GI Tag News Update

The GI tag controversy surrounding cumin and fennel in Gujarat and Rajasthan has been making headlines.
Rajasthan farmers claim that Gujarat secured the GI tags through misleading claims.
Some of the key points in the dispute include:
- similar agro-climatic conditions exist in other regions of western India
- no comparative scientific study was presented to support Gujarat's claim
In other news, the launch of a direct freight train from Kolkata to Nepal is expected to boost trade between the two countries.
Additionally, researchers at Chandigarh University have developed an economical device for accurate drug absorption studies, which could help reduce the cost of medicines by 40%.
Other notable news includes the grant of an Indian patent to a Tripura musician for his innovative Tripureswari Veena and the invitation to Bangladesh's PM to attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.