GI Tags: Scaling Traditional Wealth into Global Brands

Geographical Indication (GI) tags protect India’s cultural heritage and create economic opportunities by linking products to their place of origin. The GI ecosystem, supported by the 1999 Act and its 2025 amendment, now covers over 800 products, with 607 GIs granted since 2014. Government initiatives—including an 80% reduction in filing fees, financial assistance up to ₹1.5 lakh, and dedicated retail platforms like PM Ekta Malls and OSOP—aim to enhance market access, export promotion, and tourism integration. Success stories such as Muzaffarnagar Jaggery (30 mt exported to Bangladesh) illustrate income gains for producer groups, while the Ministry of Textiles cites a 20–30% income rise for rural artisans. GI tags are also featured in trade negotiations, notably in India‑EU and India‑Oman FTAs.