The Indian patent system as mentioned under Patent Act, 1970 provides for processes and ways for renewal and restoration of an expired patent. Under section 53, Rule 80 of the Indian Patent Act, it is stated that: 

“To keep a patent in force, the renewal fees specified in the First Schedule shall be payable at the expiration of the second year from the date of the patent or of any succeeding year and the same shall be remitted to the patent office before the expiration or the second or the succeeding year.”

Hence an individual through their professionals can file for the patent renewal by paying a patent renewal fee during the lifetime of the patent.

When did we need to renew an expired patent?

The first renewal fee is due before the expiration of the patent's second year, which is effectively the start of the patent's third year. After that, the renewal fee is paid before the patent's previous year's expiration. The renewal fee for the seventh year, for example, the patent renewal will be due until the patent's sixth year expires. The renewal of a patent does not necessitate the completion of a separate form and by submitting a request to the patent controller, a patentee may pay the renewal fee directly. Also, a patentee holder has the right to pay advance renewal fees for two or more years.

On patents of addition, no fee is due unless the original patent is repealed and the patent of addition is transformed into an independent patent; in that case, a renewal fee is due for the remainder of the main patent's term. There is an extension provision for a patent up to six months if the patentee pays the penalty fee for the renewal. 

In case, the renewal fees are not paid on time within the extension period, the patent ceases to exist and it passes to the general public domain. One of the important things to note is that if your patent is granted later than 2 years from the date of filing of the application, then the pending patent fees need to be made within three months from the date of the patent granted as per the record in the patent register.