A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g., a town, region, or country). India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which came into effect from 15 September 2003. GIs have been defined under Article 22 (1) of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) as: "indications which identify a good as originating in the territory of a Member, or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographic origin." [1]
The GI tag ensures that none other than those registered as authorized users (or at least those residing inside the geographic territory) are allowed to use the popular product name. Darjeeling tea was the first GI recognized by Government of India in 2004–05. [2]
As of 2024, there are 603 registered geographical indications in India: [3]
Three European Union schemes of geographical indications and traditional specialties, known as protected designation of origin (PDO), protected geographical indication (PGI), and traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG), promote and protect names of agricultural products and foodstuffs, wines and spirits. Products registered under one of the three schemes may be marked with the logo for that scheme to help identify those products. The schemes are based on the legal framework provided by the EU Regulation No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 November 2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs. This regulation applies within the EU as well as in Northern Ireland. Protection of the registered products is gradually expanded internationally via bilateral agreements between the EU and non-EU countries. It ensures that only products genuinely originating in that region are allowed to be identified as such in commerce. The legislation first came into force in 1992. The purpose of the law is to protect the reputation of the regional foods, promote rural and agricultural activity, help producers obtain a premium price for their authentic products, and eliminate the unfair competition and misleading of consumers by non-genuine products, which may be of inferior quality or of a different flavour. Critics argue that many of the names, sought for protection by the EU, have become commonplace in trade and should not be protected.
Alibag, also known as Alibaug, is a coastal city and a municipal council in Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. It is the headquarters of the Raigad district and is south of the city of Mumbai. Alibag is part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and is situated at a distance of about 96 km from Mumbai and 143 km from Pune.
A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin. The use of a geographical indication, as an indication of the product's source, is intended as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, is made according to traditional methods, or enjoys a good reputation due to its geographical origin.
Bhandara District is an administrative district in the state of Maharashtra in India. The name Bhandara is a corruption of Bhanara. Reference to Bhanara is found in an inscription of 1100 A.D. traced at Ratanpur. The district headquarters are located at Bhandara. The district occupies an area of 3717 km2 and has a population of 1,200,334, of which 19.48% are urban as of 2011. The growth rate of Bhandara is 5.56% Bhandara has a mixed economy with agriculture, industries and forest resources. Bhandara is known for its large production of rice. Tumsar, a tahsil town, is a noted rice market. Bhandara town is also known as "Brass City" owing to the presence of a large brass products industry. Bhandara has several tourist destinations, like Ambagad Fort, Brahmi, Chinchgad, and Dighori.
Varanasi division is one of the 18 administrative geographical units of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi city is the administrative headquarters of the division. The division consists of 4 districts, i.e. Varanasi, Chandauli, Ghazipur, and Jaunpur and is loosely equivalent to the Benares State.
The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks(CGPDTM) generally known as the Indian Patent Office, is an agency under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade which administers the Indian law of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks.
Authoor is a panchayat town in Thoothukudi district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Ramnagar is a city, just adjacent to Varanasi city and a municipal board in Varanasi district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Ramnagar has a fort known as Ramnagar Fort which is still the residence of King of Varanasi (Benares). He was known as Kashi Naresh meaning king of Kashi and is still regarded by old residents of the city of Varanasi. Ramnagar Fort and its museum are the repository of the history of the kings of Benares and since the 18th century has been the home of Kashi Naresh. Even today the Kashi Naresh is deeply revered by the people of Benares. He is the religious head and the people of Benares consider him the incarnation of Shiva. He is also the chief cultural patron and an essential part of all religious celebrations. Ramnagar is popular for Ramlila that is held annually under the aegis of King of Varanasi.
Jasmine is considered the queen of flowers and is called the "Belle of India" or the "Queen of fragrance" as it is exquisitely scented to soothe and refresh. In different parts of India it is called by different names—Mogra, Motia, Chameli, Malli puvvu, Jaati, Mulla, Mallige, Juhi, Mogra or Moonlight in the grove. It is reported that there are 300 varieties of jasmine. It is also stated that jasmine crossed the seas—from Asia to Europe, landing first along the Mediterranean Sea, conquering Greece and Turkey, reaching Western Europe through Spain, then France and Italy and finally landing in England in the latter part of the 17th century..
Bikaneri bhujia, often simply called bhujia, is a crispy snack prepared by using vigna aconitifolia, gram flour and spices, originating from Bikaner, a city in the western state of Rajasthan in India. It is light yellow in colour. Bhujia has become not just a characteristic product of Bikaner, but also a generic name.
The Geographical Indications of Goods Act, 1999 is a sui generis Act of the Parliament of India for protection of geographical indications in India. India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Act to comply with the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. The GI tag ensures that only those registered as authorised users are allowed to use the popular product name. Darjeeling tea became the first GI tagged product in India, in 2004–05, since then 370 goods had been added to the list as of August 2020.
Namsai district is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India.It was carved out of Lohit district in November 2014.
Kandangi is a type of cotton saree from the Chettinad region of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It was declared as a Geographical indication in 2019–20.
The Banaras Lal Bharwamirch (Red Pickle Chilli) is a variety of chilli grown in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is mainly cultivated in Varanasi, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Ghazipur & Ballia districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Ramnagar Bhanta (Brinjal) is a variety of brinjal grown in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is a common and widely cultivated crop in areas like Ramnagar in Varanasi district along with the entire district and other districts of Mirzapur, Chandauli and Sonbhadra.
Banaras Pan (Betel Leaf) is an important traditional crop variety of Betel leaf (Piper betle) cultivated in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is mainly cultivated in the Varanasi, Jaunpur, Chandauli, Ballia, Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Mirzapur, and Sonbhadra districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Tirur Betel Leaf is an important traditional crop variety of Betel leaf cultivated in the Indian state of Kerala. It is mainly cultivated in Tirur, Tanur, Tirurangadi, Kuttippuram, Malappuram and Vengara block panchayaths of Malappuram district of Kerala.
Authoor Vetrilai is a traditional crop variety of Betel leaf cultivated in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is mainly cultivated in Authoor, Rajapathi, Chokkapalakarai, Maranthalai, Vellakoil, Melaattur, Sernthapoomangalam, Vazhavallan, Korkai and Umarikadu block panchayaths of Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu.
Sholavandan Vetrilai is an important traditional crop variety of Betel leaf cultivated in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is mainly cultivated in Sholavandan block panchayath of Vadipatti taluk in Madurai district.
Andaman Karen Musley rice is a variety of non-Basmati, short-grained aromatic rice mainly grown in the Indian Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands by the Karen community. It is a common and widely cultivated crop in the Mayabunder tehsil of the North and Middle Andaman district, particularly in villages like Webi, Deopur, Lataw, Lucknow (Burmabera), Karmatang-9 and Karmatang-10 along with Borang, and Chipo villages of Diglipur tehsil.