What Is the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)? Jio Platforms Enters WIPO Top 20 in 2025 Rankings: Key Points for RAS Pre 2026
The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is an international agreement under which an inventor can file a single international application and move the patent process forward in many countries. In WIPO's 2025 PCT rankings, Jio Platforms entered the world's top 20 international patent filers for the first time, which makes the topic important for exams.
The RAS Pre-2026 exam is on 6 December 2026 with over 5 lakh candidates for 607 posts. It helps to prepare this current-affairs topic with facts.
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) at a Glance
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) |
| Nature | International treaty/agreement |
| Adopted | 1970 |
| In force | 1978 |
| Administered by | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Geneva |
| Main benefit | One international application to start the patent process in many countries |
| Final decision | Each country's own patent office decides whether to grant the patent |
How the PCT Works
- The inventor files one international application.
- In the international phase, the application is searched and examined.
- The applicant then enters the national phase in chosen countries.
- The final decision to grant or refuse a patent is taken by each country's patent office under its own law.
This means the PCT does not itself grant a patent; it makes and unifies the application process across many countries.
WIPO PCT Ranking 2025: What Happened
As per WIPO, international patent applications filed through the PCT rose 0.7% in 2025 to about 2,75,900, a second straight year of growth. Outside the top 10, Jio Platforms, Nokia Technologies, NTT Docomo and China's Beijing Zitiao Network Technologies entered the top 20.
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Jio's jump | About 320 places up into the top 20, as per reports |
| Jio's published PCT applications | About 1,058 (2025) vs 87 (2024), as per reports |
| Jio's total patent filings | 6,817 (till 31 March 2026): 2,393 in India and 4,424 abroad |
| Jio's granted patents | 1,009 (538 in India, 471 abroad) |
| India's PCT rank (origin country) | 12th, 3,070 applications (as per report) |
| Top country | China, 73,718 applications |
Note on rank: Most reports put Jio's rank at 20th, while one newspaper source you saw says 19th. For exams, the safest fact is that Jio is the first Indian tech company to enter the top 20.
Where Jio Is Filing Patents
Jio's patent portfolio spans areas such as 5G, 5G Advanced, 6G, artificial intelligence (AI), AI-native networks, cloud-native platforms, edge intelligence, fixed wireless access and network slicing. As per WIPO, 16 of the top-20 applicants are from the information and communications technology (ICT) sector.
Key Points to Remember for the Exam
- PCT: adopted in 1970, in force from 1978; administered by WIPO.
- One application can start the patent process in many countries, but each country grants the patent itself.
- In WIPO PCT 2025, Jio Platforms became the first Indian tech company in the top 20.
- PCT applications in 2025 were about 2.76 lakh, up 0.7%.
- China led PCT filings in 2025 and India ranked 12th (as per report).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)?
An international treaty under which one international application can start the patent process in many countries.
When was the PCT adopted and when did it come into force?
Adopted in 1970 and in force from 1978.
Does the PCT directly grant a patent?
No. The final decision is taken by each country's own patent office.
What was Jio's position in the WIPO 2025 ranking?
Jio Platforms entered the top 20, the first Indian tech company to do so. Most reports put its rank at 20th.
Note: This story has been written in our own words by the Emitrawala.com team, based on WIPO's press release, a company release and news reports. Rank and figures may differ slightly across reports; verify with official sources for exams.
