GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS IN INDIA: STRENGTHENING LEGAL PROTECTION AND EMPOWERING RURAL COMMUNITIES

AUTHOR – AKANKSHA RANA, LLM SCHOLAR AT AMITY UNIVERSITY NOIDA

BEST CITATION – AKANKSHA RANA, GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS IN INDIA: STRENGTHENING LEGAL PROTECTION AND EMPOWERING RURAL COMMUNITIES, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (1) OF 2025, PG. 898-903, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

 Geographical Indications prove to be a very important measure to protect the individual identity of regional goods at the same time as boosting economic growth and, in the process, improving rural development. This paper critically assesses the legal framework for the protection of GIs in India and their impact on rural communities. The research shall bring out the role that GI plays in creating wealth while maintaining indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage, and increasing the standard of living of the rural producers, farmers, and craftsmen. It also unearths competitive benefits that GIs bring back function both in the internal markets and at a global level, in addition to making for economic empowerment and sustainable development. It is a study on the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, evaluating its effectiveness to go ahead and protect products that have a GI tag, matching it with other international agreements like TRIPS. While checking the GI protection and enforcement challenges, the research also includes problems relating to the weak level of awareness on the part of the rural producers and the unauthorized entity carrying out exploitation using GI products. It compares the approach used in other global systems of GI protection, especially that of the European Union, to make recommendations for the best practices which India can adopt. In Darjeeling Tea, Pochampally Ikat, and Madhubani Paintings: A Case Study of Successful GI Products, this dissertation tries to review the socio-economic benefits accruing from the process of GI registration. Results will be presented herein to show that although GIs are known to have immense benefits, their potential still remains under-utilized due to poor implementation and no proper marketing strategy. In the end, it suggests some recommendations on polices for improving the laws of GIs, increasing awareness within the rural communities, and mechanisms to enforce the same

Keywords: Geographical Indications, rural development, intellectual property, economic empowerment, legal framework.