MSME Ministry, DPIIT Sign MoU for GI Product Market Access

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 5 August 2026 at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, for wider market access for Geographical Indication products. The MoU links the MSME Ministry’s enterprise support systems with the legal and administrative framework of the DPIIT under the Geographical Indications of Goods Act, 1999.

Geographical Indication Products

A Geographical Indication is a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, reputation, or characteristics linked to that place. In India, GI registration is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, and the DPIIT functions as the nodal department for GI administration.

Digital Market Platforms

Under the MoU, GI collectives and authorised users will be onboarded on the Open Network for Digital Commerce and the Government e-Marketplace under the “Bharat GI” banner. ONDC is a digital commerce network, while GeM is the Government of India’s public procurement and marketplace platform for goods and services.

Enterprise Support and Livelihood Linkages

The collaboration includes integration of the One District One Product ecosystem into programme designs and interventions. ODOP is a district-level product promotion framework used to support local manufacturing, artisan clusters, and value addition in traditional sectors.

Both departments will also co-sponsor GI pavilions at trade expos, buyer-seller meets, and exhibitions in India and abroad. The framework includes quality standardisation, capacity building, and digital enablement for artisans and producer collectives.

Important Facts for Exams

• Geographical Indication tags are used for products linked to a specific place, such as Darjeeling Tea and Kanchipuram Silk Saree.
• The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 provides legal protection to GI products in India.
• Open Network for Digital Commerce is an open digital commerce network designed to support interoperable e-commerce transactions.
• Government e-Marketplace is a government-run procurement portal for public buyers and sellers in India.