05/12/2025
A three-day national workshop on Geographical Indications (GI) in Rajasthan began under the joint auspices of the Department of Law, University of Rajasthan, Property Pro Legal, and Hastin Research. The workshop will run from 5 to 7 December 2025. Academics, researchers, legal experts, and representatives connected with GI and traditional handicrafts from across the country took part.
The inaugural session opened with a welcome address by Dr Sanjula Thanvi, Dean and Head of the Department of Law. She described GI as an effective legal tool that strengthens India’s cultural diversity, local economy, and global commercial identity, and she highlighted the objectives of the workshop. After this, Dr Manoj Meena, Convenor of the workshop, briefed participants on the structure of the three-day programme, its key goals, and the outline of the technical sessions and field visit. His presentation set a clear direction for the day’s activities.
The special guest, Prof Sumita Kachhwaha, Coordinator of the IPR Cell, drew attention to the broader role of IPR. She explained that in strengthening innovation, the startup ecosystem, and patent culture, IPR not only provides a legal framework but also acts as an active engine driving a knowledge-based economy. Sanjay Bafna, Director of Property Pro Legal, also shared his views during the programme.
In the first technical session, WIPO’s DL-Tutor and patent expert, Ms Sarasija Padmanabhan, explained the foundational concepts of intellectual property rights and the distinctive nature of GI in depth. She noted that GI is not merely a legal tag but a powerful means of community identity and economic empowerment.
In the second session, Prof Cholaraja Mudimannan of the University of Delhi presented a detailed analysis of the structure of the GI Act 1999 and Rules 2002, their procedural provisions, judicial perspectives, and their alignment with the international framework.
In the third session, WIPO IP expert Mr Gaurav Jain explained the national and international processes of GI registration step by step—application, documentation, technical requirements, verification, compliance, and certification—and linked these with practical examples.
In the afternoon, participants were taken on a field visit to the artisan community of Jaipur’s GI-certified Blue Pottery. They observed the entire process firsthand, from preparing raw materials to colour preparation and decorative techniques, and understood how GI strengthens the distinctiveness and market value of a craft.
The first day concluded with a round-table discussion on the role of GI in preserving traditional arts and crafts from legal, cultural, and social perspectives. The conversation moved toward recognising GI as a sustainable path for providing communities with rights, identity, and market empowerment. The opening day ended by building a strong foundation for the sessions ahead, connecting the academic, practical, and community dimensions of GI.
