Rules 29-31 of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Rules, 2002: transliteration, name of goods and deficiencies

Rules 29-31 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.

Rule 29 requires a transliteration and translation when an indication uses words in scripts or languages the Registry does not work in. Rule 30 lets the Registrar refuse an indication that carries the name or description of goods. Rule 31 gives the applicant one month to remedy deficiencies after notice, failing which the application may be treated as abandoned.

Words in characters other than Devnagari or Roman need an endorsed transliteration and translation, stating the language and signed by the applicant or agent; without it the Registrar has no obligation to take any action on the application. Words in a language other than Hindi or English may need an exact translation. The Registrar may refuse an indication in which the name or description of goods appears. If an application does not satisfy section 11 or rule 23, the applicant has one month from receipt of the notice to remedy the deficiencies, failing which the application may be treated as abandoned (rule 31).

Rule 29(1): scripts other than Devnagari or Roman

Rule 29(1) applies where a geographical indication contains "a word or words in characters other than Devnagari or Roman". The Rules require a sufficient transliteration and translation of each such word, to the Registrar's satisfaction, to be endorsed on:

• the application form; and
• the additional representation.

Every such endorsement must state the language to which the word belongs and be signed by the applicant or agent. If this is not done, "the Registrar shall be under no obligation to take any action on the application".

That last phrase matters. The consequence is not a mere deficiency to be remedied within a month; the application can simply sit. A society planning a geographical indication registration whose indication is in, for example, a regional script should therefore prepare the endorsement before filing. The additional representations themselves are covered in our article on rules 26 to 28.

Rule 29(2): languages other than Hindi or English

Rule 29(2) applies where an application for a geographical indication or for an authorised user contains words "in a language other than Hindi or English". The Registrar may ask for an exact translation together with the name of the language, and such translation and name, if he so requires, must be endorsed and signed as above.

Note the difference between the two sub-rules. Rule 29(1) concerns the script of the indication's own words. Rule 29(2) is wider and covers any word in the application, including the statement of case, in a language other than Hindi or English. Rule 12(1) separately says documents are filed in Hindi or English, as explained in our article on forms and size of documents.

Rule 30: name or description of goods on the indication

Rule 30 says: "Where the name or description of any goods appears on a geographical indication, the Registrar may refuse to register such geographical indication." The sentence is short and the discretion is the Registrar's.

Practically, many GIs are the place name followed by the product word, for example a place name followed by the word for a spice or textile. The rule does not say that every such name will be refused; the word "may" gives a discretion. Where the product word is simply a description of the goods, an applicant should be ready to explain why the indication as a whole, and not the generic product word, designates the origin. The prohibitions on registration in the Act, including generic names, are in our article on section 9 of the GI Act. This article does not go beyond the text of rule 30, which gives no further test.

Rule 31: deficiencies and the one-month period

Rule 31 begins "Subject to sub-rule (2) of rule 10". That sub-rule requires every form to be accompanied by the prescribed fee, so the fee requirement remains in force and a document without fee is dealt with under rule 10(5).

Rule 31 then provides:

1. Where an application for registration "does not satisfy requirements under section 11 or rule 23", the Registrar shall send notice to the applicants to remedy the deficiencies.
2. If within one month from the date of receipt of the notice the applicants fail to remedy any deficiency so notified, "the application may be treated as abandoned".

The words are "may be treated as abandoned", which leaves some discretion with the Registrar, but an applicant should treat the one month as firm. The month runs from receipt of the notice, not from its date. Deficiencies under section 11 and rule 23 include the points covered in our articles on rule 23 and on section 11 of the GI Act.

The wider provisions on extension of time are in our article on extension of time in GI proceedings, and the Act's provisions on abandonment are in our article on sections 63 to 65 of the GI Act. Read them for each time limit before assuming any extra time is available.

The GI Registry's Manual of Practice and Procedure (2011), which is guidance without the force of law, discusses the communication of deficiencies in its chapter on examination. Use it for an idea of practice, not for the period, which is the Rules' one month.

A checklist for avoiding a rule 31 notice

• Make sure the form is the right Form GI-1 part and is signed.
• Attach the statement of case, representations and fee.
• Endorse transliterations and translations on the form and each additional representation.
• Keep the indication and the specification consistent across copies.
• Respond to any notice in writing within the month and keep proof of the date of receipt.

A worked example

Hill Valley Weavers' Society, an invented body, files an application for a shawl name that is written in a regional script. It omits the transliteration. Under rule 29(1) the Registrar has no obligation to act until the transliteration and translation, signed and stating the language, are endorsed on the form and additional representations. Separately, the Registrar sends a rule 31 notice that the map is missing. The society receives it on 10 March and must remedy by 10 April, or the application may be treated as abandoned. All names are invented.

Need help responding to a deficiency notice?

A one-month window leaves little room for drafting. We help groups respond to Registry notices and fix filings; talk to us about GI registration support before the month runs out.

Key takeaways

• Words in characters other than Devnagari or Roman need a signed transliteration and translation stating the language (rule 29(1)).
• The Registrar may ask for an exact translation of words in a language other than Hindi or English (rule 29(2)).
• The Registrar may refuse an indication in which the name or description of goods appears (rule 30).
• The applicant has one month from receipt of a deficiency notice to remedy, failing which the application may be treated as abandoned (rule 31).
• Check for amendments after 3 November 2025.

Read next

• Rule 32: content of application, statement of case and acknowledgement
• Rules 26-28: representation of the geographical indication
• Section 9 of the GI Act: prohibition of registration of certain geographical indications

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.