UPSC CSE Prelims
Geographical Indications Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — WTO

India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 to comply with its obligations under the TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Agreement of the WTO. TRIPS mandates all WTO member countries to provide legal protection for Geographical Indications, which identify products originating from specific geographical locations whose qualities or reputation are essentially attributable to that origin.

📝 Short Notes: Geographical Indications in India

• GI Act, 1999: Enacted to comply with TRIPS Agreement (Articles 22-24) under WTO framework
• Definition: GI identifies goods as originating from a specific territory where quality, reputation, or other characteristics are essentially attributable to geographical origin
• Duration: GI registration is valid for 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely
• Examples: Darjeeling Tea (first Indian GI), Basmati Rice, Kanchipuram Silk, Tirupati Laddu, Kashmir Pashmina
• Authority: Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) administers GI registration
• Benefits: Legal protection against unauthorized use, promotes rural and agricultural development, preserves traditional knowledge

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Banaras Brocades and Sarees were granted GI status in 2009, recognizing the unique handloom weaving traditions of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Rajasthani Dal-Bati-Churma has not been accorded GI status, though it is a famous traditional food of Rajasthan.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Tirupati Laddu, the sacred prasad of Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Andhra Pradesh, received GI status in 2009 to protect its unique recipe and reputation.