West Bengal BJP Seeks GI Tag for Traditional Sweets Kansat and Mohan Bhog

Why in News?

The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has initiated a push to secure Geographical Indication (GI) tags for two traditional Bengali sweets, Kansat and Mohan Bhog. This move underscores the growing recognition of GI tags as a tool for preserving cultural heritage, promoting regional products, and boosting local economies.

What Happened

The West Bengal BJP has formally expressed its intention to pursue GI tags for Kansat and Mohan Bhog, two distinct sweet delicacies deeply rooted in the state's culinary tradition. The party's focus on these specific sweets aims to protect their unique identity and origin, preventing unauthorized use of their names by producers outside their traditional geographical areas. This initiative is part of a broader effort to highlight and safeguard West Bengal's rich gastronomic heritage, following previous successful GI registrations for other Bengali sweets like Rosogolla.

Background & Context

A Geographical Indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. To function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place. The quality, reputation, or other characteristics of the product must be essentially attributable to its geographical origin. This protection is governed internationally by the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). In India, the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, provides for the registration and protection of GIs. The GI Registry is located in Chennai.

The primary purpose of a GI tag is to prevent third parties from using the indication if their product does not conform to the applicable standards. It assures consumers of the product's quality, authenticity, and origin. For producers, it offers legal protection, enhances market value, and promotes rural development by boosting local industries and tourism. India has a rich history of GI-tagged products, ranging from agricultural produce like Darjeeling Tea (the first Indian product to receive a GI tag in 2004) and Basmati Rice, to handicrafts like Kanchipuram Silk and culinary delights like Hyderabadi Haleem. The push for Kansat and Mohan Bhog highlights the continuous effort to identify and protect India's diverse traditional products.

Key Facts & Data Points

• A Geographical Indication (GI) is an Intellectual Property Right (IPR) that identifies goods originating from a specific geographical location, possessing qualities or a reputation attributable to that origin.
• The international framework for GI protection is provided by the WTO's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
• In India, the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, governs GI registration.
• The GI Registry, responsible for administering the GI Act, is located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Darjeeling Tea was the first product in India to receive a GI tag in 2004.
• Kansat and Mohan Bhog are traditional Bengali sweets, the former often associated with specific regions in West Bengal, and the latter being a popular variety of Sandesh.

UPSC Relevance

Papers: GS3 (Economy, Science & Technology - Intellectual Property Rights), Prelims (Factual questions on GI tags, specific products, related acts/bodies).

Topics: Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Geographical Indications, Indian Economy (promotion of traditional industries, exports, rural development), Art & Culture (preservation of traditional foods/crafts, cultural heritage), Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors.