When you file a trademark in India, you’re not registering protection for your brand in general. You’re registering it for a specific class — or set of classes — of goods or services.
India follows the Nice Classification, an international system administered by WIPO that divides all goods and services into 45 classes. Classes 1 through 34 cover goods; classes 35 through 45 cover services.
This matters more than most brand owners realise.
Why Class Selection Is Critical
Your trademark registration only protects you within the classes you’ve filed in. If you’re a software company and you only file in Class 42 (IT services), a competitor can register the same name in Class 35 (business management services) — and operate in that space without technically infringing your mark.
Conversely, filing in too many classes increases your government fees and can attract scrutiny if you can’t demonstrate genuine intent to use the mark in those categories.
The goal is precision. File where your business genuinely operates, with strategic defensive filings in closely related classes.
Goods Classes (1–34): A Quick Reference
The goods classes cover everything from raw chemicals to food products to clothing. A few high-volume ones worth knowing:
Class 3 covers cosmetics, soaps, and cleaning preparations. The beauty industry sees massive trademark activity here.
Class 5 covers pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, and medical products. This is one of the most contested categories in the country.
Class 9 is enormous — it covers software, apps, electronic devices, scientific instruments, computers, and telecommunications equipment. Nearly every technology brand needs to be in Class 9.
Class 16 covers printed matter, stationery, and paper products. Publishers, educational material businesses, and stationery brands should take note.
Class 25 is clothing, footwear, and headwear. Fashion brands start here.
Class 29 covers food products like meat, fish, dairy, and preserved fruits. Class 30 covers coffee, tea, pastry, and sugar. Class 32 covers beverages (non-alcoholic).
Service Classes (35–45): Where Most Modern Businesses Operate
This is where a large share of India’s trademark applications now come from, reflecting the growth of the service economy.
Class 35: Advertising, business management, commercial administration, retail services. Almost every business with a commercial presence needs to consider this class.
Class 36: Financial and insurance services. Banks, NBFCs, fintech platforms.
Class 38: Telecommunications services. Internet service providers, messaging platforms, broadcast businesses.
Class 41: Education, entertainment, sports activities, publishing. EdTech companies, coaching institutes, streaming platforms.
Class 42: Scientific and technological services, IT services, software design and development. The backbone class for tech companies.
Class 44: Medical services, beauty care, agriculture. Hospitals, clinics, wellness brands.
Class 45: Legal services, security services, personal and social services. Law firms typically file in this class.
The Most Common Multi-Class Scenarios
Technology company: Class 9 (software, electronics) + Class 42 (IT services) + Class 35 (business management services)
Educational platform: Class 41 (education, training) + Class 42 (technology) + Class 35 (business services)
Fashion brand: Class 25 (clothing) + Class 18 (bags, accessories) + Class 35 (retail services)
Healthcare brand: Class 5 (pharmaceuticals) + Class 10 (medical devices) + Class 44 (medical services)
Food and beverage: Class 29 or 30 or 32 (depending on product) + Class 43 (restaurant/café services) + Class 35 (retail)
The Well-Known Mark Exception
For brands that achieve “well-known” status under Section 11(6) of the Trade Marks Act, protection extends across all classes — even those in which the mark is not registered. This is why Tata, Amul, and similar brands can block infringing uses even in completely unrelated categories.
Reaching well-known status is a separate process and requires substantial evidence of reputation and recognition.
Government Fees by Class
As of current rates, government filing fees in India are: Individuals, startups, and small enterprises: ₹4,500 per class (online filing) All other applicants: ₹9,000 per class (online filing)
If you file one mark across three classes, you pay three times the per-class fee. This is a real cost incentive to be strategic about which classes you actually need.
The Bottom Line
Class selection is not a back-of-the-envelope decision. It’s the strategic foundation of your trademark portfolio. Get it right, and your registration genuinely protects the business you’ve built. Get it wrong, and your competitors — intentional or not — can find space to operate that you’ve left unguarded.
If you’re unsure which classes apply to your business, consult a trademark attorney before you file. It’s a short conversation that prevents long, expensive problems.