To deal with product patents, India is spending more than Rs 100 crore to modernise its patent offices. Already in place: four modern offices, 175 trained patent examiners, besides digital and print material on prior art. However, this infrastructure is yet to be tested, while the database is also limited to one lakh patent records. The examiners' knowledge is limited, but they face formidable challenges. 12,000 applications wait to be examined and new applications will only multiply