Can I patent a software application or algorithm in India?

Patenting software in India is genuinely more restrictive compared to some other countries — computer programs "as such" are specifically excluded from patentability, meaning a purely abstract algorithm or software code on its own generally cannot be patented.

However, where the software is tightly integrated with novel hardware, or produces a genuine technical effect beyond just being a computer program (for instance, controlling a physical process, or providing a specific technical improvement to how a computer system itself functions), it may be possible to obtain patent protection for that specific technical contribution.

Separately, your software's underlying code is automatically protected by copyright, regardless of patentability, which protects against unauthorised copying of the code itself (though not the underlying idea or functionality). Given how technical and nuanced software patent eligibility is in India, it's worth consulting a patent attorney experienced in this specific area to assess whether your particular invention has a realistic path to patent protection, or whether copyright and other protections (like trade secrets) are the more practical route for you.