GI TAG ON BASMATI RICE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: India is gearing up to challenge Pakistan's attempts to broaden the geographical indication (GI) tag for its Basmati rice.

Basmati Rice Cultivation in India

• Geographical Spread: Basmati rice is grown in 81 districts in India, including regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and western Uttar Pradesh.
• Varietal Diversity: 45 varieties of Basmati rice have been notified under the seeds Act, 1966
• India's Basmati Rice Exports:

o In FY23, India exported 152,857 metric tonnes (MT) of Basmati valued at $167 million, up significantly from 88,452 MT worth about $93.4 million.

• India's position: World's top exporter of Basmati rice.
• Major Export Markets: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
• GI tag in India: Basmati rice has received GI tag from various states combined. They are - Punjab / Haryana / Himachal Pradesh / Delhi / Uttarakhand / Uttar Pradesh / Jammu & Kashmir.

GI Tag 

• About: It is a symbol used on items that come from a particular geographical area and have qualities or a reputation linked to that place of origin.
• Nodal Ministry: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Tenure: 10 Years.
• Regulated By: Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999.
• Paris Convention: GI is encompassed within the realm of intellectual property rights (IPRs) according to the provisions of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.