Geographical Indication: Definition and Meaning

A geographical indication, also known as a GI, is a sign that is put on products that have a specific geographical origin and have qualities or a reputation that are due to the fact that they come from that origin. In order for a sign to function as a GI, it must identify a product as having originated in a particular location.

What is the Meaning of Geographical Indication?

In legal term, "Geographical Indication" (GI) refers to a sign, name, or symbol that is used on products that have a particular geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to the origin itself. Geographical Indications are protected by law in many countries. The term "geographical indication" can also be abbreviated "GI."

In order to be awarded the GI label, the product in question, in addition to the quality of that product, must be directly attributable to the geographical location of the production. The Geographical Indication Rights prevent any third parties, unauthorised users, or manufacturers from using the indication on products that do not comply with the standards that are in place.

For instance, producers of Darjeeling tea have the right to prevent other companies from using the term "Darjeeling" on tea products if those other companies do not cultivate the tea in their respective regions or do not produce the tea in accordance with the specifications outlined in the laws governing geographical indication.

Examples of Geographical Indication

Basmati Rice, Alphanso Mango, Nagpur Orange, Kolhapuri Chappal, Bikaneri Bhujia, Agra Petha, Paithani and Banaras Saree, Feni (Liquor from Goa), Lonavala Chikki, Tirunelveli Halwa, Mysore Rasam, etc. are all examples of possible Indian Geographical Indications. Other examples include Feni (Liquor from Goa).

The following table illustrates a comprehensive list of geographical indication state-wise:

State/UT	Geographical Indication	Type
Andhra Pradesh	Srikalahasti Kalamkari	Handicraft
Andhra Pradesh	Kondapalli Bommallu	Handicraft
Andhra Pradesh	Budithi Bell and Brass Craft	Handicraft
Andhra Pradesh	Pedana Kalamkari	Handicraft
Andhra Pradesh	Tholu bommalata	Handicraft
Andhra Pradesh	Tirupati Laddu	Food Stuff
Andhra Pradesh	Uppada Jamdani Sari	Handicraft
Andhra Pradesh	Guntur Sannam	Agricultural
Andhra Pradesh	Venkatagiri Sari	Handicraft
Andhra Pradesh	Mangalagiri Sarees and Fabrics	Handicraft
Andhra Pradesh	Bobbili Veena	Handicraft
Andhra Pradesh	Dharmavaram Handloom Pattu Sarres And Paavadas	Handicraft
Andhra Pradesh		Handicraft
Andhra Pradesh	Bandar laddu	Food Stuff
Andhra Pradesh	Durgi stone carvings	Handicraft
Andhra Pradesh	Etikoppaka Toys	Handicraft
Andhra Pradesh	Udayagiri Wooden Cutlery	Handicraft
Andhra Pradesh	Allagadda Stone Carving	Handicraft
Andhra Pradesh,Odisha	Araku Valley Arabica Coffee	Agricultural
Andhra Pradesh,Telangana	Banaganapalle Mangoes	Agricultural
Arunachal Pradesh	Arunachal Orange	Agricultural
Arunachal Pradesh	Idu Mishmi Textiles	Handicraft
Assam	Muga Silk of Assam	Handicraft
Assam	Assam Karbi Anglong Ginger	Agricultural
Assam	Tezpur Litchi	Agricultural
Assam	Joha Rice of Assam	Agricultural
Assam	Boka Chaul	Agricultural
Assam	Chokuwa Rice of Assam	Agricultural
Assam	Kaji Nemu	Agricultural
Assam	Judima	Beverage
Bihar	Madhubani Paintings	Agricultural
Bihar	Applique (Khatwa) Work of Bihar	Handicraft
Bihar	Sikki Grass Products of Bihar	Handicraft
Bihar	Silk of Bhagalpur	Handicraft
Bihar	Shahi Litchi of Bihar	Agricultural
Bihar	Katarni rice	Agricultural
Bihar	Magahi Paan	Agricultural
Chhattisgarh	Bastar Iron Craft	Handicraft
Chhattisgarh	Bastar Dhokra	Handicraft
Chhattisgarh	Bastar woodwork	Handicraft
Chhattisgarh	Champa silk saree	Handicraft
Chhattisgarh	Bastar Dhokra	Handicraft
Chhattisgarh	Jeeraphool	Agricultural
Goa	Feni	Manufactured
Goa	Khola Chilli	Agricultural
Gujarat	Sankheda furniture	Handicraft
Gujarat	Agates of Cambay	Handicraft
Gujarat	Kutch Embroidery	Handicraft
Gujarat	Tangaliya Shawl	Handicraft
Gujarat	Surat Zari Craft	Handicraft
Gujarat	Kachchh shawl	Handicraft
Gujarat	Gir Kesar Mango	Agricultural
Gujarat	Bhalia wheat	Agricultural
Gujarat	Jamnagari Bandhani	Handicraft
Gujarat	Patan Patola	Handicraft
Gujarat	Sankheda Furniture	Handicraft
Gujarat	Agates of Cambay	Handicraft
Gujarat	Kutch Embroidery	Handicraft
Himachal Pradesh	Kullu Shaw	Handicraft
Himachal Pradesh	Kangra tea	Agricultural
Himachal Pradesh	Chamba Rumal	Handicraft
Himachal Pradesh	Kinnauri Shawl	Handicraft
Himachal Pradesh	Kangra paintings	Handicraft
Himachal Pradesh	Kullu shawl	Handicraft
Himachal Pradesh	Kangra Paintings	Handicraft
Himachal Pradesh	Himachali Kala Zeera	Agricultural
Jammu & Kashmir	Kashmir Pashmina	Handicraft
Jammu & Kashmir	Kashmir Sozani Craft	Handicraft
Jammu and Kashmir	Kani Shawl	Handicraft
Jammu and Kashmir	Kashmir Paper Machie	Handicraft
Jammu and Kashmir	Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving	Handicraft
Jammu and Kashmir	Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving	Handicraft
Jammu and Kashmir	Khatamband	Handicraft
Jammu and Kashmir	Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet	Handicraft
Jammu and Kashmir	Kashmir Saffron	Agricultural
Jharkhand	Sohrai – Khovar Painting	Handicraft
Karnataka	Mysore silk	Handicraft
Karnataka	Mysore Agarbatti	Manufactured
Karnataka	Bidriware	Handicraft
Karnataka	Channapatna toys	Handicraft
Karnataka	Rosewood inlays of Mysore	Handicraft
Karnataka	Mysore Sandalwood Oil	Manufactured
Karnataka	Mysore sandalwood soap	Manufactured
Karnataka	Kasuti embroidery	Handicraft
Karnataka	Mysore Traditional Painting	Handicraft
Karnataka	Coorg Orange	Agricultural
Karnataka	Mysore betel leaf	Agricultural
Karnataka	Nanjanagad banana	Agricultural
Karnataka	Ilkal saree	Handicraft
Karnataka	Ganjifa cards of Mysore	Handicraft
Karnataka	Navalgund carpet	Handicraft
Karnataka	Carnatic brass utensils	Handicraft
Karnataka	Udupi Mallige	Agricultural
Karnataka	Hadgali Mallige	Agricultural
Karnataka	Molakalmuru Saree	Handicraft
Karnataka	Coorg's green cardamom	Agricultural
Karnataka	Dharwad Pedha	Food Stuff
Karnataka	Rainy Malabar Arabica Coffee	Agricultural
Karnataka	Rainy Malabar Robusta Coffee	Agricultural
Karnataka	Peppercorns	Agricultural
Karnataka	Devanhalli Papanas	Agricultural
Karnataka	Appamidi Mango	Agricultural
Karnataka	Kamalpur red banana	Agricultural
Karnataka	Sandur Lamani embroidery	Handicraft
Karnataka	Udupi Mattu Gulla Brinjal	Agricultural
Karnataka	Guledgudd Khana	Handicraft
Karnataka	Bangalore Blue Grapes	Agricultural
Karnataka	Bangalore Rose Onion	Agricultural
Karnataka	Kinhal Toys	Handicraft
Karnataka	Udupi Saree	Handicraft
Karnataka	Sirsi Supari	Agricultural
Karnataka	Karnataka Bronzeware	Handicraft
Karnataka	Ganjifa Cards of Mysore	Handicraft
Karnataka	Navalgund Durries	Handicraft
Karnataka	Mysore Silk	Handicraft
Karnataka	Coorg Arabica Coffee	Agricultural
Karnataka	Chikmagalur Arabica Coffee	Agricultural
Karnataka	Bababudangiris Arabica Coffee	Agricultural
Karnataka	Gulbarga Tur Dal	Agricultural
Kerala	Aranmula Kannadi	Handicraft
Kerala	Alleppy Coir	Handicraft
Kerala	Navara Rice	Agricultural
Kerala	Palakkadan Matta Rice	Agricultural
Kerala	Alleppy Coir	Handicraft
Kerala	Brass Carved Coconut Shell Crafts of Kerala	Handicraft
Kerala	Screw pine craft of Kerala	Handicraft
Kerala	Maddalam of Pallakad	Handicraft
Kerala	Alleppey Green Cardamom	Agricultural
Kerala	Pokkali Rice	Agricultural
Kerala	Vazhakulam pineapple	Agricultural
Kerala	Vazhakkulam Pineapple	Agricultural
Kerala	Kannanor Home Furnishing	Handicraft
Kerala	Balrampuram saree and cotton cloth	Handicraft
Kerala	Central Travancore jaggery	Agricultural
Kerala	Kasargod saree	Handicraft
Kerala	Kuthampully Sarees and Fine Cotton Fabrics	Handicraft
Kerala	Wayanad Jeerakasala Rice	Agricultural
Kerala	Wayanad Gandhakasala rice	Agricultural
Kerala	Chendamangalam Dhoties & Set Mundu	Handicraft
Kerala	Kaipad Rice	Agricultural
Kerala	Kuthampally Dhoties & Set Mundu	Handicraft
Kerala	Chengalikodan Nendran Banana	Agricultural
Kerala	Maddalam of Palakkad	Handicraft
Kerala	Brass Broidered Coconut Shell Crafts of Kerala	Handicraft
Kerala	Screw Pine Craft of Kerala	Handicraft
Kerala	Nilambur Teak	Agricultural
Kerala	Wayanaad Robusta Coffee	Agricultural
Kerala	Marayoor Jaggery (Marayoor Sharkara)	Agricultural
Kerala	Tirur Betel Leaf (Tirur Vettila)	Agricultural
Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu	Malabar pepper	Agricultural
Madhya Pradesh	Chanderi saree	Handicraft
Madhya Pradesh	Leather Toys of Indore	Handicraft
Madhya Pradesh	Bagh Prints	Handicraft
Madhya Pradesh	Bell Metal Ware of Datia and Tikamgarh	Handicraft
Madhya Pradesh	Maheshwar Sarees & Fabrics	Handicraft
Madhya Pradesh	Jhabua Kadaknath Black Chicken Meat	Food Stuff
Madhya Pradesh	Bell Metal ware of Datia and Tikamgarh	Handicraft
Madhya Pradesh	Leather Toys of Indore	Handicraft
Madhya Pradesh	Ratlami Sev	Food Stuff
Madhya Pradesh	Bagh Prints of Madhya Pradesh	Handicraft
Maharashtra	Solapur sheet	Handicraft
Maharashtra	Solapur sheet	Handicraft
Maharashtra	Solapur Terry Towel	Handicraft
Maharashtra	Nashik wine	Manufactured
Maharashtra	Puneri turban	Handicraft
Maharashtra	Paithani saree	Handicraft
Maharashtra	Paithan's Paithani Fabric	Handicraft
Maharashtra	Mahabaleshwar strawberry	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Nashik Grapes	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Kolhapur Jaggery	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Nagpur orange	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Karvath Kati Sarees & Fabrics	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Ajara Ghansal Rice	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Waigaon Turmeric	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Mangalwedha Jowar	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Bhiwapur Chilli	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Sindhudurg & Ratnagiri Kokum	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Waghya Ghevada	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Navapur Tur Dal	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Ambemohar rice	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Vengurla Cashew	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Sangli Raisins	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Lasalgaon onion	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Dahanu Gholvad Chikoo	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Beed Custard Apple	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Jalna Sweet orange	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Jalgaon Banana	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Marathwada Kesar Mango	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Purandar Fig	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Jalgaon Bharit Brinjal	Agricultural
Maharashtra	Solapuri Pomegranate	Agricultural
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman Diu	Warli painting	Handicraft
Maharashtra, Karnataka	Kolhapuri Chappal	Handicraft
Manipur	Shaphee Lanphee	Handicraft
Manipur	Wangkhei Phee	Handicraft
Manipur	Moirang Phee	Handicraft
Manipur	Kachai lemon	Agricultural
Manipur	Chak - Hao	Agricultural
Meghalaya	Memong Narang	Agricultural
Meghalaya	Khasi Mandarin	Agricultural
Mizoram	Mizo Chilli	Agricultural
Mizoram	Tawlhlohpuan	Handicraft
Mizoram	Mizo Puanchei	Handicraft
Mizoram	Pawndum	Handicraft
Mizoram	Ngotekherh	Handicraft
Mizoram	Hmaram	Handicraft
Nagaland	Naga Chili	Agricultural
Nagaland	Naga Tree Tomato	Agricultural
Nagaland	Chakshesang Shawl	Handicraft
Odisha	Kotpad handloom garments	Handicraft
Odisha	Odisha Ikat	Handicraft
Odisha	Pipli embroidery	Handicraft
Odisha	Konark sculpture carvings	Handicraft
Odisha	Odisha Pattachitra	Handicraft
Odisha	Pipli embroidery	Handicraft
Odisha	Khandua sari	Handicraft
Odisha	Gopalpur Tussar cloth	Handicraft
Odisha	Dhalapathar Parda & Fabrics	Handicraft
Odisha	Sambalpuri Bandha Saree & Fabrics	Handicraft
Odisha	Bomkai Saree & Fabrics	Handicraft
Odisha	Habaspuri Saree & Fabrics	Handicraft
Odisha	Berhampur Patta (Phoda Kumbha) Saree & Joda	Handicraft
Odisha	Ganjam Kewda Rooh	Manufactured
Odisha	Ganjam Kewda Flower	Agricultural
Odisha	Odisha Pattachitra	Handicraft
Odisha	Kandhamal Haladi	Agricultural
Odisha	Odisha Rasagola	Food Stuff
Pondicherry	Villianur Terracotta Works	Handicraft
Pondicherry	Tirukanur Papier Mache Craft	Handicraft
Punjab / Haryana / Himachal Pradesh / Delhi / Uttarkhand / Uttar Pradesh / Jammu & Kashmir	Basmati	Agricultural
Rajasthan	Kota Doria	Handicraft
Rajasthan	Blue pottery of Jaipur	Handicraft
Rajasthan	Molela pottery	Handicraft
Rajasthan	Puppets of Rajasthan	Handicraft
Rajasthan	Bikaneri Bhujia	Food Stuff
Rajasthan	Sanganeri Hand Block Print	Handicraft
Rajasthan	Bagru Hand Block Print	Handicraft
Rajasthan	Kota Doria	Handicraft
Rajasthan	Thewa Art Work	Handicraft
Rajasthan	Makrana marble	Natural Goods
Rajasthan	Molela Clay Work of Rajasthan	Handicraft
Rajasthan	Blue Pottery of Jaipur	Handicraft
Rajasthan	Kathputlis of Rajasthan	Handicraft
Sikkim	Sikkim Large Cardamom	Agricultural
Tamil Nadu	Salem Fabric	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Bhavani Jamakkalam	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Madurai Sungudi	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Coimbatore Wet Grinder	Manufactured
Tamil Nadu	Thanjavur painting	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Temple decorations of Nagercoil	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Thanjavur Art Plate	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Swamimalai Bronze Icons	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Temple decorations of Nagercoil	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Arani silk	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Kovai Kora Cotton Saree	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Salem Silk, known as Salem Venpattu	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	East India leather	Manufactured
Tamil Nadu	Thanjavur doll	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Eathomozhy Tall Coconut	Agricultural
Tamil Nadu	Nilgiri (Orthodox)	Agricultural
Tamil Nadu	Eucalyptus emblem	Agricultural
Tamil Nadu	Virupakshi banana	Agricultural
Tamil Nadu	Serumalai Hill Banana	Agricultural
Tamil Nadu	Toda Embroidery	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Pattamadai Pai (Pattamadai Mats)	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Nachiarkoil Kuthuvilakku (Nachiarkoil Lamp)	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Chettinad Kottan	Food Stuff
Tamil Nadu	Thanjavur Veenai (Tanjore Veena)	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Erode Manjal (Erode Turmeric)	Agricultural
Tamil Nadu	Madurai Malli	Agricultural
Tamil Nadu	Srivilliputtur Palkova	Food Stuff
Tamil Nadu	Mahabalipuram Stone Sculpture	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Arumbavur Wood Carvings	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Thanjavur Art Plate	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Swamimalai Bronze Icons	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Temple Jewellery of Nagercoil	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Palani Panchamirtham	Food Stuff
Tamil Nadu	Kodaikanal Malai Poondu	Agricultural
Tamil Nadu	Seeraga Samba Rice	Agricultural
Tamil Nadu	Pattamadai Pai ("Pattamadai Mat")	Handicraft
Tamil Nadu	Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai	Food Stuff
Tamil Nadu	Arumbavur Wood Carvings	Handicraft
Telangana	Pochampalli Ikat	Handicraft
Telangana	Silver carvings of Karimnagar	Handicraft
Telangana	Nirmal toys and crafts	Handicraft
Telangana	Nirmal furniture	Handicraft
Telangana	Nirmal Paintings	Handicraft
Telangana	Gadwal sari	Handicraft
Telangana	Siddipet Gollabama	Handicraft
Telangana	Cheriyal Paintings	Handicraft
Telangana	Hyderabad Haleem	Food Stuff
Telangana	Pembarthi Metal Craft	Handicraft
Telangana	Narayanpet Handloom Sarees	Handicraft
Telangana	Adilabad Dokra	Handicraft
Telangana	Warangal Durries	Handicraft
Telangana	Pochampally Ikat	Handicraft
Telangana	Telia Rumal	Handicraft
Tripura	Tripura Queen Pineapple	Agricultural
Uttar Pradesh	Allahabadi Surkha	Agricultural
Uttar Pradesh	Banarasi Zartari and Saree	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Lucknow Chikankari	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Malehibadi Dasheri Mango	Agricultural
Uttar Pradesh	Handmade Carpet of Bhadohi - Mirzapur Region of UP	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Firozabad Glasswork	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Firozabad Glass	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Kannauj Fragrances	Manufactured
Uttar Pradesh	Kannauj Perfume	Manufactured
Uttar Pradesh	Kanpur Saddlery	Manufactured
Uttar Pradesh	Kanpur Saddlery	Manufactured
Uttar Pradesh	Moradabad Metallurgy	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Moradabad Metal Craft	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Varanasi Kachmani	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Khurja Pottery	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Saharanpur Wood Craft	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Kalanamak rice	Agricultural
Uttar Pradesh	Agra Durrie	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Farrukhabad Prints	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Lucknow Zardozi	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Banaras Brocades and Sarees	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Meerut scissors	Manufactured
Uttar Pradesh	Banaras Gulabi Meenakari Craft	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Banaras Metal Repouse Craft	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Varanasi Wooden Lacquerware & Toys	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Mirzapur Handmade Dari	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Nizamabadi black pottery	Handicraft
Uttar Pradesh	Gorakhpur Terracotta	Handicraft
Uttarakhand	Uttarakhand Tejpat	Agricultural
West Bengal	Darjeeling Tea	Agricultural
West Bengal	Nakshi kantha	Handicraft
West Bengal	Leather goods in Santiniketan	Handicraft
West Bengal	Laxmanbhog Mango	Agricultural
West Bengal	Khirsapati or Himsagar Mango	Agricultural
West Bengal	Fazli Mango	Agricultural
West Bengal	Shantipur Saree	Handicraft
West Bengal	Baluchari Saree	Handicraft
West Bengal	Dhaniakhali Saree	Handicraft
West Bengal	Joynagar Moa	Food Stuff
West Bengal	Bankura Panchmura Terracotta Craft	Handicraft
West Bengal	Bardhaman Sitabhog	Food Stuff
West Bengal	Bardhaman Mihidana	Food Stuff
West Bengal	Tulapanji Rice	Agricultural
West Bengal	Gobindobhog Rice	Agricultural
West Bengal	Banglar Rasogolla	Food Stuff

History of Geographical Indication in India

Earlier in India, geographical indications were not eligible for registration, and because there was no statutory protection for them, people from outside India were misusing Indian geographical indications to indicate goods that were not produced in India. Coming from the place in India that has been given as its name. Instances such as patenting turmeric, neem, and basmati were the catalysts that brought a lot of attention to this aspect of intellectual property law.

Mention should be made of the fact that under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), there is no obligation for other countries to extend reciprocal protection unless a geographical indication is protected in the country of its origin. This is an important point that needs to be brought up.

In India, there was no law in place that specifically governed the geographical indications of goods and could adequately protect the interests of the people who produced those goods. It became necessary to have a comprehensive legislation for registration and for providing adequate protection to geographical indications when it became necessary to cover up such situations. As a result, the Parliament has passed a legislation, which is known as the Geographical indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. This legislation covers up such situations. The law is enforced by the Geographical Indication Registry, which works directly under the supervision of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks.

Significance of Geographical Indication

In today's world, Geographical Indication (GI) tags have taken on a significant amount of significance. Several of them are included in the list that follows:

• It promotes the economic prosperity of producers of Geographical Indication tag goods by increasing their demand in national and international markets.

• It helps in the growth of economic wealth; It helps consumers get quality products of desired traits and is assured of authenticity.

• It helps exports in the economy; It helps in the growth of economic wealth; It helps consumers get quality products of desired traits and is assured of authenticity; It helps in the growth of economic wealth.

• It stimulates both the commercial and tourist sectors of the economy. It prevents other people from using Geographical Indication Tags products in a manner that is not authorised by the company.

• It makes it illegal to engage in unethical business practises and prevents the distribution of products of poor quality into the marketplace.

What is the Registration Process?

A geographic region having a particular kind of agricultural produce or locally manufactured product can be registered as geographical indication through the following process:

Status of Geographical Indication in India

Approximately 106 GIs that have their roots in India have already been registered with the GI Registry. These include GI such as Darjeeling (tea), Pochampalli, Ikat (textiles), Chanderi (sarees), Kancheepuram silk (textiles), Kashmir Pashmina (shawls), Kondapalli (toys), and Mysore (agarbattis). 'Muga Silk' from Assam, 'Madhubani paintings' from Bihar, 'Malabar pepper' and 'Alleppey Green Cardamom' from Kerala, 'Cora Cotton' from Tamil Nadu, 'Allahabad Surkha' from Uttar Pradesh, 'Nakshi Kantha' from West Bengal, and 'Monsooned Malabar Coffees' from Karnataka and Kerala are all examples of geographical indications There are currently a large number of applications that have been submitted in relation to registration under the GI Act.

Conclusion

Due to the fact that India is such a diverse nation and that many of its products can only be produced only in some specified geographic regions and a few products are manufactured in only in some specific parts of the country, it is crucial that the country's Geographical Indications be protected in an efficient manner. Prior to the year 1999, there was no separate legislation on Geographical Indications. However, in order for India to comply with its obligations under the TRIPS Agreement 1994, The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 was enacted.

FAQs

Q1. How do you protect geographical indications?

Ans. Protecting a geographical indication can primarily be done in one of three ways:

• Systems that are considered to be unique to themselves, also known as specialized forms of protection;

• The utilization of collective or certification marks;

• Methods concentrating on business practiced, including administrative product approval schemes

Q2. Why is it critical to safeguard geographical indications?

Ans. The protection of geographical indications contributes to the overall economic success of the manufacturing companies and the people who produce their goods. In addition, the marketing and promotion of products bearing GI tags contribute to an increase in secondary economic activities in a particular region, which, in turn, contributes to an increase in the level of economic development in that region.

Q3. Why is it important to include a geographical indication?

Ans. A geographical indication, also known as a GI, is a sign that is placed on products that have a particular geographical origin and have qualities or a reputation that are due to the origin itself. In order for a sign to function as a GI, a product needs to be identified as having its origin in a specific location.

Q4. Why is it important for us to safeguard geographical indications?

Ans. A geographical indication (GI) can be protected in order to give those who have the right to use the indication the ability to take action against "free-riders," or people who use the indication without permission and benefit from its reputation. The reputation of a geographical indication is a valuable collective asset, and one that is intangible as well.

Q5. What is the best definition of a geographical indication?

Ans. A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g. a town, region, or country).

Q6. Which of the state has a GI tag for rasgulla?

Ans. The registrar awarded the geographical indication (GI) tag for 'Odisha Rasagola' to the state of Odisha on July 29th, 2019.