Rules 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 10 says the fees are those in Schedule I, lists the accepted modes of payment, fixes the date of filing and covers refunds. In 2012, G.S.R. 689(E) changed two phrases in rule 10(3) and (4) so that bank drafts and crossed instruments are payable to a named accounts officer instead of the Registrar. Rule 11 says the forms in Schedules II and III must be used and must be accompanied by the fee. This article implements section 89 of the Act.
This article reflects the Rules as amended up to G.S.R. 689(E) dated 14 September 2012 (the only amendment). Check sicldr.gov.in for later notifications. For the current payment mode, check the Registry's website before paying. A filing plan prepared through IP portfolio management should include the payment step for each form.
Fees are those in Schedule I (the "prescribed fee"), and a form or application must be accompanied by it. Payment may be in cash, by money order, postal order, bank draft or cheque as rule 10(3) lists. Since 14 September 2012, a bank draft is to be payable to the Pay & Accounts Officer, Department of Electronics and Information Technology, and so are crossed postal orders, drafts and cheques under sub-rule (4). Where a fee is payable on filing, the date the entire fee is paid is the date of filing. Forms in Schedules II and III must be used.
Rule 10(1) and (2): the prescribed fee
"The fees to be paid in respect of applications, oppositions, registration and other matters under the Act and the rules shall be those specified in Schedule I, hereinafter referred to as the 'prescribed fee'." Where a fee is required, "the form or the application or the request or the petition, therefor, shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee." The amounts are listed in Schedule I; this article gives none. Section 89 of the Act makes fees a condition of action and filing; see sections 89 to 92.
Rule 10(3): modes of payment
As printed in 2001, fees "may be paid in cash or sent by money order addressed to the Registrar or by postal order or by a bank draft issued by" a scheduled bank as defined in the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, or by a cheque on such a bank carrying the bank's own assurance of payment, or, at the discretion of the Registrar, by a cheque drawn on such a bank without that assurance. In plain words: cash; money order; postal order; a bank draft; a cheque certified by the bank on which it is drawn; or, at the Registrar's discretion, an uncertified cheque drawn on a scheduled bank. If sent by post, payment is deemed made when the money order or the properly addressed and prepaid letter containing the postal order, draft or cheque would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.
The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 is an older statute named for the meaning of "scheduled bank"; check the current law on that definition if it matters.
The 2012 amendment to sub-rule (3)
G.S.R. 689(E) of 14 September 2012 provides that in sub-rule (3), for the words "by the bank draft", the words "by a bank draft payable to the Pay & Accounts Officer, Department of Electronics and Information Technology" shall be substituted. The amendment came into force on publication. The 2001 text of rule 10(3) reads "by a bank draft issued by", which is not word for word the phrase the amendment names; the intended change is clear, namely that a bank draft is payable to the named accounts officer.
Rule 10(4): crossing and payee
As printed in 2001: "Postal orders shall be crossed and made payable to the Registrar at the appropriate office of the Registry and bank drafts and cheque shall also be similarly crossed and made payable to the Registrar but they shall be drawn on a scheduled bank at the place where the appropriate office of the Registry is situate."
G.S.R. 689(E) substitutes, for the words "made payable to Registrar" in sub-rule (4), the words "made payable to the Pay & Accounts Officer, Department of Electronics and Information Technology".
| Item | 2001 text | After 2012 |
|---|---|---|
| Bank draft (sub-rule 3) | Bank draft | "A bank draft payable to the Pay & Accounts Officer, Department of Electronics and Information Technology" |
| Crossed instruments (sub-rule 4) | "Made payable to Registrar" | "Made payable to the Pay & Accounts Officer, Department of Electronics and Information Technology" |
| Drawn on | A scheduled bank at the place of the appropriate office | Unchanged by the amendment |
The payee is the only thing the amendment changes. Check the Registry's website for the current payment mode before you pay; this article does not state any later change.
Rule 10(5) and (6): date of filing and refunds
- 10(5). "Where a fee is payable in respect of the filing of a document, the date on which the entire fee is paid shall be deemed to be the date of filing of the document." This matches section 89(3) of the Act. If a payment is short or fails, the filing date moves.
- 10(6). Where a fee paid is ordered to be returned by the Registrar under the Act or Rules, "the amount may be refunded by money order in which event money order commission shall be deductible from such amount." One instance of a refund in the Act is the repayment of the filing fee in section 78(2); see sections 78 to 82.
Rule 11: the forms
- 11(1). "The forms set forth in Schedules II and III shall be used in all cases to which they are applicable and may be modified as directed by the Registrar to meet other cases." Schedule II carries the forms the public files (LD and LDA forms), and Schedule III the official forms the Registry issues (OLD forms). See Schedule II part 1.
- 11(2). "Any form, when filed at the Registry, shall be accompanied by prescribed fee."
So a form filed without its fee is not complete, and under rule 10(5) it is treated as filed only when the entire fee is paid. The Registrar can direct modifications of a form to fit other cases, but the text does not say a modified form can drop the fee.
A worked example
A chip company files Form LD-1 with a bank draft. In 2001 the draft would have been made payable to the Registrar; since 2012 rule 10(3) calls for a draft payable to the Pay & Accounts Officer, Department of Electronics and Information Technology. It posts the draft to the appropriate office, and under rule 10(3) the payment is deemed made when the properly addressed, prepaid letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post. Because the whole fee is paid then, that date is the date of filing under rule 10(5). Before posting, it checks the Registry's website for the current payment mode.
Need help with the filing set?
If you are filing several forms and want each form, fee and payment mode checked before posting, our IP portfolio management team can prepare and track the set.
Key takeaways
- Fees are those in Schedule I and must accompany the form or application.
- Payment modes are listed in rule 10(3); G.S.R. 689(E) of 2012 changed the payee for bank drafts and crossed instruments.
- The date the entire fee is paid is the date of filing.
- Refunds may be by money order, less commission.
- Forms in Schedules II and III must be used and be accompanied by the fee.
- Check the Registry's website for the current payment mode.
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Disclaimer: Based on the Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout-Design Act, 2000 (never amended; commencement as notified in 2004, 2011 and 2014) and the Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout-Design Rules, 2001 as amended by G.S.R. 689(E) of 14 September 2012, as consulted on 3 October 2026. Check sicldr.gov.in for later notifications and current forms and fees. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.