Geographical Indication Office
Full Form of GIO
What is GIO?
The Geographical Indication Office (GIO) functions under the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, which operates under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. It is the central authority responsible for administering the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which was enacted to protect goods whose quality, reputation, or distinctive characteristics are essentially attributable to their place of origin. The office examines applications, maintains the official Register of Geographical Indications, and issues GI tags to eligible Indian products. Notable items registered include Darjeeling Tea, Basmati Rice, Mysore Silk, Kanchipuram Sarees, Alphonso Mango, Kolhapuri Chappal, and Banarasi Brocade, among hundreds of others. The GIO plays a crucial role in safeguarding the commercial and cultural heritage of Indian producers by granting them exclusive legal rights over the use of region-specific product names. For students preparing for UPSC, judicial services, IPAB exams, or law entrance tests, understanding the GIO and the GI Act framework is important as questions frequently appear in general studies, economy, and intellectual property law sections.
GIO का फुल फॉर्म
भौगोलिक संकेत कार्यालय
Example
The Geographical Indication Office recently granted GI tags to several traditional handloom and agricultural products from the northeastern states of India.