What is Geographical Indication?
Geographical indication is an insignia on product, art, food, etc, with distinctive geographical origin and with special quality. Basically GI is a mark of authenticity which ensures registered authorized item inside geographic territory are allowed to use the popular product names.
GI tags will also give official recognition of historical and cultural importance to increase demand and create a legacy of the product.
Significance of Geographical Indication Tag –
GI provides legal protection, so it prevents illegal use of the registered GIs by others. It will boost economic profitability to the of produceers. Notably, GI will help in acknowledgment of the product in other countries as well and thus boosting exports too.
As per Article 22, GIs are protected to avoid providing public with misleading information and to prevent unfair competition, and thus, products under this article are provided with standard protection.
Who award Geographical Indication Tag in India?
GI tags are issued as per the Geographical Indications of Goods Registration and Protection Act,1999. GI tag is awarded by the Geographical Indication Registry (GIR). GIR comes under the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
But if the origin of a GI is from multiple states, then it will recorded as India for the purpose of this analysis. There are 11 products which have been marked as India.
Geographical Indications Tag Data –
The Geographical Indications Registry has a total of 370 GIs registered in India as of now ( 27 September 2020).
The registration started in the financial year 2004-05 after the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 came into effect from September 2003.
According to report till now, the GI Registry had received a total of 706 applications since the beginning.
Notably, ‘Darjeeling tea’ was the first GI-tagged product in India, label in 2004-2005.
However, the greatest number of entries to the registry was witnessed in 2008-09 with 45 products securing the GI tag. And between year 2016 and 2017, 33 products have registered. For instance in the year 2019-20, 18 products have been registered under GI.
Meanwhile, Karnataka has the highest number of GI-tagged products. However, when geographical area is factored in, Kerala has the highest
LOGO
The logo consists of a ‘G’ and ‘I’ bearing the three colours of the Indian flag. The tagline in English is ‘Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India’ along with the same in Hindi.
Recent GI Tags in India 2020
| State | Product | Goods Type |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Saffron (Mongra, Lachha, Guchhi) | Agriculture |
| Tamil Nadu | Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai | Food Item |
| Tamil Nadu | Thanjavur Pith Works | Handicraft |
| Tamil Nadu | Arumbavur WoodCarvings | Handicraft |
| Uttar Pradesh | Gorakhpur Terracotta | Handicraft |
| Manipur | Chak-Hao | Agriculture |
| Telangana | Telia Rumal | Handicraft |
| Jharkhand | Sohrai – Khovar Painting | Handicraft |
GI Tags in India April 2019 – March 2020
| State | Product | Goods Type |
| Odisha | Kandhamal Haladi | Agricultural |
| Odisha | Odisha Rasogolla | Food Item |
| Tamil Nadu | Kodaikanal Malai Poondu | Agricultural |
| Tamil Nadu | Palani Panchamirtham | Food Item |
| Tamil Nadu | Dindigul Locks | Manufactured Goods |
| Tamil Nadu | Kandangi Saree | Handicraft |
| Tamil Nadu | Srivilliputtur Palkova | Food Item |
| Mizoram | Pawndum | Handicraft |
| Mizoram | Ngotekherh | Handicraft |
| Mizoram | Hmaram | Handicraft |
| Mizoram | Tawlhlohpuan | Handicraft |
| Mizoram | Mizo Puanchei | Handicraft |
| Karnataka | Gulbarga Tur Dal | Agricultural |
| Kerala | Tirur Betel Leaf (Tirur Vettila) | Agricultural |
| Ireland | Irish Whiskey | Manufactured Goods |
| Goa | Khola Chilli | Agricultural |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Idu Mishmi Textiles | Handicraft |
| Assam | Kaji Nemu | Agricultural |
| Assam | Chokuwa Rice of Assam | Agricultural |
Important examples of the GI Tag in India:-
| Geographical Indication | Goods | State |
| 1. Darjeeling Tea | Agriculture | West Bengal |
| 2. Aranmulla Kannadi | Handicraft | Kerala |
| 3. Pochampalli Ikat | Handicraft | Telangana |
| 4. Salem Fabric | Handicraft | Tamil Nadu |
| 5. Chnaderi Sarees | Handicraft | Madhya Pradesh |
| 6. Solapur Chaddar | Handicraft | Maharashtra |
| 7. Solapur Terry Towel | Handicraft | Maharashtra |
| 8. Kotpad Handloom fabric | Handicraft | Odisha |
| 9. Mysore Silk | Handicraft | Karnataka |
Now how GI Tag works?
FOR EXAMPLE – If other than Bengal producer wants to tag rasogulla as ”The Banglar rasogulla”. But now Banglar rasogulla have GI tag. So now ” The Banglar rasogulla ” can only be made in Bengal, and they must have to carry a GI logo as proof of their authenticity.
Notably, other producer can make rasogulla but they can not now label it as ” The Banglar rasogulla ”.
However, Odisha can still submit an letter for a GI tag for the ”Pahala rasogulla.”