Reliance Industries Limited filed a trademark application for “Operation Sindoor” on May 7, 2025 under Class 41, which includes
entertainment, education and media services. The application was submitted hours after the Indian Army announced Operation Sindoor to strike terror camps in Pakistan and PoK in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam.
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Three others—Mukesh Chetram Agarwal, retired IAF officer Group Captain Kamal Singh Obreh and Delhi-based lawyer Alok Kothari—also filed similar applications on the same day, aiming to use the term for media-related ventures such as films or documentaries.
Following criticism on social media, Reliance withdrew its application on May 8, 2025, stating that it was “inadvertently” filed by a junior employee of Jio Studios without permission. The company emphasised that it
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had no intention to trademark the term symbol of national valour and reaffirmed its support for the Indian Army and the forces. The withdrawal was confirmed through a letter to the Trade Marks Registry and a statement on X.
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In India, military operation names such as “Operation Sindoor” are not automatically recognized as intellectual property by the government, allowing private entities to file
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trademark applications unless they are legally challenged. The Trademarks Act, 1999, allows for deceptive or disparaging trademarks, but
no further restrictions exist. Remaining applications will be reviewed by the trademark registry, a process that typically takes 18–24 months, considering factors such as public confusion and opposing claims.
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