To protect farmers and their produce, India’s GI tag needs reform

India's Geographical Indication (GI) tag system needs reform to adequately protect farmers and their produce, according to a recent report. Unjha jeera and saunf, for instance, received GI tags in Gujarat in early 2026, but Rajasthan producers argued this could impact their own farmers, who grow 3,00,000 tonnes of cumin annually.

The GI Act 1999 grants three months for objections, but language and source barriers prevented Rajasthan producers from objecting in time. Subsequently, aggrieved parties must undergo a lengthy and expensive cancellation process under Section 27 of the GI Act.

India currently has 724 GIs registered, which translates to 0.52 GIs per million population. This compares unfavorably to Hungary, which has 7,290 GIs (751 GIs per million citizens) due to its unified registration system. The registration process in India often takes years, leaving many applications unfulfilled or abandoned. This isn't merely a numbers game; it's about the exclusion of small farmers in Rajasthan, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh while well-funded entities like Unjha APMC flourish.

Cross-border disputes often necessitate civil court intervention, further prolonging the process. The Basmati rice case, for example, remains stuck in this slow-paced system. In a 2021 judgment, the Supreme Court redirected the case to the Madras High Court, but the dispute for Madhya Pradesh's claims of geographic inclusion remains unresolved. Similar delays have plagued Mysore Pak and Kolhapuri Chappals, among other iconic products.

Legislative ambiguities surrounding "authorized users," "producers," and "inspection structures" exacerbate the issue, making the establishment of inspection bodies optional rather than mandatory. Consequently, approximately 40 million kg of counterfeit Darjeeling tea is sold globally, despite only producing 10 times the actual quantity. In Varanasi, unmonitored machine-made imitations from Surat displace authentic weavers, while adulterated Alphonso mangoes and "testing centers" for Kashmir saffron mar the market.

Despite a GI-tagged product commanding a 20-30% premium, only 10-15% of the premium reaches actual producers due to intermediaries. In contrast, the European system ensures producers receive 50-60% of the premium. Indian farmers receive less than a third of the economic reward achieved by their Western counterparts. The solution lies in adopting a state-led enforcement mechanism, establishing GI Enforcement Cells within state agricultural departments, and implementing an Online GI Monitoring Cell to combat online counterfeiting.

Moreover, promoting collective bargaining power for producer groups and centralized promotional funding can prevent premium drain. Reforming India's GI framework is crucial to protect the soil and the hands that till it.