- What is GI tag?
- How is GI different than trademark?
- Mechanism: Internationally
- Mechanism India: GI Act 99
- Problem/issue with GI Act?
- Pakistani Basmati
- Meerut scissors
- Madurai Malli
- Entire list?
- Mock Questions
What is GI tag?
- Geographical Indication tag.
- A GI tag =A particular item has originated from a particular region only.
- For example: Kanchipuram Silk Saree, Alphanso Mango, Nagpur Orange, Kolhapuri Chappal, Bikaneri Bhujia, Agra Petha
- So outsiders cannot sell other variety of teas with title/label āDarjeelingā, else they can be punished.
- When a product is given GI status, its price increases in international market (because consumers in first world prefer such āexoticā items)
- It boosts exports.
- It can boost tourism.
- The poor farmers/artisans from the given region have to face less competition from fake guys selling bogus products.
- = indirectly leads to sustainable Development.
GI Mechanism: Internationally
- Under WTO–> Trade related Intellectual property rights (TRIPS), the Member nations have to respect geographical indications.
- Theyāve to take measures to prevent violation of GI rights. (e.g. order custom authorities seize bogus products.)
- If a product enjoys GI status in member nation āAā then, Member nation āBā shouldnot grant trademark for the same.
Multilateral register: problem area
- For example, Darjeeling tea is given GI tag in India, under India law.
- So if someone inside /from India is selling fake Darjeeling tea, he can be jailed/fined in India.
- But If a Sri Lankan guy exporting fake Darjeeling tea to France, you cannot do anything in India.
- Youāve to manually file petition in Franceās court to protect your GI. (or India Government need pursue the matter via WTO).
- So, to prevent such problem, youāve to again apply for GI status in European Unionās office for “Protected Geographical Indication” (PGI).
- =this is Gaddha Majoori (donkey labour) just like for getting MBA admission, youāve to apply for so many entrance tests such as CAT, XAT, SNAP, CMAT etc. and each of them costs around 1000 rupees.
The ideal system should be:
- You register a product in GI office in your own country.
- Database is uploaded on WTO website and notification is served to all nations. (=multilateral register).
- Whoever sells fake stuff, in xyz country will be caught and prosecuted. And you donāt need to run from pillar to post in every foreign country, to protect your GI-tag.
But this āMultilateral registerā system has not been established yet.
- Because there is disagreement among WTO members.
- EU wants this system compulsory for everyone.
- But China, Hong Kong want this system compulsory for āonlyā those country that agree to participate in it.
- However, the wine and liquor business lobby of Europe is very powerful. Hence theyāve managed to get WTO to negotiate for a multilateral GI register for Wine and liquor.
- Such liquor register is hardly of any use to India because our āGI-expertiseā is handicraft and agriculture products.
- India wants a common GI register for all products and not just for liquors.
Mechanism in India: GI Act 99
Government of India enacted Geographical Indications of GoodsĀ (Registration and Protection) Act in 1999. (Came into force in 2003). As per this act:
- Registrar of Geographical Indications= youāve apply to this person.
- Intellectual Property Appellate Board to hear appeals over the decisions of the Registrar of Geographical Indications.
- Geographical Indications Registry (to keep the GI-database @Chennai.)
- GI can be given to agricultural, natural or manufactured goods originating in the said area.
- GI rights are given to an association of persons, producers, organization. (=it is a ācommunity rightā.)Ā Because geographical indications are not built up by one individual but by a community of persons
- Punishments for violating GI. (e.g. some guy selling “Banaras Saree” but they’re actually made in Bengal.)
- Registration of a geographical indication is valid for a period of 10 years (can be renewed.)
Intellectual Property Rights (Imported Goods) Enforcement Rules, 2007
- Customs authorities have the power to seize imported goods at the border, if there is prima facie evidence that xyz product is in infringing on the geographical indication of the rights holder
- + Customs authorities donāt even need a court order to carry out such raid or seizure.
Problem/issues with GI Act?
- India has huge social, cultural, ethnic, food diversities= thousands of products that would qualify for a geographical indication.
- But Most of the people engaged in the production of such products are small households or small units, although in the same area.
- So it is often difficult to organize them into associations and apply for the GI registration.
Pakistani Basmati
- Basmati is a variety of rice originally grown in Punjab and Himalayan foothills.
- Post 1947, Punjab was divided between India and Pakistan, so now both nations claim GI tag for Basmati rice.
- After much negotiations, India and Pakistan decided to get a Joint GI for Basmati globally.
- But the talks came to a halt soon after 26/11 attack in Mumbai.
- Now Bangladesh also wants to be part of this joint GI for Basmati.
- In the meantime, Philippines etc. are selling their rice as āBasmatiā in EU and USA (despite the fact that Basmati is native to Indian subcontinent).
Meerut scissors
- Recently got GI status under Indian Act.
- It is for the first time, a handmade tool is given GI status in India.
- Meerut Scissors are known for their sharpness.
- They are preferred by industrial garment manufacturers.
- They can be repaired, unlike other scissors that are thrown out after use.
- Meerut scissors are made of carbon steel blades sourced from scrap metal found in cars, buses, trucks and railways.
Madurai Malli
- Recently granted GI status.
- It is a jasmine flower grown in Madurai region of Tamilnadu.
- Madurai Malli is mentioned in Tamil Literature since the Sangam age.( 5th cent.BC)
- The price can be as high as Rs.2000 per kilogram.
- Here comes the Problem= some clowns mixup other cheap varieties of Jasmine flowers and export them under the label of āMadurai Malliā.
- Such fake Madurai Malli flowers donot have decent fragranceĀ of original Malli. So foreign consumers think “this is not a good flower.” = demand falls in international market = Indian farmers suffer.
- But Now GI status is given to Madurai Malli = such bad guys can be punished and legit farmers can get decent price for their produce**.
- (**in theory, because we have not counted the āMiddlemenā in the equation!)
- Anyways, this is the first GI tag given to a flower in Tamil Nadu.
Item | Place | What is it? |
---|---|---|
Shankarpura mallige | Karnataka | Jasmine flower. |
Navalgund Dhurries | Karnataka | Handwoven fabric |
Karimnagar Silver Filigree | Andhra | They make artifacts by weaving/soldering Silver threads. |
Palakkad madhalam | Kerala | hand-held drums |
Darjeeling Tea | W.Bengal | Earlier other blends of cheap tea varieties mixed up and sold as Darjeeling tea abroad= they can be punished. |
Mysore Silk | Karnataka | Self explanatory. |
Tirukanur Papier Mache | Pondicherry | dolls and idols made up of glue and paper. |
Villianur Terracotta | Pondicherry | can be moulded in virtually any thickness, and so it can produce idols up to 30 feet in height. This is not possible with most other forms of terracotta |
Matti Gulla | Karnataka | Type of brinjal, rich in iron. |
Applied (and waiting)
(although information can be outdated)
Place | Characteristic | |
---|---|---|
Pokkali rice | Kerala | grows in the saline waters of the coastal areas with disease-resistant quality. No fertilizer/pesticide used. |
Bangalore Blue Grapes | Around Banglore | originally an American variety, introduced here 150 years ago. Acid-sugar blend of the fruit is perfect for wine making. |
Dindigul locks | TN | Dindigul locks are mango shaped iron and brass locks. They are handmade and each one is unique in design and system. |
Nimariā chillies and the āMalwiā potatoes | MP | Malwi potatoes are significant because they contain negligible quantities of starch, which is highly suitable for manufacturing chips and wafers |
GI Tags: Entire list?
- Download this PDF file (click me). It contains name of goods given GI status (till July 2012). You donāt have to mugup all of them but only those originating from your state for āProfile based interview questionsā.
- +any other names that sound important from āCultureā point of view (in GS Mains paper 1)
Mock Questions
Q1. Which of the following are eligible to apply for GI-tag in India?
- Agriculture produce
- Handicrafts
- Manufactured goods.
Answer choices
- Only 1 and 2
- Only 2 and 3
- Only 1 and 3
- All of them
Q2. Correct statements about GI Act 1999 are
- Provides for GI registration for any Goods or services associated with a particular region in India.
- GI status is given for a period of 10 years at a time.
- Recently Madurai Scissors and Meerut Malli were given GI-protection under this act.
Answer choice
- Only 1 and 3
- Only 2 and 3
- Only 2
- All of them.
1.A. Manufactured good handicrafts and agri products are covered by act
2. C…Meerut(U.P) scissor and madurai(Tamil nadu) malli have got GI staus for 10 year..As act does not provide GI for services .
D and C
one more new topic .thanks
Thanjavur Veena to Get GI Status Soon (PIB)
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/efeatures.aspx?relid=92288
current update :Thanjavur Veena to Get GI Status Soon
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/efeatures.aspx?relid=92288
THNX A LOT CHANDRA, HOPE YOU CONTINUE SHARING THE LINKS. A POTENTIAL UPSC QUESTION. THNX ALOT AGAIN.
on jan 11, 2013. the foll hav also gt d GI tag….
bhagalpur silk (Bihar)
heady tequila (Mexico)
Mangalagiri fabrics (andhra pradesh)
…..time of india….
(1) D
(2) D
one thing i want to know that if i want to download this article then how i make it.
USE browser google chrome->open the mrunal’s blog->read article->now want to save? do CTRL+P.click save button.
meerut scissors got the gi tag first scissors manufactures mr. akhun ji
since 1650 mai made scissor we blong to this faimely i am 7th generation in scissors manufactures.
ji could you please explain what is wrong with the statement “GI status is given for a period of 10 years at a time.” I think option b holds good for question no 2 Please can some one help me out.
Thank u :)
Thank u sir…
Ur hardwork in making these notes r inspirational…
Der r 1000’s or even lacs who r following u…
I request u to pl never stop updates. ..
Pl sir
Regards
I admire your way of explaining a concept both with words & images. The best part is you not only say what to read, but also say WHAT NOT TO READ!!! Very good approach, which saves lot of time for the aspirants.Good Work Mrunal… Thanks a lot….
Madurai Malli and Meerut Scissors column has been interchanged compared to the photo given
Dear Mrunal,
Image and heading of the topics under Meerut scissors and Madurai malli have interchanged.
Pls rectify.
Thanks
d,b
1st-d
2nd-d
Why is statement 1 under question 2 incorrect?
Nilambar teak too is all set to be given the GI tag.
hi
me having a oleo resign company in Byadgi karnataka India .Bydgi chilli got GI. we are purchasing chilli from byadgi itself
so pls tell me what are the benefits our company gets to d ing the same.
aji
hi
me having a oleo resign company in Byadgi karnataka India .Bydgi chilli got GI. we are purchasing chilli from byadgi itself
so pls tell me what are the benefits our company gets to doing the same.
aji
please can you teach in english mrunal sir
all your videos are excellent but for students from south its difficult
I make solar powered PEMF Magnet therapy devices which are unique and first in world. How to get a GI tag. Can you help.
Q.1, answer will be D; as all of them can apply for GI Tag.
Q.2, answer will be B; as services are not included in GI Tag.
D and C
..
Services are not included in GI tag.