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Q26 (IAS/2018) Economy › External Sector & Trade › Intellectual property rights Official Key

India enacted The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 in order to comply with the obligations to

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 and has come into force with effect from 15th September 2003.[1] This Act was enacted to fulfill India's obligations under the TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Agreement, which is the most comprehensive agreement on intellectual property, signed by all the WTO members.[2] It contains rules governing how copyrights, patents, trademarks, geographical indications, industrial designs, etc. will be used to identify products and how they should be protected once trade in them is involved.[2] Geographical indications are place names (in some countries also words associated with a place) used to identify products with particular characteristics because they come from specific places.[3] Therefore, the enactment was specifically to comply with WTO obligations, making option D the correct answer.

Sources
  1. [1] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.8 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) > p. 387
  2. [2] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights > p. 542
  3. [3] https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/understanding_e.pdf
How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
Community Performance
Out of everyone who attempted this question.
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got it right
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full view
Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. India enacted The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 in order to comply with the obligations to […
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 2.5/10
Statement 1
Was The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 enacted in India to comply with obligations to the International Labour Organization (ILO)?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Geographical indications — the registration system. Geographical indications are place names (in some countries also words associated with a place) used to identify products with particular characteristics because they come from specific places. The WTO TRIPS Council has already started work on a multilateral registration system for geographical indications for wines and spirits."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly links geographical indications and their registration system to the WTO/TRIPS process, not to the ILO.
  • Shows the TRIPS Council and WTO are the bodies negotiating multilateral GI registration, implying GI lawmaking responds to WTO/TRIPS obligations.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Symposium on the International Protection of Geographical Indications, organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in cooperation with the South African Patents and Trade Marks Office (SAPTO), Somerset West, Cape Province, South Africa, 1-2 September 1999, Geneva: WIPO."
Why this source?
  • Shows international protection of geographical indications is handled in forums such as WIPO, linking GI protection to intellectual property bodies.
  • Reinforces that GI protection is an IP/trade issue (WIPO/WTO) rather than a labour/ILO matter.
Web source
Presence: 3/5
"At the 1996 Singapore Ministerial Conference, WTO members defined the organization’s role more clearly, identifying the International Labour Organization (ILO) as the competent body to deal with labour standards."
Why this source?
  • Identifies the ILO as the competent body to deal with labour standards, indicating that labour obligations fall under ILO remit.
  • By showing ILO’s domain is labour standards, it separates ILO responsibilities from GI/IP matters handled by WTO/WIPO.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.8 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) > p. 387
Strength: 5/5
“However, a protected geographical indication does not enable the holder to prevent someone from making a product using the same techniques as those set out in the standards for that indication. Protection for a geographical indication is usually obtained by acquiring a right over the sign that constitutes the indication. The registration of a geographical indication shall be for a period of ten years, but may be renewed from time to time. The Controller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks appointed under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, shall be the Registrar of Geographical Indications. India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 and has come into force with effect from 15th September 2003.”
Why relevant

States explicitly that India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 as a WTO member; links the Act to India's WTO membership.

How to extend

A student could combine this with basic knowledge that WTO/TRIPS, not ILO, deals with intellectual property to infer the Act likely responded to WTO/TRIPS obligations rather than ILO.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.9 Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) > p. 388
Strength: 5/5
“Negotiated during the Uruguay round, TRIPS came into effect on 1st Jan 1995and the deadline for complying with TRIPS obligations for India (a developing country) was January 1st 2005. Accordingly, The Patents Act, 1970 (of India) was amended twice in 2002 and 2005 to make it fully TRIPS compliant by 2005. Through the Patents (Amendment) Act of 2002, the provisions related to compulsory license which was there in the 1970 Act was substituted with a completely new one (section 84). And by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005 product patents were allowed to be granted for drugs, which were not allowed under the 1970 Act.”
Why relevant

Explains TRIPS obligations under WTO and gives an example of India amending patent law to comply with TRIPS deadlines.

How to extend

Use this pattern (India amends IP laws to meet TRIPS deadlines) to hypothesize that the GI Act was part of similar TRIPS-related compliance rather than ILO-driven action.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > IMPLEMENTATION OF DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES > p. 115
Strength: 3/5
“In 2015, the Planning Commission was replaced by a new body called NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India).• 2 Directive Principles of State Policy '!1 15 • The Minimum Wages Act (1948), the Payment of Wages Act (1936), the Payment of Bonus Act (1965), the Contract Labour Regulation and Abolition Act ( 1970), the Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act (1986), the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act (1976), the Trade Unions Act (1926), the Factories Act (1948), the Mines Act (1952), the Industrial Disputes Act ( 1947), the Workmen's Compensation Act (1923) and so on have been enacted to protect the interests of the labour sections.”
Why relevant

Lists many domestic labour statutes enacted to protect labour interests, illustrating that labour law responses are generally tied to labour-focused mandates.

How to extend

A student could contrast this pattern—labour laws responding to labour obligations—with the GI Act being an IP measure, making an ILO origin (a labour body) less plausible.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 12: Indian Industry > RECENT REFORMS IN INDUSTRIAL LABOUR LAWS > p. 392
Strength: 3/5
“Rampant legislative reforms were undertaken by GOI to simplify, amalgamate and rationalise a large number of existing labour laws into four simplified labour codes. This has been done as per the recommendations of the 2<sup>nd</sup> National Commission on Labour. The four recently enacted labour codes are as follows: • The Code on Wages, 2019 (by subsuming 4 labour laws, namely: the Minimum Wages Act, 1948; the Payment of Wages Act, 1936; the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965; the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976)• 2.The Code on Industrial Relations, 2020 (by subsuming 3 labour laws, namely: the Trade Union Act, 1926; the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946; the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947)• 3.”
Why relevant

Describes recent consolidation of Indian labour laws and mentions national commissions driving labour-law reform, showing labour legislation is often domestically motivated or tied to labour policy bodies.

How to extend

A student might use this to argue that major labour-related reforms come from labour commissions/ILO linkages, whereas the GI Act’s text and timing fit an IP/WTO compliance pattern instead.

Statement 2
Was The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 enacted in India to comply with obligations to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.8 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) > p. 387
Strength: 5/5
“However, a protected geographical indication does not enable the holder to prevent someone from making a product using the same techniques as those set out in the standards for that indication. Protection for a geographical indication is usually obtained by acquiring a right over the sign that constitutes the indication. The registration of a geographical indication shall be for a period of ten years, but may be renewed from time to time. The Controller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks appointed under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, shall be the Registrar of Geographical Indications. India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 and has come into force with effect from 15th September 2003.”
Why relevant

Explicitly links the Geographical Indications Act, 1999 to India's WTO membership and states the Act was enacted as India, a WTO member, brought GI protection into force in 2003.

How to extend

A student could combine this with basic knowledge that WTO (not IMF) administers TRIPS rules on geographical indications to suspect the Act responds to WTO/TRIPS obligations rather than IMF.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > India and IMF > p. 399
Strength: 4/5
“• India is a founder member of IMF• RBI adopted Special Data Dissemination Standards (SDDS) of IMF• As per our commitment, India adopted current account convertibility in 1994• Methodology of National Income Accounting was changed (to Market Prices) in 2015• IMF's regional training institute is in Delhi to provide training to government officials• India is a net lender to IMF”
Why relevant

Shows that India has adopted specific domestic measures (e.g., SDDS, current account convertibility) as commitments related to the IMF, illustrating that IMF obligations can and do drive domestic law changes.

How to extend

A student could use this pattern to ask whether the GI Act aligns with IMF-type commitments (financial/statistical/accountability areas) or with trade/IP domains (suggesting IMF is unlikely the driver).

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 2: Money and Banking- Part I > 2.23 Foreign Investment > p. 98
Strength: 3/5
“The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry sets the rules for foreign investment and makes policy pronouncements on FDI through various Press Releases.• As per the regulations under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) 1999, an Indian company receiving FDI/FPI does not require any prior approval of RBI at any stage. It is only required to report the capital inflow and subsequently the issue of shares to the RBI in prescribed formats. FPIs require SEBI approval/license.• Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) are institutions incorporated outside India and include mutual fund, insurance company, pension fund, banks, NRIs etc. registered with SEBI.• When an Indian company invests abroad then there is another term for it and this is called "Overseas Direct Investment" (ODI).”
Why relevant

Notes other 1999-era domestic legislation (FEMA 1999) dealing with foreign exchange and investment rules, indicating that different international obligations can produce contemporaneous domestic laws in distinct policy areas.

How to extend

A student could examine the subject-matter of 1999 laws (FEMA = finance/FX, GI Act = intellectual property/trade) to judge which international body (IMF vs WTO) deals with those policy domains.

Statement 3
Was The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 enacted in India to comply with obligations to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.8 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) > p. 387
Strength: 5/5
“However, a protected geographical indication does not enable the holder to prevent someone from making a product using the same techniques as those set out in the standards for that indication. Protection for a geographical indication is usually obtained by acquiring a right over the sign that constitutes the indication. The registration of a geographical indication shall be for a period of ten years, but may be renewed from time to time. The Controller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks appointed under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, shall be the Registrar of Geographical Indications. India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 and has come into force with effect from 15th September 2003.”
Why relevant

Explicitly links the enactment of the Geographical Indications Act (1999) to India being a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

How to extend

A student could use the WTO link here to check whether GI obligations originated from WTO/TRIPS rather than UNCTAD by comparing treaty sources.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.9 Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) > p. 388
Strength: 5/5
“Negotiated during the Uruguay round, TRIPS came into effect on 1st Jan 1995and the deadline for complying with TRIPS obligations for India (a developing country) was January 1st 2005. Accordingly, The Patents Act, 1970 (of India) was amended twice in 2002 and 2005 to make it fully TRIPS compliant by 2005. Through the Patents (Amendment) Act of 2002, the provisions related to compulsory license which was there in the 1970 Act was substituted with a completely new one (section 84). And by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005 product patents were allowed to be granted for drugs, which were not allowed under the 1970 Act.”
Why relevant

Shows a clear pattern that India amended IP laws (e.g., Patents Act) to comply with WTO/TRIPS deadlines and obligations.

How to extend

One could infer that similar IP-related domestic laws (like the GI Act) are likely driven by WTO/TRIPS commitments rather than UNCTAD, and verify by checking TRIPS text or negotiating history.

Understanding Economic Development. Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: CONSUMER RIGHTS > Consumers International > p. 77
Strength: 3/5
“In 1985 United Nations adopted the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection. This was a tool for nations to adopt measures to protect consumers and for consumer advocacy groups to press their governments to do so. At the international level, this has become the foundation for consumer movement. Today, Consumers International has become an umbrella body to over 200 member organisations from over 100 countries. Because of all these efforts, the movement succeeded in bringing pressure on business firms as well as government to correct business conduct which may be unfair and against the interests of consumers at large. A major step taken in 1986 by the Indian government was the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act 1986, popularly known as COPRA.”
Why relevant

Gives an example where UN (UN guidelines) prompted domestic legislation (Consumer Protection Act 1986), demonstrating the general rule that international instruments often motivate national laws.

How to extend

Use this pattern to ask which international body produced guidance specific to geographical indications (WTO/TRIPS vs UNCTAD) and then check primary sources.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > India and POPs > p. 405
Strength: 3/5
“• India had ratified the Stockholm Convention on 2006 as per Article 25(4), which enabled it to keep itself in a default "opt-out" position such that amendments in various Annexes of the convention cannot be enforced on it unless an instrument of ratification/ acceptance/ approval or accession is explicitly deposited with UN depositary. • MoEFCC had notified the 'Regulation of Persistent Organic Pollutants Rules, on March 2018 under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986”
Why relevant

Provides another example (Stockholm Convention) where India enacted national rules to implement an international agreement, reinforcing the general rule that treaty obligations lead to domestic enactments.

How to extend

Apply this general rule to GI: identify which international agreement contains GI obligations and trace whether India enacted the Act to implement that agreement.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 1. Trade without discrimination: > p. 379
Strength: 3/5
“This is because Article 21(b)(iii) of GATT states that "Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent any contracting party (including India in this case) from taking any action which it considers necessary for the protection of its essential security interests taken in time of war or other emergency in international relations." • c. Special and Differential Treatment given to developing/poor nations. Under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), developed countries offer nonreciprocal preferential treatment (such as zero or low duties on imports) to products originating in developing countries. Preference-giving countries unilaterally determine which countries and which products are included in their schemes.• National Treatment (NT): It says that imported and locally produced goods should be treated equally after the foreign goods have entered into the domestic markets.”
Why relevant

References GATT/WTO concepts (e.g., national treatment, GSP) showing the text set deals with trade instruments and WTO framework relevant to trade-related IP issues.

How to extend

A student could use this to prioritize checking WTO/TRIPS materials for origins of GI obligations rather than UNCTAD documents.

Statement 4
Was The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 enacted in India to comply with obligations to the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.8 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) > p. 387
Presence: 4/5
“However, a protected geographical indication does not enable the holder to prevent someone from making a product using the same techniques as those set out in the standards for that indication. Protection for a geographical indication is usually obtained by acquiring a right over the sign that constitutes the indication. The registration of a geographical indication shall be for a period of ten years, but may be renewed from time to time. The Controller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks appointed under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, shall be the Registrar of Geographical Indications. India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 and has come into force with effect from 15th September 2003.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 and links the action to India being a WTO member.
  • Provides the Act's coming-into-force date (15 Sept 2003), showing timing consistent with WTO-related IPR changes.
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights > p. 542
Presence: 5/5
“• It is the most comprehensive agreement on intellectual property, signed by all the WTO \ members. • It contains rules governing how copyrights, patents, trademarks, geographical indications, industrial designs, etc. will be used to identify products and how they should be protected once trade in them is involved.”
Why this source?
  • States that the TRIPS agreement (a WTO agreement) governs geographical indications among other IPR categories.
  • Directly connects the subject-matter of the Act (geographical indications) to WTO/TRIPS obligations.
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.9 Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) > p. 388
Presence: 3/5
“Negotiated during the Uruguay round, TRIPS came into effect on 1st Jan 1995and the deadline for complying with TRIPS obligations for India (a developing country) was January 1st 2005. Accordingly, The Patents Act, 1970 (of India) was amended twice in 2002 and 2005 to make it fully TRIPS compliant by 2005. Through the Patents (Amendment) Act of 2002, the provisions related to compulsory license which was there in the 1970 Act was substituted with a completely new one (section 84). And by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005 product patents were allowed to be granted for drugs, which were not allowed under the 1970 Act.”
Why this source?
  • Shows India had explicit TRIPS compliance deadlines and amended domestic IP law (Patents Act) to meet WTO/TRIPS obligations.
  • Demonstrates a broader pattern of enacting domestic legislation to satisfy WTO/TRIPS requirements, implying similar motive for the GI Act.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC consistently asks for the 'Domestic Mirror' of International Obligations. The pattern is: International Treaty Name → Specific Indian Law enacted to comply with it. Don't just read the treaty; read the implementation.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hit from standard Economy textbooks (e.g., Vivek Singh Ch 13, Nitin Singhania Ch 18).
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The 'TRIPS Agreement' under WTO and its mandatory implementation by member nations.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Map other Treaty-Act pairs: 1) CBD (1992) → Biological Diversity Act, 2002. 2) TRIPS (Art 27.3b) → PPV&FR Act, 2001. 3) UNCITRAL Model Law → Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. 4) CITES → Wildlife Protection Act (Amendments). 5) Stockholm Convention → Regulation of POPs Rules, 2018.
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Treaties in India are not self-executing (Article 253). Whenever you study a Global Convention (WTO, UN, CBD), immediately ask: 'Which Indian Act was passed to ratify/implement this?' This legislative bridge is a recurring UPSC theme.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 WTO / TRIPS as driver of Indian IPR legislation
💡 The insight

Reference [1] explicitly links the Geographical Indications Act to India’s membership of the WTO; reference [8] explains TRIPS obligations and Indian amendments to patent law, showing international trade law driving IP reform.

High-yield for UPSC: many questions ask why/under what international commitments India amended domestic IP laws. Understanding WTO/TRIPS influence helps answer questions on policy drivers, treaty compliance, and the timing of statutory changes. It connects international institutions, trade law, and domestic legislative responses.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.8 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) > p. 387
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.9 Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) > p. 388
🔗 Anchor: "Was The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 199..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Key features and administrative details of the Geographical Indications Act, 1999
💡 The insight

Reference [1] gives purpose/timing (enacted as WTO member), registration duration, and the official registrar — core factual points about the Act.

High-yield factual concept: knowing statutory purpose, basic features (term, renewal) and administrative authority aids answer-writing and prelims/literature recall. Useful for direct factual questions and for contrasting different IP statutes.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.8 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) > p. 387
🔗 Anchor: "Was The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 199..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Distinguishing mandates of international organisations (WTO vs ILO) and domestic law areas
💡 The insight

References show WTO/TRIPS influence on IP law ([1],[8]) while reference [2] lists numerous domestic labour laws — highlighting that labour statutes stem from domestic/legal policy rather than WTO IP obligations.

Important for UPSC: questions often require distinguishing which international body influences which policy area. Mastering this helps quickly reject incorrect causal links (e.g., attributing IP law to ILO) and frames comparative answers across trade, labour, and law.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.9 Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) > p. 388
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 9: Directive Principles of State Policy > IMPLEMENTATION OF DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES > p. 115
🔗 Anchor: "Was The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 199..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 WTO obligations and domestic IPR laws (Geographical Indications Act, 1999)
💡 The insight

The references state India enacted the Geographical Indications Act, 1999 in the context of WTO membership, linking the law to WTO/IPR commitments rather than the IMF.

High-yield for UPSC: explains how international trade agreements (WTO/TRIPS) drive domestic intellectual property legislation. Useful for questions on why India adopted specific laws, and links trade policy, IP regime and legislative responses. Master by comparing treaty obligations with corresponding national statutes.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.8 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) > p. 387
🔗 Anchor: "Was The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 199..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 IMF vs WTO — distinct mandates
💡 The insight

Evidence discusses the IMF's financial role (quotas, SDRs, data standards) while the GI Act is explicitly tied to WTO membership, highlighting institutional differences.

Crucial for UPSC to avoid conflating international institutions: IMF deals with monetary/financial issues; WTO deals with trade and related IP rules. This distinction helps answer source-attribution and policy rationale questions across economy and international relations topics.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > International Monetary Fund (IMF) > p. 397
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.8 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) > p. 387
🔗 Anchor: "Was The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 199..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Key features of Geographical Indications law (registration, duration, registrar)
💡 The insight

The provided reference outlines GI protection mechanics: limited exclusionary rights, 10-year registration term, and the Controller-General as Registrar.

Practically useful for factual/definitions questions on IPR laws in the polity/economy syllabus. Knowing statutory features enables precise answers on implementation, administrative responsibility and renewal processes of IP rights.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.8 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) > p. 387
🔗 Anchor: "Was The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 199..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Geographical Indications Act (1999) — enactment and WTO linkage
💡 The insight

Reference [1] explicitly links India's enactment of the Geographical Indications Act, 1999 to its status as a WTO member and gives the Act's coming-into-force date.

High-yield for UPSC: shows how international trade membership (WTO) drives domestic IP legislation. Helps answer questions on why India changed IP laws and distinguishes obligations under different international bodies. Memorize the Act-year and enforcement date and relate to international commitments.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.8 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) > p. 387
🔗 Anchor: "Was The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 199..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001. It was enacted to fulfill the TRIPS obligation (Article 27.3(b)) for a 'sui generis' system to protect plant varieties, balancing corporate breeders with farmers' rights.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Keyword Association: 'Geographical Indications' = Intellectual Property.
- ILO = Labour (No).
- IMF = Balance of Payments/Currency (No).
- UNCTAD = Trade Reports/Development (Soft law, no binding IP enforcement).
- WTO = TRIPS (Hard law on IP).
Only WTO has the mandate to force a member nation to enact IP laws under threat of trade sanctions.

🔗 Mains Connection

Links GS3 (IPR & Indigenization of Technology) with GS2 (International Relations). GI Tags are also a tool for 'Economic Diplomacy' and 'Soft Power' (e.g., Basmati rice disputes with Pakistan, Pashmina recognition).

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2010 · Q16 Relevance score: 7.22

In order to comply with TRIPS Agreement, India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999. The difference/differences between a 'Trade Mark' and a Geographical Indication is/are: 1. A Trade Mark is an individual or a company's right whereas a Geographical Indication is a community's right. 2. A Trade Mark can be licensed whereas a Geographical Indication cannot be licensed. 3. A Trade Mark is assigned to the manufactured goods whereas the Geographical Indication is assigned to the agricultural goods/products and handicrafts only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

IAS · 2015 · Q63 Relevance score: 2.40

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the

CDS-I · 2002 · Q89 Relevance score: -2.17

In India, which one of the following Acts was enacted in the year 1995?

CDS-II · 2021 · Q71 Relevance score: -3.73

Following the Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016, the Parliament of India enacted ite a few GST Acts in the year 2017. Which one of the following does not fall in this category ?

IAS · 2015 · Q99 Relevance score: -4.03

Which of the following has/have been accorded 'Geographical Indication' status? 1. Banaras Brocades and Sarees 2. Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma 3. Tirupathi Laddu Select the correct answer using the code given below.