What do the 2025 CRI guidelines change?

The Office of the Controller General notified the revised Guidelines for Examination of Computer Related Inventions, 2025 on 29 July 2025, following draft versions issued in March and June 2025. They replace the 2017 Guidelines.

The main features are:

• A dedicated chapter on jurisprudence, drawing together the Indian case law on Section 3(k) — an unusual and welcome inclusion in an examination manual.

• A step-wise methodology for assessing Section 3(k), supported by flowcharts, so that each of the four exclusions is addressed in a defined sequence rather than as a single blanket objection.

• Annexure I, a non-exhaustive set of worked examples showing allowable and non-allowable claimed subject matter under each of the four heads, with reasoning.

• Express treatment of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, blockchain, cloud computing and quantum computing.

• An expanded working definition of "algorithm", drawn from the Madras High Court's decision in Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC v. Assistant Controller of Patents and Designs.

• A firmer line on sufficiency of disclosure, addressed below.