Basmati GI Dispute: A Shared Heritage, A Divided Claim

Basmati GI Dispute: A Shared Heritage, A Divided Claim

Here are the key points from the article “Basmati beyond borders: An Indo-Pak story” relevant for UPSC CSE (Prelims + Mains – GS II, III & Essay):

Context & Core Theme

• Basmati rice, a product of shared cultural and ecological heritage in the Indian subcontinent, is now at the center of a Geographical Indication (GI) dispute between India and Pakistan.
• Reflects how shared heritage becomes contested due to political and trade boundaries post-partition.

Geographical Indications (GI)

• GI tags are a form of intellectual property rights under the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement.
• In India, GI protection is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
• Basmati GI tag was granted to 13 Indian states in 2016. Pakistan has been seeking a joint GI tag with India in the EU since 2008.

Indo-Pak GI Dispute in the EU

• India applied for GI tag for Basmati in the European Union (EU).
• Pakistan objected, claiming shared heritage and cultivation.
• EU urged both countries to negotiate jointly, yet there has been no consensus.
• The EU GI status grants legal and market exclusivity, raising stakes in the dispute.

Broader Implications

• GI disputes like this one show:
  • Trade and diplomacy interplay
  • Cultural identity vs. commercial interests
  • How multilateral forums (EU, WTO) are arenas for soft power projection.
• Example cited: Gruyère cheese GI jointly held by Switzerland & France, showing potential models for cooperation.

Importance of Dialogue

• Emphasis on collaborative dialogue over adversarial trade competition.
• Calls for viewing Basmati as a shared heritage that could unite rather than divide.