Nice Classification of Trademarks in India: How the 45-Class System Works (2026)

📅 Updated: May 2, 2026 • 🕐 9 min read • ✍ IP India Research Desk

✅ Quick Answer: India uses the Nice Classification (NCL) 11th Edition — an international system that organises all goods and services into 45 classes (Classes 1–34 for goods, Classes 35–45 for services). IP India assigns every trademark to one or more classes. Choosing the wrong class means your trademark won't protect you where it matters most.

What Is the Nice Classification?

The Nice Classification (formally the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks) is an international treaty system created under the 1957 Nice Agreement. It is used by trademark offices in 150+ countries including IP India (India), USPTO (US), EUIPO (EU), and CNIPA (China).

Key features:

Divides all possible goods and services into 45 classes
Revised periodically — currently on the 11th Edition
A trademark is registered per class — protection only covers the specific classes filed
Same name, different classes = can be held by different owners

Classes 1–34: Goods Classes

Classes 1–34 cover physical products. Key examples:

Class 1: Chemicals, fertilisers, adhesives (industrial)
Class 3: Cosmetics, skincare, cleaning preparations
Class 5: Pharmaceuticals, supplements, medical preparations
Class 9: Electronics, software, electrical apparatus
Class 14: Jewellery, watches, precious metals
Class 20: Furniture, wooden articles
Class 25: Clothing, footwear, headgear
Class 29: Processed food, dairy, fish, meat
Class 30: Condiments, bread, confectionery, tea, coffee
Class 32: Non-alcoholic beverages, beer, mineral water

Classes 35–45: Service Classes

Classes 35–45 cover services. Key examples:

Class 35: Business services, retail, advertising, wholesale trading
Class 36: Financial, banking, real estate, insurance services
Class 37: Construction, repair, installation services
Class 39: Transport, travel, logistics services
Class 41: Education, training, entertainment services
Class 42: IT, software, SaaS, scientific services
Class 43: Restaurants, hotels, catering, food services
Class 44: Healthcare, medical, veterinary, wellness services
Class 45: Legal, security, personal, social services

What Happens If You Choose the Wrong Class?

Misclassification in trademark filing has serious consequences:

No protection in the right area: A clothing brand that files only in Class 35 (retail) and not Class 25 (clothing) gets no trademark protection for the garments themselves
Rejection: If your goods/services don't match the class, the examiner may raise an objection requiring amendment or re-filing
Competitive vulnerability: A competitor can register your brand name in the class you missed
Amendment costs: Adding classes after filing requires filing a fresh application — you lose your original filing date priority for the new class

Always identify all applicable classes before filing, not just the most obvious one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many trademark classes are there in India?

45 classes — Classes 1–34 for goods (physical products) and Classes 35–45 for services. India follows the Nice Classification 11th Edition.

Can the same trademark be registered in multiple classes?

Yes — and often should be. You pay the government fee separately for each class (₹4,500/class for MSME, ₹9,000/class for company), but can include multiple classes in a single Form TM-A application.

What if my business operates across goods and services?

File in both. Example: A restaurant chain that also manufactures packaged food would file in Class 30 (food products) AND Class 43 (restaurant services). Protection only covers the classes you register in.

Who decides which class my trademark goes in?

You specify the class(es) when filing Form TM-A. The IP India examiner verifies that your goods/services description matches the claimed class — if not, they raise an objection. When in doubt, consult a trademark attorney before filing.

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