Apply By Post

Step 1: Form a GI producers association

1. To Registration for Geographical Indications the applicant must form a GI producers association.
2. This association of persons or producers or any organization or authority should represent the interest of producers of the concerned goods and should file an affidavit how the applicant claims to represent their interest.

Step 2: File an application for GI registration.

1. To File an application for GI registration, the applicant must post their completed application to Geographical Indications Registry office – link
2. The applicant has to download the application form from the following link – link
3. Application must be made in triplicate. The applicant has to fill in all the necessary details in the application form. (Incomplete applications are not accepted)
4. Make sure that the applicant has attached all the necessary documents that are mentioned in the “Required Documents” section of this page.
5. The applicant must attach the photocopies of the required documents along with the application form while submitting.
6. Post all the documents with the completed form to Geographical Indications Registry office.
7. The mailing address are provided in “Office Locations and Contacts” section of this page.
8. Also, the applicant must pay the prescribed fee as mentioned in “Fees” section of this page.

Step 3: Application scrutiny and examination

1. After receiving the application, the concerned authority will check the submitted application and document set. If all are in place, the application will be accepted.
2. The Examiner will scrutinize the application for any deficiencies. The applicant should within one month of the communication in this regard, remedy the same.
3. Thereafter an Examination Report would be issued.
4. If the Registrar has any objection to the application, he will communicate such objection. The applicant must respond within two months or apply for a hearing.

Step 4: Publication

1. Once the application gets scrutinised, the geographical indication is published in the Geographical Indications Journal.

Step 5: Opposition and Registration

1. Anybody can oppose the registration of the geographical indication within three months of its publication in the Geographical Indications Journal
2. If there is no opposition or the opposition is rejected, the geographical indication is registered, and the registered proprietor is entitled to use the registered GI tag on the product.
3. The registrar shall issue to the applicant a certificate with the seal of the Geographical indications registry.
4. This entire process can be completed within 6 months or as per the timeline advised by the respective department authority.

• Completed application form ink
• A statement of case explaining why the product is eligible for GI registration and how it is linked to the geographical area in question.
• Three certified copies of a map of the geographical area to which the GI relates.
• Evidence to support the claims made in the statement of case. This evidence may include historical records, scientific reports, or testimonials from consumers.

GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS REGISTRY
Intellectual Property Office Building
Industrial Estate, G.S.T Road
Guindy, Chennai – 600 032
Phone: 044 – 22502091-93 & 98
Fax: 044 – 22502090
E-mail: gir-ipo[at]nic[dot]in
Website: link
Contact Details - link

To be eligible for registration as a Geographical Indication (GI) in India, a product must meet the following criteria:

• It must have a specific geographical origin.
• It must have unique qualities or characteristics attributable to its geographical origin.
• It must not fall under any of the prohibited categories.

The applicant for GI registration must also be an association of persons, producers, organization, or authority established by or under the law that represents the interests of the producers of the concerned goods.

• The applicant must pay the prescribed fee of 5000 INR.
• Use the following link to know about fee details link

• The Validity of registration as a Geographical Indication (GI) in India is 10 years.

• Application form – link

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• This entire process can be completed within 6 months or as per the timeline advised by the respective department authority.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

• Applicants must complete the application form before submitting it. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Applicants must provide genuine information while applying for this procedure.

• Name of the Applicant
• Address
• List of association of persons/producers/organization/authority
• Type of goods
• Specification
• Name of the geographical indication [and particulars]
• Description of the goods
• Geographical area of production and map
• Proof of origin [Historical records]
• Method of Production
• Uniqueness
• Inspection Body

• Registration for Geographical Indications (GIs) is a process of protecting the unique characteristics and reputation of products that are associated with a specific geographical location. GIs are intellectual property rights, and once registered, they give the holders the exclusive right to use the GI in relation to the goods produced in that geographical area.

• For more information – link

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

• Classification of goods - link
• Manual of Geographical Indications Practice and Procedure link

Here are some examples of GIs in India:

• Darjeeling tea
• Basmati rice
• Alphonso mangoes
• Mysore silk
• Kanchipuram silk
• Alleppey coir
• Channa Patna toys