The first geographical indication (GI) registration from India was the iconic Indian product, “Darjeeling tea”, in 2004. In 2018, India was among the countries with the lowest number of GI products, having only 320. Germany topped the list with 15,566 GI-tagged products.Footnote ¹ This is possibly due to the diverse cultural and environmental heritage in India. However, India has since entered a state of progression, with 504 registered GIs to date.Footnote ² This book is one of the first to offer a complete analysis and description of the 370 GIs in India registered up to March 2021, providing details of each registered GI at that time, while other concurrent writings have focused instead on the general scenario of GIs in India.

The five introductory chapters give a good overview of intellectual property protection and GIs, international agreements on GIs, GI protections in countries other than India, GI protection in India, and, finally, the registration procedures in India. An annexure to this chapter includes the registration procedure, an application form, all other necessary registration documents, and completed documents for “Sambalpuri bandha saree and fabrics”, prepared by the author himself, which are given as a pragmatic example.

Registered GIs were chapterized based on their state or union territory. They are detailed with their registration details, application number, certificate number, date of filing, certificate date, category of goods, class, geographical area, and applicant details. The description of the good, the process involved, and its uniqueness can also be traced. This classification provides a transparent understanding of the GI data for each geographical territory in India. Images and logos also enhance the breadth of information.

The Indian GI Statute, the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999 and related rules, and the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Rules 2002 can also be found in the book.

The title “handbook” is justified as the extended details and the legal framework are provided together with the legal framework of other countries, so there is scope for comparative analysis.

The efficient use of GI tags can extend the global market for local products. In particular, for countries like India that have a high dependence on the primary sector economy, this global promotion will be a welcomed boost. The author's initiative to compile the information on these registered GIs of India so that a non-expert can comprehend will increase awareness and encourage registration and value addition in the market.