Rules 94 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.
Rules 94 to 97 govern how the public sees GI Registry records and how a person obtains an official copy or certificate. Rule 94 deals with inspection, rule 95 with distribution of the Journal, rule 96 with certified copies and certificates, and rule 97 with a certificate used to obtain registration abroad.
Documents under section 78(1) can be inspected at the Head Office of the Registry (and a copy of the register and other notified documents at each branch office) on payment of the prescribed fee. Certified copies of register entries, listed documents and Registrar's decisions or orders, and certificates on matters the Registrar is authorised to certify, are issued on Form GI-7 with the prescribed fee. A certificate for registration abroad must include a copy of the geographical indication.
The Act behind these rules
Section 78 of the Act deals with public inspection of documents and indexes; our article on sections 77 to 79 of the GI Act explains it. The certificate of registration itself is under section 16; see our article on section 16 of the GI Act. Applicants who need a certified copy or a certificate often ask a geographical indication registration adviser to handle the Form GI-7.
Rule 94: inspection of documents
"The documents mentioned in sub-section (1) of section 78 shall be available for inspection at the Head office of the Geographical Indications Registry. A copy of the register and such of the other documents mentioned in section 78, as the Central Government may by notification in the Official Gazette direct, shall be available for inspection at each branch office of the Geographical Indications Registry as and when established. The inspection shall be on payment of the prescribed fee and at such times on all the days on which the offices of the Geographical Indications Registry are not closed to the public, as may be fixed by the Registrar."
| Question | Answer in rule 94 |
|---|---|
| Where | Head Office for section 78(1) documents; branch offices for a copy of the register and any other documents the Central Government notifies, as and when established |
| When | On days the offices are not closed to the public, at times fixed by the Registrar |
| Cost | The prescribed fee |
The fee is entry 12 of the First Schedule as substituted in November 2025. It has three limbs, each Rs. 100: (a) for inspecting the documents mentioned in section 78(1) relating to a particular geographical indication or authorised user, for every hour or part thereof; (b) a computer search, "when made available", for every 15 minutes; and (c) a search of the index mentioned in section 78, for every hour or part thereof. The amounts sit near the text in the printed table, so the three Rs. 100 figures are read in order from the Schedule.
Entry 13 sets the fee for copying (photocopy or typed): Rs. 10 for every page or part thereof in excess of one page, as per the First Schedule as substituted in November 2025.
Rule 95: distribution of the Journal
"The Central Government may direct the Registrar to distribute the journal and any other document which it may consider necessary, to such places as may be fixed by the Central Government in consultation with the State Governments and notified from time to time in the Official Gazette." This is a power of the Central Government; no private person has a right under it. The Journal matters because advertisements of applications, renewals and alterations appear there, and the opposition periods run from advertisement.
Rule 96: certified copies and certificates
"The Registrar may furnish certified copies of any entry in the register or certified copies of any documents referred to in sub-section (1) of section 78 or of any decision or order of the Registrar, or give a certificate other than a certificate under sub-section (2) of section 16 as to any entry, matter or thing which he is authorised or required by the Act or the rules to make or do, upon receipt from any person of an application therefor on Form GI-7 accompanied by the prescribed fee."
Four categories can be obtained:
- a certified copy of an entry in the register;
- a certified copy of any document referred to in section 78(1);
- a certified copy of any decision or order of the Registrar; and
- a certificate on any entry, matter or thing the Registrar is authorised or required to make or do, other than the certificate of registration under section 16(2).
Any person may apply ("from any person"). The word is "may": the Registrar has a discretion, but the rule is a procedure for the public to ask.
The fee is entry 7A of the First Schedule as substituted in November 2025: "on request for certificate of Registrar ", Form GI-7. It has two amounts: Rs. 300 in case of a GI application and Rs. 150 in case of an authorised user application. Entry 7F, for a duplicate or further copy of a certificate, is Rs. 200 (GI application) and Rs. 40 (authorised user application).
A drafting point in rule 96: the last sentence ends in a colon, with no proviso following. "The Registrar shall not be obliged to include in any certificate or certified copy a copy of any geographical indication unless he is furnished by the applicant with a copy thereof suitable for the purpose." If you want the representation to appear in a certified copy, supply a suitable copy.
Rule 97: certificate for use abroad
Rule 97(1): where a certificate relating to the registration of a geographical indication "is desired for use in obtaining registration in any territory outside India, the Registrar shall include in the certificate a copy of the geographical indication and may require the applicant for the certificate to furnish him with a copy of the geographical indication suitable for that purpose, and if the applicant fails to do so, the Registrar may refuse to issue the certificate."
Rule 97(2): where the indication "is registered without limitation of colour, the copy ... may be either in the colour in which it appears upon the register or in any other colour or colours and it shall be stated in the certificate that the geographical indication is registered without limitation of colour."
Rule 97(3): "The Registrar may state in the certificate such particulars concerning the application for registration or the registration of the geographical indication as may deem fit to him, and may specify the terms and conditions and other limitation appearing on the Register."
| Sub-rule | Point |
|---|---|
| (1) | Certificate includes a copy of the indication; Registrar may demand a suitable copy and refuse if not given |
| (2) | If registered without limitation of colour, the copy may be in any colour, and the certificate must say so |
| (3) | Registrar may add particulars of the application or registration and the terms, conditions and limitations on the Register |
The rule does not say how an exporter should apply. Read with rule 96, the application is on Form GI-7 with the fee. The text of rule 97 itself names no form or fee. We note this as a silence and do not assume.
For exporters planning protection in other countries, the practical step is to apply for the certificate early, supplying a clean copy of the representation. Foreign filings have their own rules, which are outside these Rules.
A note on section 69 and entry 7A: entry 7A excludes certificates "under section 69 or Section 78(1)". Section 69 is covered in our article on sections 68 to 70 of the GI Act.
An example
Zephyr Handmade Paper Association wants to register its indication in a foreign market. It applies on Form GI-7 for a certificate under rule 97, supplying a clean copy of the representation. As its indication was registered without limitation of colour, the Registrar includes the copy and states in the certificate that registration is without limitation of colour. The Association also asks for a certified copy of the Registrar's decision under rule 96 for its foreign counsel.
Points not covered
- No time is set for the Registrar to issue a certified copy or certificate.
- The rules do not say who inspects first or how many hours at a time.
Amendments made after November 2025 should be checked before acting.
Need help with certificates for exports?
If you need an official copy or a certificate for a foreign filing, the application and the supporting copy of the indication have to be right the first time. Our geographical indication registration team can prepare the Form GI-7 and coordinate the documents you need.
Key takeaways
- Rule 94: section 78(1) documents are inspected at the Head Office; branch offices hold the register copy and notified documents; fee under entry 12.
- Rule 95: the Central Government may direct distribution of the Journal.
- Rule 96: certified copies and certificates on Form GI-7; entry 7A has two amounts.
- Supply a suitable copy of the indication if you want it in the certificate.
- Rule 97: a certificate for use abroad includes a copy of the indication; colour statement where registered without limitation of colour.
- Entry 13: Rs. 10 per page after the first.
Read next
- Rule 93: form of affidavits
- Rules 98 to 101: time for appeal, certificate of validity, exhibits and records
- Sections 77 to 79 of the GI Act: indexes, public inspection and reports
- Section 16 of the GI Act: registration and certificate
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.