Rules 102 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Part II of the Rules (rules 102 to 116) deals with the registration of geographical indications agents. Rule 102 requires the Registrar to keep a Register of Geographical Indications Agents and lists what it records. Rule 103 treats existing registered trade marks agents as registered geographical indications agents, and allows the Registrar to publish a dress code and a code of conduct.
The Registrar must keep a Register of Geographical Indications Agents with each agent's name, residence, principal place of business, nationality, qualifications and date of registration. Every person on the Register of Trade Marks Agents on the notified date is deemed registered as a geographical indications agent, subject to rule 104, and the continuance fee applies from the notified date. The Registrar may publish a dress code and a code of conduct in the Journal.
Why agents matter
A person who wants to act for others before the Registry may need to be on the register of agents. Section 76 of the Act deals with agents and authorisation; our article on sections 74 to 76 of the GI Act explains it. The Rules for agents fill Part II. Our articles on rules 104 and 105 (qualifications and disqualifications) and rules 106 to 110 (application, examination and certificate) cover the next steps.
Producer groups hiring an agent, and professionals wishing to become one, often seek legal consultation on what the register means in practice.
Rule 102: what the register records
"The Registrar of Geographical Indications shall maintain a Register of Geographical Indications Agents wherein shall be entered the name, address of the place of residence, address of the principal place of business, the nationality, qualifications and date of registration of every registered Geographical Indications Agent."
| Particular | Entered in the register |
|---|---|
| Name | Yes |
| Address of the place of residence | Yes |
| Address of the principal place of business | Yes |
| Nationality | Yes |
| Qualifications | Yes |
| Date of registration | Yes |
Three points. The duty is mandatory ("shall maintain"). The list has six particulars, and the rule lists them as the contents of every entry. And the register is separate from the Register of Geographical Indications, which has Part A and Part B; see our article on Part A and Part B of the register. Later rules provide for alteration of an agent's entry (rule 114) and for publication of the register (rule 115); see our article on rules 114 to 116.
Rule 103(1): existing trade marks agents
"Subject to rule 104 every person whose name is on the notified date on the Register of Trade Marks Agents maintained under the Trade Marks Rules, 2002 shall be deemed to be registered as a Geographical Indications Agent under the Act and the rules."
Reading the clause:
- Who: every person whose name was on the Register of Trade Marks Agents on the notified date.
- Effect: deemed registered as a geographical indications agent.
- Limit: "subject to rule 104", which sets the qualifications. See our article on rules 104 and 105.
- Source: the register maintained under the Trade Marks Rules, 2002.
The Trade Marks Rules, 2002 were superseded by the Trade Marks Rules, 2017. Rule 103 refers to the register as it stood on the notified date, a past date, so the reference does its work for that date; it has not been updated. For the current position on the Register of Trade Marks Agents, see our article on rules 142 and 143 of the Trade Marks Rules, 2017, and for the Act's provisions on trade mark agents see our article on sections 145 and 146 of the Trade Marks Act.
The rule does not say that a deemed registration is entered in the Register of Geographical Indications Agents with a date of registration, though rule 102 requires every registered agent's date of registration to be entered. The text is silent on the date to be used for a deemed agent.
Rule 103(2): continuance fee
"The continuance fee of Geographical Indication s Agents deemed to be registered under sub rule (1) shall be payable as and from the notified date."
A deemed agent therefore pays the continuance fee from the notified date. The fee is entry 8C of the First Schedule as substituted in November 2025: the Schedule prints a single amount, Rs. 1,000, against the entry, which has two limbs: (i) every year (excluding the first year), to be paid on 1 April in each year; and (ii) the first year, to be paid along with the fee for registration in the case of a person registered at any time between 1 April and 30 September. The note says the year commences on 1 April and ends on 31 March. The rule does not say when the deemed agent's first payment is due beyond "as and from the notified date". See rule 110 and our article on rules 106 to 110.
Rule 103(3) and (4): dress code and code of conduct
Rule 103(3): "The Registrar may publish the Dress Code for Registered geographical indications Agent in the Geographical Indications Journal."
Rule 103(4): "The Registrar may publish in the Journal a code of conduct for registered geographical indications agents."
Both are permissive ("may"). The Rules do not themselves contain a dress code or a code of conduct, and the sources do not include any such published code. Anyone relying on a code should obtain the Journal in which it was published.
Who is affected
- Existing trade marks agents, who are deemed registered subject to rule 104.
- Professionals new to GI work, who must be registered through the process in rules 104 to 110.
- Producer associations and exporters, who should check an agent's entry in the register.
An example
Advocate Rekha Iyer was on the Register of Trade Marks Agents on the notified date. Under rule 103(1) she is deemed a registered geographical indications agent, subject to rule 104, and she owes the continuance fee as from the notified date. Her colleague Mr. Dev Rao was not on the trade marks register; he must apply on Form GI-8 and pass the examination in rule 108 (unless he is an Advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961, as rule 104 provides). A cooperative wishing to engage either checks the Register of Geographical Indications Agents, which should show name, addresses, nationality, qualifications and date of registration.
What the rules do not say
- No form is prescribed for deemed registration.
- No period is set for publication of a dress code or code of conduct.
- The rules do not say whether the Register of Geographical Indications Agents is open to inspection; section 78 and rule 94 deal with inspection of other documents.
Amendments made after November 2025 should be checked before acting.
Need help choosing or becoming a GI agent?
Whether you are engaging an agent or planning to register as one, the Rules set conditions. Our legal consultation team can explain the process and check an agent's standing before you appoint them.
Key takeaways
- The Registrar must keep a Register of Geographical Indications Agents with six listed particulars.
- Persons on the Register of Trade Marks Agents on the notified date are deemed registered as GI agents, subject to rule 104.
- The continuance fee applies from the notified date; entry 8C is Rs. 1,000 as per the First Schedule as substituted in November 2025.
- The Registrar may publish a dress code and a code of conduct in the Journal.
- The Trade Marks Rules, 2002 mentioned in rule 103 were superseded by the 2017 Rules.
- Rule 103 does not prescribe a form for deemed registration.
Read next
- Rules 104 and 105: qualifications and persons debarred from registration as GI agent
- Rules 106 to 110: GI agent application, examination, certificate and continuance
- Sections 74 to 76 of the GI Act: address for service, trade usages and agents
- Rules 142 and 143 of the Trade Marks Rules, 2017: register of trade marks agents
Disclaimer: Based on the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Rules, 2002 as notified on 8 March 2002 and as amended by the Amendment Rules of 2020 (G.S.R. 528(E)) and 2025 (G.S.R. 812(E)), as consulted on 2 October 2026. Later amendment rules, forms and fees should be checked in their current form. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.