Quick Answer
India follows the NICE Classification system, which divides trademarks into 45 classes: 34 for goods and 11 for services. You must file your trademark under the class (or classes) that match your actual goods or services. Filing under the wrong class can delay registration or leave your brand unprotected in the market that matters most.
Choosing the wrong trademark class is one of the most common and most expensive mistakes first-time filers make in India. The Trademark Registry will not reclassify your application after filing. If your class doesn’t match your business, you either refile and pay again, or defend a mark that doesn’t actually cover your product or service.
This guide gives you the complete list of all 45 trademark classes in India, both goods and services, along with a straightforward method for identifying the correct one for your business.
What Are Trademark Classes? The NICE Classification System Explained
India uses the NICE Classification, an international system maintained by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It groups all goods and services into 45 distinct classes: Classes 1 through 34 cover goods, and Classes 35 through 45 cover services.
Every trademark application filed in India, whether through Form TM-A or otherwise, must specify at least one class. The Registry uses this classification to determine which existing marks could conflict with yours, and to define the scope of protection your registration ultimately grants.
We often see applicants assume that registering in one class protects their brand name everywhere. It does not. Trademark protection in India is class-specific. A mark registered in Class 25 for apparel gives you no rights over the same name used in Class 43 for restaurants, unless you separately register in both.
Full List of Trademark Classes in India: Goods (1-34) and Services (35-45)
Below is the complete NICE Classification list currently used by the Indian Trademark Registry. Use it to identify which class, or classes, match your goods or services.
Goods Classes (1-34)
| Class | Covers |
| 1 | Chemicals for industry, science, agriculture and forestry; unprocessed plastics and resins; fire extinguishing compositions; fertilizers |
| 2 | Paints, varnishes, lacquers; rust preventives; dyes and colorants; printing inks; raw natural resins; metals in foil and powder form for painting |
| 3 | Cosmetics and toiletries; perfumery and essential oils; cleaning, polishing and bleaching preparations |
| 4 | Industrial oils, greases and lubricants; fuels and illuminants; candles and wicks |
| 5 | Pharmaceuticals; medical and veterinary preparations; dietary supplements; disinfectants; pesticides |
| 6 | Common metals and alloys; metal building materials; small metal hardware; metal storage containers; safes |
| 7 | Machines and machine tools; motors and engines (non-land-vehicle); agricultural implements; vending machines |
| 8 | Hand tools and implements; cutlery; side arms (non-firearm); razors |
| 9 | Scientific, research, navigation and measuring apparatus; computers and software; recorded and downloadable media; safety and life-saving equipment |
| 10 | Surgical, medical, dental and veterinary apparatus; artificial limbs; orthopedic articles; nursing and assistive devices |
| 11 | Lighting, heating, cooling, cooking, drying, ventilating and sanitary apparatus |
| 12 | Vehicles and apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water |
| 13 | Firearms, ammunition, explosives, fireworks |
| 14 | Precious metals and jewelry; horological and chronometric instruments |
| 15 | Musical instruments and stands |
| 16 | Paper, cardboard and printed matter; stationery; instructional materials; packaging materials |
| 17 | Unprocessed rubber, gutta-percha, asbestos and mica; insulating materials; flexible non-metal pipes and hoses |
| 18 | Leather and imitation leather; luggage and bags; umbrellas; whips, harness and saddlery |
| 19 | Non-metal building materials; rigid non-metal pipes; asphalt, pitch and bitumen; transportable non-metal buildings |
| 20 | Furniture, mirrors, picture frames; non-metal storage containers; worked bone, horn and mother-of-pearl |
| 21 | Household and kitchen utensils; cookware and tableware; combs, sponges and brushes; unworked or semi-worked glass and porcelain |
| 22 | Ropes, string and nets; tents, tarpaulins and sails; padding and stuffing materials; raw fibrous textile materials |
| 23 | Yarns and threads for textile use |
| 24 | Textiles and textile substitutes; household linen; curtains |
| 25 | Clothing, footwear, headwear |
| 26 | Lace, embroidery and ribbons; buttons, pins and needles; artificial flowers; hair decorations |
| 27 | Carpets, rugs and floor coverings; non-textile wall hangings |
| 28 | Games, toys and playthings; video game apparatus; sporting articles; Christmas decorations |
| 29 | Meat, fish, poultry and game; preserved and processed fruits and vegetables; dairy products; edible oils and fats |
| 30 | Coffee, tea, cocoa; rice, pasta and flour; bread and confectionery; sugar, honey and condiments |
| 31 | Raw agricultural and horticultural products; fresh fruits, vegetables and plants; live animals; animal feed |
| 32 | Beers; non-alcoholic beverages; mineral and aerated waters; fruit juices |
| 33 | Alcoholic beverages, except beer |
| 34 | Tobacco and tobacco substitutes; cigarettes and e-cigarettes; smokers’ articles; matches |
Services Classes (35-45)
| Class | Covers |
| 35 | Advertising; business management and administration; office functions |
| 36 | Financial, monetary and banking services; insurance; real estate services |
| 37 | Construction; installation and repair services; mining and drilling |
| 38 | Telecommunications services |
| 39 | Transport; packaging and storage of goods; travel arrangement |
| 40 | Treatment of materials; waste recycling; water and air treatment; printing services |
| 41 | Education; training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities |
| 42 | Scientific and technological services; industrial research and design; computer hardware and software design and development |
| 43 | Services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation |
| 44 | Medical and veterinary services; beauty care; agriculture and horticulture services |
| 45 | Legal services; security services; personal and social services for individuals |
Software companies and IT service providers most often need Class 9 (software as a product) and Class 42 (software design and development, SaaS services). Restaurants, cafes and food delivery platforms fall under Class 43. Apparel brands, including footwear and headwear, belong in Class 25.
How to Identify the Right Trademark Class for Your Business
Start with what you actually sell, not what industry you consider yourself part of. A company selling a fitness app sits in Class 9 (the software itself) and often Class 42 (SaaS delivery), not Class 41, even though fitness feels like an “entertainment” category on the surface.
List every product line and service offering separately. Match each one to its class using the tables above. If your business spans goods and services, such as a bakery that also runs a café, you may need more than one class (here, Class 30 for baked goods and Class 43 for the café service).
When a description doesn’t map cleanly to a class, check the NICE Classification’s explanatory notes or consult a trademark professional before filing.
Not sure which classes apply to your business? Altacit Global reviews your goods and services and identifies the correct classes before you file.
Filing in Multiple Classes: Cost and Strategy
Each class requires a separate application and a separate government fee, even if you file all classes on the same day. A brand operating across three classes pays three separate filing fees, not one bundled fee.
Filing in every class “just in case” is rarely a sound strategy for early-stage businesses. Instead, prioritize the classes covering your current goods and services, and the ones you have a genuine, near-term plan to enter. Add classes later, through fresh applications, as your business expands.
Common Trademark Classification Mistakes
Filing under a related but incorrect class is the most frequent error. A software company filing only in Class 42 while ignoring Class 9 can leave its product name unprotected if that same name is used on packaged software or apps.
Under-classifying is another common issue: businesses that sell both a product and a related service often file for only one, leaving the other exposed to competitors. Review your full goods and services list against the class tables above before submitting Form TM-A.
Get Your Trademark Class Right the First Time
Classification errors cost time and money that a first filing shouldn’t require. Once you’ve matched your goods and services to the correct class using the tables above, the next step is preparing your application for filing.
Altacit Global has offices in Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi and Coimbatore, and handles trademark classification, filing and prosecution across all 45 classes. For a review of your specific goods and services before you file, contact info@altacit.com.
For related guidance, see our trademark registration process guide, our trademark objection response guide, and our trademark search guide.
Frequently Asked Questions: Trademark Classes India
Q1: How many trademark classes are there in India?
India recognizes 45 trademark classes under the NICE Classification: Classes 1 to 34 for goods, and Classes 35 to 45 for services. Every trademark application must specify at least one of these 45 classes.
Q2: Which trademark class is for software companies?
Software companies typically file in Class 9, which covers downloadable and recorded software as a product, and Class 42, which covers software design, development and SaaS delivery. Companies offering both a software product and ongoing software services often need both classes.
Q3: Can one trademark cover multiple classes?
Yes, but each class requires a separate application and a separate government fee, even when filed on the same date. There is no single combined application that automatically covers multiple classes for one fee.
Q4: What happens if I choose the wrong trademark class?
An application filed under the wrong class does not protect your mark for your actual goods or services. The Registry does not permit reclassification after filing, so correcting the error means filing a new application in the correct class and paying the fee again.
Q5: Which class is for restaurants and food delivery services?
Restaurants, cafes and food delivery services fall under Class 43, which covers services for providing food and drink, along with temporary accommodation. A packaged food product sold under the same brand would additionally require a goods class, such as Class 29 or 30.
