Geographical Indications - Challenges and Opportunities in Post-Covid India

The post-COVID economic crisis has led to a mass unemployment and migration of workers to their hometown. These returning underprivileged workers can use their traditional knowledge to support their families and create employment opportunities locally. Indian laws relating to Geographical Indications will be useful in protecting and promoting such traditional products. The same can be further complemented by India ratifying the Geneva Act to the Lisbon Agreement, enforced from February 2020, which has provision for a single-window registration of Geographical Indications in multiple countries.Further this article highlights the loopholes in Indian GI laws which need to be addressed to realize the object behind law.Finally, it is argued that during the on-going difficult times government shouldtake adequate measures to promote geographical indications as a policy instrument to help the rural economy.