Will India unlock 5000 GIs by 2026?

The GI awareness has really set in, but the GI movement needs to gather momentum in our country. The State of Telangana has potential for many GIs and a few in the pipeline for taking up for registrations are Nizamabad Turmeric, Kollapur Mangoes, Nalgonda Oriental pickling Melon, and Balanagar Custard Apple

Recently the Indian Geographical Indications Act has completed 20 years of existence. The journey has been enriching for a country like India with such rich heritage and tradition. But still a long way needs to be covered to compete in the international market and set a strong footing in the domestic turf.

One recent good development taking place is the EU regulations being worked out for geographical indication registration for handicrafts and industrial products registration. The corresponding protection in the EU is called Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) which will be extended to all non-agri GIs. The registration of the same will be open from December 2025. This will be a great opportunity for creating export markets and open the Indian handicrafts sector in EU and help in creating a demand for Indian GI arts and handicrafts.

Telangana also has contributed to this growth story of GIs with 16 registered GIs from the State and another two, Hyderabad Lac Bangles and Warangal Chapata to be registered soon to make the tally to 18. Another encouraging stats is on the authorized user’s registrations have also caught up with more than 30,000 applications been received out of which 20,000 have been registered. An authorised user is a user who takes the authorization from the registered proprietor to use and operate the GI like an owner and gets all the rights like the registered proprietor. The top five States in the GI registration are Tamil Nadu with 58 registered products, followed by UP at 54 products, Karnataka at 44, Kerala at 35 and Maharashtra at 32 GI registered products. The two Telugu States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana rank at ninth and twelfth position with Andhra having 18 registered GI products and Telangana having 16 products.

India has the potential for 5,000 GIs to be registered in the next three years. The GI awareness has really set in, but the GI movement needs to gather momentum in our country. The State of Telangana has potential for many GIs and a few in the pipeline for taking up for registrations are Nizamabad Turmeric, Kollapur Mangoes, Nalgonda Oriental pickling Melon, and Balanagar Custard Apple.

In the meantime, the GI registry government of India has also called for inputs to amend the GI Act and rules to make it more elaborate and encompass new regulations on quality check and enforcement mechanisms for the benefit of the stakeholders. Also, in a most recent order passed by the Madhya Pradesh High court allowing the registered proprietor of the GI to take enforcement action is also a welcome move for GIs to pave way for faster enforcement.

To conclude, there is a need to set up quality regulatory agencies to check on the GI and certify them from time to time, as the very essence of GI is the quality which it commands on the product. Another thought process will be to set up a National GI Board to help create a strong ecosystem for producers and consumers to get the best out of this Intellectual property rights and thereby protect and preserve the fine connect between products, people and places of India.

(The writer is Head- Legal & IPR, Resolute Group of Companies)