Status of Geographical Indications in the Northeast region of India

Abstract

Geographical Indications (GI) is considered as a tool for providing legal protection to goods originated or manufactured from particular geographical location during trade. Till now, Northeast region of India had 35 goods registered under GI which accounted only 7.9% of total number of goods registered under GI in India.  The GI registration in Northeast region of India has been started since 2007 and the highest number of registrations was found in 2014 (35.48%) and lowest in 2007, 2016, 2017 and 2018 (3.23%). Assam had the highest number of GI goods i.e., 10 goods that accounted for 28%, followed by Mizoram (20%),  Manipur (20%), Nagaland (11%) and the other states (21%). Most of the GI registrations were done for Class 25 (clothing-traditional attire) that accounted  for 38.71%, followed by  Class 31 (32.26%),  Class 30 (29.03%) etc. However, only 25.7% of goods registered in Part B of GI were Assam (orthodox), Boka chaul, Chak Hao, Idu Mishmi textile, Joha rice, Muga silk, Mizo chilli, Naga Mirchi and Sikkim large cardamom. This region has high potential to register many goods under GI because of high cultural diversity, diverse ethnicity, rich biodiversity and indigenous knowledge system.