Critical Evaluation of the Geographical Indication Policy Framework in India
K Rakshitha and Malini L Tantri
Abstract
The Geographical Indications (GI) tag is proposed to be an important instrument for promoting rural development, protecting cultural heritage, and enhancing the marketability of GI-tagged products.
The GI system has come into legal effect internationally through the ‘TRIPS agreement of 1995’, and in India, the ‘Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999’ marked a significant policy milestone at the domestic level.
However, despite more than two decades of implementation, the legislative impact of the GI Act on the growth and distribution of GIs across India has not been empirically studied.
This paper addresses this research gap by critically evaluating legislative developments surrounding GI with a focus on the Indian GI policy through analysis of legislative documents and registration data. The findings indicate that while the policy framework is comprehensive, it is constrained by procedural complexities such as lengthy registration processes, limited institutional support, and post-registration inefficiencies. The study contributes to the policy discourse by offering insights into the systemic challenges and suggesting reform directions to strengthen India’s GI ecosystem.