Geographical Indication Tags India: Geographical Indication (GI) Tags act as a special identification ascribed to any region, town, or state. These tags are assigned to certain products like agriculture or handicraft that symbolise the uniqueness of that particular region or place. India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. Later it came into force with effect from 15 September 2003. GI has been defined under Article 22 (1) of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement as: “Indications which identify a good as originating in the territory of a member, or a region or a locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographic origin.”
GI tags mean that that product, name or sign thus assigned is unique, bears distinctive qualities, are made with traditional methods representing the reputation of the region. One can also view this tag as a means of protection from any sort of copyright violation.
The Darjeeling Tea was the first product in India that was given a GI tag around 2004-2005. Here are a few of the newly inducted products that have been assigned GI Tags.
| GI Tag Product | Category | State |
| Kashmiri Saffron | Agriculture | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Manipuri Black Rice | Food Stuff | Manipur |
| Kandhamal Haldi | Agriculture | Odisha |
| Rasagola | Food Stuff | Odisha |
| Kodaikanal Malai Poondu | Agriculture | Tamil Nadu |
| Pawandum | Handicraft | Mizoram |
| Ngotekherh | Handicraft | Mizoram |
| Hmaram | Handicraft | Mizoram |
| Palani Panchamirtham | Food Stuff | Tamil Nadu |
| Tawlhlohpuan | Handicraft | Mizoram |
| Mizo Puanchei | Handicraft | Mizoram |
| Gulbarga Tur Dal | Agriculture | Karnataka |
| Tirur Betel Leaf (Tirur Vettila) | Agriculture | Kerala |
| Khola Chilli | Agriculture | Goa |
| Idu Mishmi Textiles | Handicraft | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Dindigul Locks | Manufacture | Tamil Nadu |
| Kadangi Saree | Handicraft | Tamil Nadu |
| Srivilliputtur Palkova | Food Stuff | Tamil Nadu |
| Kaji Nemu | Agriculture | Assam |
While there are around more than 400 GI Tags in India, it only goes say on how we are home to some of world’s most unique creations. Celebrating 75 years of Independence is also a celebration of the unique and innovative hues that India harbours. GI Tags in way is a tableu of the Indian heritage and culture that must be preserved at all costs
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