name of the proprietor in stated classes, under a number and date; registration is for 10 years and may be renewed for 10 years and at the expiry of each period of 10 years thereafter (see section 25 and rules 57 to 61); the certificate "is not for use in legal proceedings or for obtaining registration abroad" |
| RG-3 | Section 25(3); rule 58(1) | Notice of expiration of registration | The registration will expire on a stated date and can be renewed for a further 10 years on receipt of an application with the prescribed fee on or before that date |
| RG-4 | Rule 149 | Certificate of registration as Trade Marks Agent | Certifies that a person was registered on a stated date in the Register of Trade Marks Agents maintained under rule 149 |
Drafting slips in the Third Schedule: the body of RG-3 cites "section 23(2)" in its heading line, although the list says section 25(3), and RG-3's text refers to an enclosed renewal form by an older form number instead of TM-R. The Schedule's own list is the safer guide. The Third Schedule forms are issued by the Registrar; an applicant does not file them. Rule 52 (RG-1) and rule 56 (RG-2) are covered in the article on Rules 52–53 and rules 54 to 56; rule 58 (RG-3) in the article on Rules 58–59.
An invented example: Delta Foods wants to (i) file a new mark, (ii) later assign it, and (iii) renew it. Step (i) is Form TM-A (entry 1), step (ii) is Form TM-P (entry 6), and step (iii) is Form TM-R (entry 3). Before registration, if the Registrar finds the application incomplete through the applicant's default, he sends Form RG-1; when registration is complete he issues Form RG-2.
Need help choosing the right form?
Filing the wrong form, or two requests in one form, can cost time. TaxClue's trademark registration practice can match each step in your file to the right form and fee, and prepare and file it.
Key takeaways
- Second Schedule forms: TM-A, TM-M, TM-R, TM-C, TM-O, TM-P, TM-U, TM-G; Third Schedule (Registrar's forms): RG-1 to RG-4.
- The Second Schedule's last column gives the First Schedule entry for each form.
- One form is meant for one request in TM-M and TM-U; extra requests are ignored.
- Column 2 of the Second Schedule is not a complete index; check the rule that applies.
- Form TM-C's printed heading cites the Copyright Act by mistake; RG-3 refers to an older renewal form number.
- This text is the Rules as notified on 6 March 2017; check later amendments.
Read next
- First Schedule: Fees for applications, oppositions, renewals and other matters
- Rules 157–158: Language of the Registry and repeal of the 2002 Rules
- How to File Form TM-A: Application for a New Trademark
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.