Innovation Under Arms

As the sun rises over the Kartavya Path this January 26th, the rhythmic thud of marching boots echoes a story of a nation in transition. We are celebrating India’s 77th Republic Day, a milestone that marks over seven decades of constitutional sovereignty. While the tanks and missiles traditionally steal the show, there is a silent revolution happening within the folds of the fabric worn by our soldiers. This year, the “Combat Design” of the Indian Army isn't just a matter of camouflage; it is a matter of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). For the first time in our history, the Indian Army has traded its traditional stance of mere “usage” for “exclusive ownership," ensuring that the very threads of its uniform are protected by the highest laws of the land.

To understand why this is a spectacular development, one must look past the aesthetics of the new digital print and into the legal defences built around it. By launching its new digital combat coat in January 2025, the Indian Army shifted from just buying to creating its own gear. Developed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) under the Army Design Bureau, this garment is a marvel of technical textiles. However, the real victory lies in the fact that the Army has successfully registered this design with the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks under Design Application No. 449667-001. This legal registration is the equivalent of a “No Trespassing” sign posted on the identity of the Indian soldier.

In the world of law, this is what we call “Sole Ownership”. By securing a certificate under the Designs Act, 2000, the Indian Army has moved from being a consumer to an owner. For the non-IP reader, think of it this way: previously, once a uniform design was out, local shops could replicate it, and unauthorised vendors could sell low-quality versions to civilians or, worse, to anti-national elements. Now, the Army holds exclusive rights. This means that any unauthorised manufacture or sale of this specific digital pattern is a legal offense. The Army now has the power to seek permanent injunctions and claim damages against any entity that tries to infringe upon its design. This is Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India) meeting Legal Bharat, where our internal innovations are guarded against infringement as strictly as our borders are guarded against infiltration.

This shift toward legal vigilance becomes even more pertinent when we look at recent events like Operation Sindoor. May 7, 2025, was a time of great national pride, when India conducted a measured and focused military operation under the name “Operation Sindoor”, to erase the threat. But a day after this military success, a novel race commenced in the civilian world: the Trademark Race. At least six separate applications were filed by private individuals and companies to trademark the term “Operation Sindoor” and its potential logos. This practice follows a pattern that the legal experts at SpicyIP describe as “Moment Trademarking,” where entities attempt to profit from significant national or military milestones. 

Such a situation indicates a severe lapse, which is currently being bridged by the Indian Army by registering its combat design. The hijacking of a military codename by private individuals and the desire to make a profit degrade the essence of the mission. It brings a situation of law as a “free-for-all” where the heroism of our soldiers is commercialised.

By proactively registering the Coat Combat (Digital Print), the Army is signaling that it will no longer allow its identity to be a public domain asset for commercial exploitation. It is asserting that the symbols of our sovereignty, whether they are the names of our strikes or the patterns on our coats, belong to the State and its defenders, not to the highest bidder in a trademark office.

The gadgetry of the new combat design is also amazing. It is a three-layered outfit suitable for various tactical situations, which concentrates on ergonomic design and operational efficiency. However, under the law, each stitch is now an element of a proprietary asset. It is important because during the so-called “Decade of Transformation (2023-2032)”, the Indian Army is prioritising niche technologies. When the Army invests years of research and taxpayer money into developing a moisture-regulating, high-tenacity fabric, that know-how must be protected. The registration ensures that the camouflage pattern, which is mathematically designed to confuse the human eye and sensors, remains a state secret in terms of its production quality and specifications.

As India marks its 77^th Republic Day, it is worth recognising that the Indian Army today operates on two fronts. On one hand, we have the physical borders of the LAC and LOC. On the other hand is the strategic domain of intellectual property. Modern military strength isn't just about guns and tanks; it’s about using laws to protect our high-tech gear so that fake, low-quality copies don't put our soldiers at risk. The controversy surrounding the “Operation Sindoor” trademark underscores a larger concern: names, designs, and information are valuable assets in the digital age, and in the absence of State protection, private actors will seek to monetise national achievements. By legally protecting the new digital combat coat, the government is making sure that “Made in India” gear belongs only to our Army and cannot be copied or stolen by others. 

To sum up, the 77^th Republic Day is a tribute to a smarter, stronger, and legally savvy India. The New Coat Combat (Digital Print) is not simply a uniform, but it is a symbol of our developing Republic, where people cherish its intellectual property as much as its physical borders. Those designs are not merely to conceal themselves under the fire of the enemy, but the registered property of a nation that has learnt to keep the secret of its genius. We have shifted our emphasis from the trademark race of Operation Sindoor to the design dominance of the present-day Indian Army. And there, dear readers, is the most effective manner of saying “Jai Hind”.

References:

1. Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Defence, Gov’t of India, Indian Army Secures Intellectual Property Rights for New Design Coat Combat (Digital Print) (Nov. 19, 2025, 4:15 PM), https://pib.gov.in.

2. “Operation Sindoor” and the Misguided Idea of “Moment Trademarking”, SPICYIP (May 12, 2025), https://spicyip.com/2025/05/operation-sindoor-and-the-misguided-idea-of-moment-trademarking.html.

3. Trademark Race Begins for “Operation Sindoor” After India’s Military Strike, ECON. TIMES LEGALWORLD (2025), https://legal.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/corporate-business/trademark-race-begins-for-operation-sindoor-after-indias-military-strike/121030659.

4. Indian Aerospace and Defence Bulletin, Indian Army’s Bold Steps Towards A Decade Of Transformation: A Look Ahead (Jan. 14, 2026), https://www.iadb.in/2026/01/14/indian-armys-bold-steps-towards-a-decade-of-transformation-a-look-ahead/.