Choosing the correct trademark class is the single most important filing decision after selecting the mark itself. Your trademark protection extends ONLY to the goods or services within the classes you register. A clothing brand registered in Class 25 gets zero protection if someone copies the name for a food product in Class 30. A SaaS company registered in Class 42 (services) has no protection for the downloadable app itself, which falls under Class 9 (goods).
This guide lists all 45 trademark classes under the Nice Classification with descriptions, Indian business examples, and the key 2026 updates from NCL 13th Edition. For a detailed explanation of how the classification system works and how to select your classes strategically, see our guide on how to select the right trademark class.
Goods Classes (1-34): Complete List with Descriptions and Examples
These classes cover physical products. Each class is a distinct category - filing in one does not protect you in another.
| Class | Description | Indian Business Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemicals for industry, science, agriculture, horticulture | Tata Chemicals, UPL, agrochemical startups |
| 2 | Paints, varnishes, lacquers, coatings, dyes, inks | Asian Paints, Berger Paints, Pidilite |
| 3 | Cosmetics, cleaning products, perfumery, essential oils | Mamaearth, Nykaa, Hindustan Unilever (Dove, Lux) |
| 4 | Industrial oils, fuels, lubricants, candles, wicks | Indian Oil, Castrol, candle manufacturers |
| 5 | Pharmaceuticals, veterinary, dietary supplements, baby food | Sun Pharma, Cipla, Dr. Reddy's, nutraceutical brands |
| 6 | Common metals, metal hardware, pipes, safes | Tata Steel, Jindal, metal hardware manufacturers |
| 7 | Machines, motors, engines (except vehicles) | Kirloskar, Mahindra (farm equipment), textile machinery |
| 8 | Hand tools, cutlery, razors, surgical instruments | Prestige, Victorinox, surgical instrument makers |
| 9 | Software, apps, electronics, scientific apparatus, safety equipment | Zoho, Freshworks, Boat, Fire-Boltt, CCTV brands |
| 10 | Medical devices, surgical apparatus, prosthetics, orthopaedic goods | BPL Medical, Trivitron, optical eyewear (NCL 13 update) |
| 11 | Lighting, heating, cooking, refrigeration, water treatment | Havells, Crompton, Eureka Forbes, kitchen appliances |
| 12 | Vehicles, apparatus for locomotion | Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp, Ola Electric |
| 13 | Firearms, ammunition, explosives, fireworks | Defence manufacturers, fireworks brands (Sivakasi) |
| 14 | Jewellery, precious metals, watches, clocks | Tanishq, Kalyan Jewellers, Titan watches |
| 15 | Musical instruments and accessories | Kadence, SG Musical, instrument retailers |
| 16 | Paper goods, stationery, printed matter, office supplies | Classmate, Camel, Navneet, publishing houses |
| 17 | Rubber, plastic, insulation materials, flexible pipes | Supreme Industries, Astral Pipes, packaging materials |
| 18 | Leather goods, bags, luggage, umbrellas | Hidesign, Wildcraft, VIP Industries, Da Milano |
| 19 | Non-metallic building materials, concrete, glass | Ultratech, ACC, glass manufacturers |
| 20 | Furniture, mirrors, picture frames, wood/plastic containers | Godrej Interio, Urban Ladder, Pepperfry (own brands) |
| 21 | Household utensils, kitchenware, glassware, porcelain | Milton, Borosil, Cello, Corelle |
| 22 | Ropes, strings, nets, tents, awnings, raw fibrous textiles | Tent manufacturers, rope and net brands |
| 23 | Yarns and threads for textile use | Vardhman Textiles, yarn manufacturers |
| 24 | Textiles, bed linen, table linen, curtains | Welspun, Bombay Dyeing, D'Decor, Trident |
| 25 | Clothing, footwear, headgear | Fabindia, Bata, Nike India, ethnic wear brands |
| 26 | Lace, embroidery, ribbons, buttons, hooks, pins | Trimming and haberdashery manufacturers |
| 27 | Carpets, rugs, mats, wall hangings (non-textile) | Jaipur Rugs, carpet exporters, mat manufacturers |
| 28 | Games, toys, sporting goods, Christmas decorations | Funskool, Hasbro India, SG cricket bats |
| 29 | Processed food - meat, fish, preserved fruits, dairy, oils | Amul, Mother Dairy, Haldiram's (packaged snacks) |
| 30 | Staple food - rice, flour, bread, confectionery, spices, tea, coffee | Tata Tea, MDH Spices, Britannia, Parle |
| 31 | Fresh agricultural products, seeds, plants, live animals, fodder | BigBasket (fresh produce), seed companies, nurseries |
| 32 | Non-alcoholic beverages, beer, mineral water | Bisleri, Paper Boat, Kingfisher (beer), Frooti |
| 33 | Alcoholic beverages (except beer) | Royal Challenge, Sula Vineyards, Amrut Whisky |
| 34 | Tobacco, smoking articles, matches, lighters | ITC (cigarettes), match manufacturers |
For detailed guidance on specific goods classes, see our specialised guides: Class 5 guide for pharma companies, Class 9 and 42 guide for software, and Class 25 guide for clothing brands.
Services Classes (35-45): Complete List with Descriptions and Examples
These classes cover intangible services. Many modern businesses - SaaS, consulting, fintech, edtech - fall primarily in service classes.
| Class | Description | Indian Business Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Advertising, business management, retail services, office functions | Ogilvy India, Flipkart (retail services), Naukri.com |
| 36 | Insurance, financial affairs, banking, real estate | LIC, HDFC, PolicyBazaar, Magicbricks, NoBroker |
| 37 | Construction, repair, installation services | L&T (construction), Urban Company (repair services) |
| 38 | Telecommunications, broadcasting, internet access services | Jio, Airtel, Tata Communications |
| 39 | Transport, packaging, storage, travel arrangement | Delhivery, BlueDart, MakeMyTrip, Ola (transport) |
| 40 | Treatment of materials, manufacturing services, custom fabrication | Printing services, custom manufacturing, recycling services |
| 41 | Education, training, entertainment, sporting events | BYJU'S, Unacademy, PVR Cinemas, IPL teams |
| 42 | Scientific/tech services, software development, SaaS, IT consulting, AI services | Infosys, TCS, Zoho (SaaS), AI startups (NCL 13: AI codified here) |
| 43 | Food/drink services, restaurants, hotels, temporary accommodation | Zomato (restaurant listing), Taj Hotels, OYO |
| 44 | Medical, veterinary, hygiene, beauty care services | Apollo Hospitals, Practo, salon chains |
| 45 | Legal services, security services, personal services, notary (NCL 13) | Vakilsearch, security agencies, matrimonial services |
What Changed in NCL 13 (Effective 1 January 2026)?
The 13th Edition of the Nice Classification introduced several changes that directly affect Indian trademark filings:
- AI services (Artificial Intelligence as a Service) formally codified under Class 42 - ending prior ambiguity about where to file AI-related services
- Optical eyewear reclassified to Class 10 (medical/surgical apparatus) from its previous placement - affects eyewear brands filing new applications
- Essential oils now classified by intended use: Class 1 (industrial), Class 3 (cosmetics/fragrance), Class 30 (food flavouring) - multi-class filing may be needed
- Notary services assigned to Class 45 - previously unclassified
- Applications filed under older edition descriptions may receive objections if the goods/services description does not match NCL 13 terminology
- TMclass (tmclass.tmdn.org) updated to reflect NCL 13 - always verify your class using the current edition before filing
Practical Impact: If you filed a trademark application before 1 January 2026 using NCL 12 terminology, your existing registration is unaffected. However, new applications filed after this date must use NCL 13 class descriptions. The Indian Trademark Registry (CGPDTM) applies the current edition at the time of filing.
Multi-Class Filing Strategy: When and How to File in Multiple Classes
Many businesses need protection across multiple classes. Here are common multi-class scenarios:
| Business Type | Primary Class(es) | Additional Classes to Consider |
|---|---|---|
| SaaS / Tech Startup | 42 (software services) | 9 (downloadable apps), 35 (business management via platform), 38 (data transmission) |
| E-commerce Platform | 35 (online retail services) | Product classes based on goods sold (e.g., 25 for clothing, 30 for food) |
| Restaurant / Cloud Kitchen | 43 (food services) | 29 or 30 (packaged food products), 39 (delivery services) |
| Fashion Brand | 25 (clothing, footwear) | 18 (bags, leather goods), 14 (jewellery), 3 (perfumes), 35 (retail) |
| Pharma Company | 5 (pharmaceuticals) | 10 (medical devices), 44 (medical services), 35 (pharma marketing) |
| EdTech Platform | 41 (education services) | 9 (educational software), 42 (platform technology), 16 (printed materials) |
| Financial Services | 36 (insurance, banking) | 9 (fintech apps), 42 (technology platform), 35 (business consultancy) |
| CA / CS / Legal Firm | 35 (business consultancy) | 36 (financial services), 42 (accounting software), 45 (legal services) |
Cost Calculation: Each class costs Rs 4,500 (individuals/startups/MSMEs) or Rs 9,000 (others) in government fees. A SaaS startup filing in Classes 9, 35, and 42 would pay Rs 13,500 (startup) or Rs 27,000 (company) in government fees alone, plus professional charges.
Common Mistakes When Selecting Trademark Classes
Mistake 1: Filing in the wrong class based on product vs service confusion. A company that DEVELOPS software should file in Class 42 (services). A company that SELLS downloadable software should file in Class 9 (goods). Many tech companies need both.
Mistake 2: Using outdated NCL edition descriptions. Applications filed with NCL 12 descriptions after 1 January 2026 may receive examiner objections. Always verify against the current NCL 13 edition using TMclass.
Mistake 3: Filing in only one class when the business spans multiple categories. A food delivery app needs Class 43 (restaurant services) + Class 42 (technology platform) + Class 39 (delivery/transport). Missing any class leaves a gap in protection.
Mistake 4: Selecting overly broad descriptions within a class. The Indian Trademark Registry (CGPDTM) may reject descriptions that are too vague. Use CGPDTM-accepted terminology found in TMclass with India (CGPDTM) selected as the office.
Mistake 5: Not filing defensively in adjacent classes. If you are 'FitPro' gym (Class 41), also register in Class 25 (sportswear) and Class 32 (sports drinks) to prevent others from launching competing products under your brand name.
Key Takeaways
India follows the Nice Classification with 45 trademark classes - 34 for goods (Classes 1-34) and 11 for services (Classes 35-45). Protection extends ONLY to the classes you register in.
The 13th Edition (NCL 13), effective 1 January 2026, formally codifies AI services under Class 42, reclassifies optical eyewear to Class 10, and assigns notary services to Class 45.
Multi-class filing is essential for businesses that operate across product and service categories. Each additional class costs Rs 4,500 (startups/MSMEs) or Rs 9,000 (others) in government fees.
Always verify your class selection using TMclass (tmclass.tmdn.org) with India (CGPDTM) selected as the office. The tool provides CGPDTM-accepted goods/services descriptions aligned with NCL 13.
Wrong class selection causes examiner objections, delays, and potential re-filing. The class cannot be changed after filing - a new application with new fees is required.
Need Help Selecting the Right Trademark Classes for Your Business?
Selecting the correct classes, drafting CGPDTM-accepted goods/services descriptions, and filing a multi-class application without errors requires both legal knowledge and practical filing experience. A wrong class selection wastes time, money, and your priority date.
Explore our trademark search services for class identification, conflict checking, and end-to-end filing support. Start your trademark registration process today.
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