Lok Sabha Question No. 3997 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: GI Tag
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Kodikunnil Suresh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3997.

TO BE ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, THE 17 TH  MARCH, 2026.

## GI TAG

## 3997.  SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

## Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  been  received  any  proposals  for  granting  a Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Kuttanad Pearl Spot (Karimeen) from the Kuttanad region of Kerala;
- (b) if  so,  the  present  status  of  the  application,  including  details  of  examination, objections (if any) and expected timeline for registration;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any study on the economic benefits of granting GI status to Kuttanad Pearl Spot, particularly for traditional fishermen and aqua farmers in the region, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to promote branding, export potential and value  addition  of  region-specific  fisheries  products  such  as  Pearl  Spot  from Vembanad and adjacent backwater ecosystems; and
- (e) whether any financial or technical assistance is proposed to support producer groups, cooperatives or self-help groups in securing GI registration and postregistration market promotion?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (c): No  application  has  been  received  for  registration  of  Kuttanad  Pearl Spot (Karimeen)  from  the  Kuttanad  region  of Kerala.    Geographical  Indication (GI)  tag  is  granted by  Geographical  Indications  (GI)  Registry, a  statutory body under the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry as per the provisions of the Geographical Indications of Goods  (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, on establishing that the quality, reputation or other characteristics of the goods are essentially attributable to their geographical origin. The registration process is voluntary, and an application must be made by a Producers' Association or a relevant authority representing the producers under the Geographical Indications of Goods  (Registration  &  Protection)  Act,  1999,  and  Rules, 2002. The process of GI registration does not entail conducting any study on the economic benefits of granting a Geographical Indication (GI) tag to a product.

- (d): The Government promotes branding, export potential and value addition of fisheries  products  through  schemes  under Department  of  Fisheries,  such as  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana  (PMMSY)  and  Fisheries and  Aquaculture  Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), which support development  of  post-harvest  infrastructure  including  cold  chains,  fishing harbours  and  fish  landing  centres  and  promote  value addition  and  export of fisheries products. In addition, under PMMSY, a brood bank for Pearl Spot has been approved for the Government  of  Kerala  during  2020-21  with an outlay of ₹500 lakh to support production and development of this species.

Further, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), under the  Department  of  Commerce,  undertakes  measures  to  promote  Indian seafood in overseas markets, including participation in international seafood exhibitions,  organization  of  buyer-seller  and  reverse  buyer-seller  meets, delegations and promotional events in association with Indian Missions abroad, and support to exporters for participation in international trade fairs.

MPEDA  also  implements  financial  assistance  schemes  for  infrastructure development and value addition in the fisheries sector. These schemes are not state/region-specific  and  can  be  availed  by  exporters  to  set  up  new  units, expand  existing  production  capacity  for  value  addition,  and  diversify  valueadded  production,  including  branding  and  preparation  of  new  value-  added products, which can also be utilised for developing value- added products from Pearl Spot.

- (e): The  measures  /  schemes  initiated  by  Government  to  provide  financial  or technical  assistance  to  support  producer  groups,  cooperatives  or  self-help groups in securing Gl registration and for post-registration market promotion is placed at Annexure-A.

*********

## ANNEXURE-A

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (e) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3997 FOR ANSWER ON 17.03.2026.

1.  The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), through the IPR  component  of  the  MSME  Innovative  Scheme,  provides  support  for protection  and  commercialization of  Intellectual  Property,  including  for Geographical Indications (GI). Under the scheme, the eligible applicants may receive reimbursement of 100% of the actual cost incurred for GI registration, subject to a maximum limit of Rs. 2.00 lakh per registered GI. Further, through implementing agencies, i.e. Intellectual Property Facilitation Centres (IPFCs) under  the  scheme,  the  applicants  are  provided  with  end-to-end  GI  filing support.
2.  The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of  India, provides financial assistance of Rs.1.50 lakh for  effective  enforcement of GI registration and/or actual expenditure incurred  in  legal  cases  for  the  protection  of  GIs,  as  approved  by  the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).
3.  NABARD launched a dedicated scheme in 2019 titled 'Financial Assistance towards Interventions in Geographical Indications.' NABARD provides support for  registration  of  Geographical  Indications  (GIs)  and  also  facilitates  postregistration interventions such as registration of Authorized  Users,  marketing support, skill enhancement, documentation, capacity building and awareness campaigns.
4.  Through the amendment to the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Rules, 2002, notified on 03.11.2025, the fee for filing GI applications and related processes has been reduced by 80 percent. This  reform reduces the financial burden on artisans, farmers, cooperatives and  traditional  producer  groups,  making  GI  registration  and  renewal  more affordable and encouraging wider participation in the GI protection system.
5.  DPIIT  provides  financial  assistance  under  its  initiative  for  promotion of Geographical  Indications  (GIs).  Under  this initiative, financial assistance is provided as grant-in-aid to eligible agencies such as Central/State Government agencies, industrial and artisan clusters, GI facilitation centres, registered societies/organizations representing producers of GI goods, Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards, and National industry associations. for  activities  relating  to  promotion  and  awareness  of  GI  products  such  as domestic and international exhibitions, buyer-seller meets, brand promotion events, awareness programmes, capacity and skill development programmes etc.
6.  Apart from above, GI Registry assists Producer's Associations or authorised bodies in  addressing  the  deficiencies  found  in  the  applications  and  assists them to complete the application. Further, the GI Registry provide handhold support  to  the  applicant  throughout  the  process.  For  more  assistance, applicants  can  contact  the  GI  Registry  at  e-mail:  gir-ipo@nic.in or 04422502030.

*********