UPSC Prelims 2018 Q26: Indian Economy – International Trade & WTO
- (a) ILO
- (b) IMF
- (c) UNCTAD
- (d) WTO
Answer: (d) WTO
Explanation
Geographical Indications (GI) Act, 1999 - Origin
Rationale: India enacted The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 to comply with the TRIPS Agreement (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
| Option | Correct? | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| (a) ILO | NO | ILO handles labour standards conventions, not IPR. |
| (b) IMF | NO | IMF handles macroeconomic surveillance and BoP support, not IPR. |
| (c) UNCTAD | NO | UNCTAD promotes trade and development for developing countries; TRIPS is a WTO agreement. |
| (d) WTO | YES | TRIPS Agreement, Section 3, Articles 22-24 require member states to protect Geographical Indications. India's 1999 GI Act (in force from Sept 2003) fulfils this obligation. |
Notable Indian GIs: Darjeeling Tea (India's first, 2004), Basmati Rice, Kanjeevaram Silk, Mysore Silk, Chanderi Fabric, Nagpur Orange, Kashmir Pashmina, Alphonso Mango.
Answer: (d) WTO.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. ILO deals with labour conventions - Convention 138 (minimum age), 182 (worst forms of child labour), etc.
- (b) Incorrect. IMF is a monetary/BoP institution, unrelated to IPR treaties.
- (c) Incorrect. UNCTAD is a trade-and-development forum, not the source of TRIPS obligations.
- (d) CORRECT. WTO's TRIPS Agreement (1994) obliged India to enact GI protection legislation.
Key point
GI Act 1999 = compliance with WTO TRIPS. In force from 15 Sept 2003. First registered GI in India: Darjeeling Tea (2004). Administered by the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trademarks (CGPDTM) in Chennai.
Remember
India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 to comply with its obligations under the WTO's TRIPS Agreement (Articles 22-24). The Act came into force on 15 September 2003, and Darjeeling Tea became India's first registered GI in 2004. Other WTO obligations under TRIPS covered patents, copyright, trademarks and undisclosed information.
Common mistakes
- Confusing TRIPS (WTO IPR treaty) with WIPO (WIPO administers Paris/Berne conventions, but TRIPS is WTO).
- Assuming GI is a subset of trademark - GI is a distinct IPR category for products with geographical origin significance.
- Missing that GI protection is community-owned - unlike patents/trademarks which are usually held by individuals or firms.
Exam tip
IPR treaties shortcut: Patents/Trademarks = Paris Convention (WIPO) + TRIPS (WTO). Copyright = Berne Convention (WIPO) + TRIPS. GI = TRIPS (WTO). Plant varieties = UPOV/TRIPS.
Sources
- Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
- WTO - TRIPS Agreement, Articles 22-24 on Geographical Indications