PIB Summaries 10 October 2023

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Udangudi Panangarupatti

Context:

Recently, Udangudi ‘Panangkarupatti’ (palm jaggery/ gur) from Tamil Nadu has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

Relevance:

GS III: Indian Economy

Dimensions of the Article:

Palm jaggery production in Udangudi Panangarupatti remains traditional, devoid of modern methods.

The palm jaggery, locally known as karupatti, made from palm sap in Udangudi region (Tiruchendur taluk, Thoothukudi district), stands out due to its distinctive characteristics.
The presence of red sand dune soil in the region contributes to its uniqueness.
The soil has low groundwater retention, and the dry climate leads to high sucrose content, enhancing its taste.
The arid climate also facilitates long-term storage of karupatti.
Unlike some other jaggery production methods, there are no chemical additives like Triple super phosphate and phosphoric acid used in its preparation.

Geographical Indications of Goods indicate the country or place of origin of a product.
They assure consumers of the product’s quality and distinctiveness derived from its specific geographical locality.
GI tags are an essential component of intellectual property rights (IPRs) and are protected under international agreements like the Paris Convention and TRIPS.

Geographical Indications registration in India is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
The registration and protection are administered by the Geographical Indication Registry under the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade (DIPIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The registration is valid for 10 years, and it can be renewed for further periods of 10 years each.

GI tags provide a unique identity and reputation to products based on their geographical origin.
The first product in India to receive a GI tag was Darjeeling tea.
Karnataka has the highest number of GI tags with 47 registered products, followed by Tamil Nadu with 39.

Any association, organization, or authority established by law can be a registered proprietor of a GI tag.
The registered proprietor’s name is entered in the Register of Geographical Indication for the applied product.
Protection and Enforcement:
Geographical Indications protect the interests of producers and prevent unauthorized use of the product’s name or origin.
Enforcement of GI rights helps maintain the quality and reputation of the products associated with their specific geographical regions.

Context:

The 2023 edition of the Annual Joint HADR Exercise, CHAKRAVAT, is being hosted by the Indian Navy at Goa from 09 to 11 Oct 23.

Relevance:

GS III: Security Challenges

Nature of the Exercise: Exercise CHAKRAVAT is an Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise.
Evolution: Since its inception in 2015, CHAKRAVAT has evolved into a multi-agency exercise involving various stakeholders.
Participants: The exercise includes participation from all three Services, Paramilitary Forces, disaster response organizations, NGOs, academic institutions, and international organizations.
International Participation: The 2023 edition of the exercise will involve eight countries from the Indian Ocean Region, promoting regional cooperation.
Rotational Hosts: CHAKRAVAT has been conducted in rotation by the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force since 2016.
Host for 2023: The Indian Navy will host the 2023 edition of the exercise in Goa.
National Agencies: Various national agencies, including the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), National Institute for Disaster Management (NIDM), Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Coast Guard, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), and other organizations, will participate.
Logo Symbolism: The exercise’s logo features the crests and logos of all participating agencies and flags of nations, symbolizing the need for joint and integrated action in HADR efforts.