Geographical Indications - India

Geographical Indication (GI) is a sign used on a product that originates from a specific geographical location. The product must possess reputation and qualities of the place of origin. GI are generally registered on products produced by rural, marginal and indigenous communities over generations that have garnered massive reputation at the international and national level due to some of its unique qualities. GI tag gives the right to only those registered users the right to use the product name, and prevents others from using the product name that does not meet the standards prescribed.

Geographical Indications – Type of Products

GI tags are used on the following types of products.

1. Handicrafts –  Examples would be Madhubani Paintings, Mysore Silk
2. Food items – Example would be Tirupati Laddu, Rasgulla.
3. Wine & Drinks – Example would be Champagne, Cognac of France; Scotch Whisky of UK, Tequila of Mexico.
4. Industrial Products
5. Agricultural Products – Basmati Rice

Aspirants would find this topic very helpful while preparing for the IAS Exam.

Geographical Indications – Laws & Treaties

There are many laws and treaties enacted by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) for the protection of Geographical Indications.

WIPO

3 main Treaties enacted for protection of Geographical Indications under WIPO are listed below.

1. Paris Convention
2. Madrid Agreement
3. Lisbon Agreement

WTO

The main Agreement under WTO for protection of Geographical Indications is listed below.

1. Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement

Geographical Indications – Law passed in India 

Government of India enacted Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. This act came into force in September, 2003.

Geographical Indication Registered Products – India

1. As of March 2020, India had registered 361 Geographical Indication Products.
2. Registration of GI’s began in the year 2004-05 after the above mentioned law came into effect in 2003.
3. Darjeeling Tea of West Bengal was the first product to receive the GI tag in India. Both the product and the logo received the GI tag.
4. In the first year apart from Darjeeling Tea, the other products to receive GI tags were Aranmula Kannadi a Handicraft from Kerala, Pochampalli Ikat a Handicraft from Telangana.
5. The latest 4 products to receive GI tags were Dindigul Locks, manufactured product from Tamil Nadu, Kandangi Saree a handicraft of Tamil Nadu, Srivilliputtur Palkova Food stuff of Tamil Nadu, and the 361st GI product (the last product to receive GI Tag as of March 2020), is Kaji Nemu an agricultural product of Assam.
6. Out of 361 GI products registered in India, 15 products are originating from 9 different countries – Italy, France, UK, USA, Ireland, Mexico, Thailand, Peru, Portugal.

Geographical Indications – Origin from Different States

1. There are some products which have its origins from different states, in such a scenario the origin will be mentioned as India.
2. Phulkari Handicraft – Origin from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan.
3. Warli Painting – Maharashtra, Gujarat, Daman & Diu
4. Malabar Robusta Coffee – Kerala & Karnataka

Geographical Indications – States in India

1. Karnataka has the highest registered GI products in India. It has 42 GI products.
2. Tamil Nadu has the 2nd highest GI registered products. It has 35 GI products.
3. Maharashtra has the 3rd highest GI registered products. It has 30 GI products.
4. Jharkhand has no GI’s registered.
5. Haryana and Punjab does not have GI products registered under its name individually.

Geographical Indications – India – UPSC Notes:- Download PDF Here

The above details would help candidates prepare for UPSC 2023.

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