Geographical indication (GI) is a status given to goods which are originated from a specific area or region and posses unique qualities or reputation of that region. GI tag mainly represents the source of the product. There are different categories of goods which comes under the purview of GI. The category of goods means any agricultural, natural, manufactured or any goods of handicraft or of industry and includes food stuff. For example: Solapur Chaddar of Maharashtra, Mithila Makhana of Bihar, Darjeeling Tea of West Bengal, etc. Darjeeling Tea was the first product to be given a GI Tag in India. The Geographical Indications in India are governed by The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. Goods which are associated with a GI tag have very high reputation in terms of quality and credibility. Consumers get value for their money when they buy a product with a GI tag, as the tag ensures that the product has all the features associated with it. For example, a genuine Alphonso tastes different from those trying to pass off their goods as the same.
On 31st March, 2023, Geographical Indication Registry, Chennai has given a GI tag to 33 new products from different states, including Bihar (1), Uttar Pradesh (10), Madhya Pradesh (1), Tamil Nadu (11) and Chhattisgarh (1), as well as the Union Territories of Ladakh (1) and Jammu & Kashmir (8), by making it a record of highest ever GI registrations in a single year of 2022-23. The total number of GI tags in India have now risen to 465. Details of some of the GI tags who have been in the news after receiving certification on 31st March, 2023 are mentioned below:
Sno.
Geographical Indications
Goods
Geographical Area
01.
Marcha Rice
Agricultural
Bihar
02.
Banaras Pan
Agricultural
Uttar Pradesh
03.
Banaras Langda Aam
Agricultural
Uttar Pradesh
04.
Basohli Pashmina Woolen Products
Textiles
Jammu & Kashmir
05.
Basohli Painting
Handicraft
Jammu & Kashmir
06.
Ooty Varkey
Food Stuffs
Tamil Nadu
07.
Marthandam Honey
Natural Goods
Tamil Nadu
08.
Ladakh Shingskos (Wood Carving)
Handicraft
Ladakh
- Goods: Agricultural
- Geographical Area: Bihar
- Goods: Agricultural
- Geographical Area: Uttar Pradesh
- Goods: Agricultural
- Geographical Area: Uttar Pradesh
- Goods: Textiles
- Geographical Area: Jammu & Kashmir
- Goods: Handicraft
- Geographical Area: Jammu & Kashmir
- Goods: Food Stuffs
- Geographical Area: Tamil Nadu
- Goods: Natural Goods
- Geographical Area: Tamil Nadu
- Goods: Handicraft
- Geographical Area: Ladakh
Any association of persons or producers of the goods themselves or any organization or authority representing the interest of the producers of the concerned goods who are desirous of registering a Geographical Indication in relation to such goods shall make an application to the Registrar of Geographical Indications. Every Application must be filed at the office of the Geographical Indication Registry located in Chennai. The applicant must have an address for service in India. The registration of a Geographical Indication shall be valid for a period of 10 years and can be renewed from time to time on payment of renewal fees and in accordance with the provisions of the GI Act.
India is a land with diversified cultures and goods. Every other region in our country has its own cultural heritage and produces goods which are unique to that area. GI registration helps in preserving this cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of a region. Many regions in India are still unexplored from the point of Geographical Indications. More and more GI tags should get registered to boost the regional economy of our country.
