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New Delhi: Securing 10,000 geographical indication (GI) tags by 2030 -- that's the ambitious goal of the Indian government. India is competing with China to narrow the gap. China has currently more GI tag products than India.
A committee has been set up to oversee how India is progressing towards the goal. As of January 2025, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) had issued 605 GI tags to Indian products. China's GI tags stand at 7,247. Globally, as many as 69,900 products have got GI tags.
A Geographical Indication (GI) tag in India recognises products which originate from a specific geographic region and possess unique qualities, reputation, or characteristics associated with that particular location, as protected by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
The Geographical Indications (GI) Registration Act of 1999 safeguards and promotes the country’s unique regional products. Till now, the GI Act has successfully registered 643 products across various categories, including agricultural items, handicrafts, foodstuffs, and manufactured goods. Some of the examples include Darjeeling Tea, Basmati Rice, and Banarasi Sarees.
The GI tag ensures that only those registered as authorised users, or individuals residing within the specified geographic region, are permitted to use the product name. In the last 10 years since 2015, the number of authorised users for GI tags went up from 365 to 29,000. The number of patents granted increased from 6,000 to 100,000.
For a sign to function as a GI, it must indicate that a product originates from a specific location.
GI tags are important as they preserve the authenticity of traditional products and safeguards against counterfeiting. They give a boost to regional heritage and cultural pride. These tags also offer recognition and economic benefits to producers, promoting local communities and fostering rural development.
Products with GI tags not only receive legal protection against imitation but also fetch premium prices in international markets because of their authenticity and quality assurance.
To procure a GI tag, a producers' association have to submit an application to the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai, overseen by the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks. The application has the proof of historical origin, specifications, uniqueness and human skill involved. A consultative group meeting is held where a committee reviews and scrutinises the application. The application is processed, which could take one to three years. The GI tag remains valid for 10 years.
Some of the handicrafts that have received GI tags are Lucknow Chikan, Madhubani Paintings and Pashmina Shawls. The agricultural products that have got GI tags are Basmati Rice, Darjeeling Tea, Mysore Betel Leaf and Alphonso Mangoes. Banarasi Sarees, Mysore Silk, Kanchipuram Silk Sarees, and Makrana Marbles also carry GI tag now.
Maharashtra is the top state in India, with 52 GI-tagged products. It is followed by Karnataka with 50 GI-tagged products.
Improved branding for GI products is crucial. For this, collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is important to enhance quality and address the problem of counterfeit products.
India's GI-tagged Basmati rice is facing a huge challenge from Pakistan in the European Union, with both countries asserting rights over the variety. Pakistan's attempts to gain its own recognition for Basmati in the EU market have sparked a dispute, threatening India's dominance in Basmati exports to Europe.
Many mango varieties that are traditionally associated with India are now being grown in countries like China and exported as products of those nations. This has led to cut-throat competition for Indian mangoes, threatening their market share and stressing the need to make the GI tagging system more robust.
To boost exports, GI products should be displayed in Indian embassies abroad. GI-tagged products should be listed on e-commerce platforms, GeM, and ONDC portals so that their global reach expands.
It is imperative that the government improves the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) ecosystem to safeguard GI-tagged products from infringement and misuse. Strengthening legal frameworks, enforcement strategies, and raising awareness will protect the unique characteristics of these products. Moreover, encouraging innovation and implementing effective monitoring will help preserve the integrity of GI tags, enhancing their global competitiveness.
