Geographical Indication(GI) Tag

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14-Dec-2022: Total number of Registered Geographical Indications (GI) rise to 432

India having a diverse culture is home to various arts and crafts mastered by many generations over the years. Adding to the present collection of GIs, 09 new items from various states of India such as Gamosa of Assam, Tandur Redgram of Telangana, Raktsey Karpo Apricot of Ladakh, Alibag White Onion of Maharashtra etc. have been given the coveted GI Tags. With this the total number of GI Tags of India comes to 432. The top 5 states holding maximum number of GIs are Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. 

Several initiatives have been undertaken by DPIIT in collaboration with various stakeholders where exclusive GI products showcased Indian tradition, culture and enterprising activities under a single umbrella:

GI Pavilion (Aahar 2022) at ITPO, New Delhi for five days (26th -30th April 2022), India GI fair (26th-28th Aug 2022) was organized at the India Expo Center and Mart, Greater Noida. A weekly GI Mahotsav was conducted (16th -21st October 2022) at Trade facilitation Center, Varanasi. An exclusive GI pavilion was set up at IITF 2022 which was organized by ITPO from 14th -27th November 2022 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Further, giving a boost to build up cross-cultural societies within the country, such activities will not only promote the transfer of diverse products amongst the states but will also contribute in building a better vibrant cultural society in the future.

Recently, the Govt. has supported the promotion of GIs by approving an expenditure of Rs. 75 Crores for 03 years for promotion at awareness programmes.  

17-Mar-2022: Centre focusses on promoting exports of GI-tagged niche agricultural products

In a bid to promote exports of locally sourced Geographical Indications (GI) tagged agricultural products, Centre has been striving to identify new products and new export destinations.

While Darjeeling Tea and Basmati Rice are the two popular GI-tagged agricultural products of India, which have ready markets across the globe, there is a host of GI-tagged products in various corners of the country which have niche but loyal customers and need to be marketed properly to reach more potential buyers.

In line with Hon’ble Prime Minister’s call for ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, the Centre, through Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) has been facilitating trial shipments into new markets worldwide for products such as Kala Namak rice, Naga Mircha, Assam Kaji Nemu, Bangalore Rose Onion, Nagpur Oranges, GI varieties of Mangoes, GI-tagged Shahi Litchi, Bhalia wheat, Madurai Malli, Bardhaman Mihidana and Sitabhog, Dahanu Gholvad Sapota, Jalgaon Banana, Vazhakulam Pineapple, Marayoor Jaggery, etc.

Notable shipments of GI products in 2021 included export of Naga Mircha (King Chilli) from Nagaland to UK, Black Rice from Manipur and Assam to the United Kingdom, Assam Lemon to the United Kingdom and Italy, three GI varieties of Mango (Fazli, Khirsapati, and Laxmanbhog) from West Bengal and one GI variety of Mango (Zardalu) from Bihar to Bahrain and Qatar. Around 30 kgs of a sample shipment of Joynagar Moa, a sweetmeat delicacy from South 24 Pargana district of West Bengal was sent via Kolkata airport to Bahrain.

 Subsequent to the sample shipment, further orders for Joynagar Moa were received from Bahrain.

In a major thrust to exports of GI-tagged products from Bihar, the first shipment of 524 Kg GI tagged Shahi Litchi was exported from Muzaffarpur district of Bihar to London in May 2021. The year also witnessed the export of GI tagged Banganapalli Mango from Andhra Pradesh to South Korea.

The Government has placed great emphasis on connecting farmer producer organisations (FPOs), food producer companies (FPCs) and exporters with international business communities to create an export hub in Varanasi, especially for GI-tagged agricultural products.

To ensure GI tagged product promotion, a prime location has been identified at the departure area of Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi. In June 2021, the season’s first shipment of 1048 kg GI Tagged Malihabadi Dusseheri Mango was exported from Lucknow to the United Kingdom and UAE.

To promote the unique GI Products from the North Eastern Region such as Manipur Black Rice (Chak-Hao), Manipur Kachai Lemon, Mizo Chilli, Arunachal Orange, Meghalaya Khasi Mandarin, Assam Kaji Nemu, Karbi Anglong Ginger, Joha Rice, and Tripura Queen Pineapple, Centre through APEDA has been organising buyer-seller meets, conducting awareness and capacity building workshops with the participation of representatives of the NER States, FPOs/FPCs, Exporters, Associations, and Government Departments such as Indian Railways, AAICLAS, NAFED, DGFT, IIFPT etc.

GI products from other regions included Sangli raisins, Nagpur Orange, Dahanu Gholvad Chikoo, Marathwada Kesar Mango, Jalgaon Banana from Maharashtra, Kandhamal Turmeric from Odisha and Bangalore Rose Onion from Karnataka, Allahabad Surkha Guava, Kalanamak Rice from Uttar Pradesh, Madurai Malli from Tamil Nadu etc.

In 2020, virtual buyer-seller meets were organized with UAE and USA, two of the largest export markets for APEDA scheduled products, in association with the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Embassy of India in Washington DC.

The meet on GI products provided a platform for interaction between Indian exporters and importers of USA and UAE. The exporters were informed about the potential GI products for exports such as Basmati Rice, Mango, Pomegranates, Bangalore Rose Onions, Sangli Grapes/Raisin, Banana and products of North-Eastern Region such as Joha Rice of Assam, Black Rice (Chak-Hao), Naga Mircha, and their derived processed products. During April 2020 to March 2021, VBSMs were held with potential importing countries such as UAE, Indonesia, Kuwait Iran, Thailand, Bhutan, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, etc., for the promotion of APEDA scheduled products. Special focus was given on export of GI-tagged products.

APEDA also organized in-store promotional programmes in importing countries in association with foreign retailers such as Al-Zajira Group of Bahrain and Family Food Center of Doha, Qatar. Dispatch of samples of GI-tagged Nanjangud Banana from Karnataka to LuLu Group, UAE was also facilitated to enhance exports.

As on date, there are 417 registered GI products and of them, around 150 GI tagged products are agricultural and food products, out of which more than 100 registered GI products fall under the category of APEDA scheduled products (Cereals, Fresh Fruits and vegetables, processed products, etc.).

2-Mar-2021: TRIFED, Ministry of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with Ministry of Culture and Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration to present a 2 day- GI Mahotsav

In keeping with the Prime Minister’s vision towards  “Vocal for Local” and building an “Atmanirbhar Bharat”,  Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation Ltd (TRIFED), Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India is organizing “GI Mahotsav” in collaboration with Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie and Ministry of Culture, Government of India on 4th and 5th March 2021. More than 40 authorized sellers of identified GI products and tribal artisans will be participating and exhibiting their goods at this event which is being held in the premises of Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration (LBSNAA).

The purpose of the GI Mahotsav is the exhibition and demonstration of the various GI products from across the country in a bid to increase the awareness of these products amongst the IAS probationers and sensitize them about the rich cultural heritage of India so that they can in-turn formulate policies that safeguard the interest of GI products in their region.

The event will be a platform where the Officer Trainees can get to interact with these authorized producers and artisans and help in developing a production, branding, packaging and marketing plan for the different regions. Dr Rajani Kant, Padmashri will educate the Officer Trainees about the status of GI products across India and the process for GI tagging and also speak about the challenges faced by tribal producers and artisans in getting the tag on March 4, 2021.

On March 5, 2021, a TRIBES India outlet in LBSNAA, which will market and promote GI products, along with tribal handicrafts and produce will be inaugurated. Another highlight of the event is the launch of TRIFED jackets made in the traditional geometric Ikat weaving style practised by the weavers from Pochampally on March 5.

Besides this, there are cultural shows and a culinary festival planned to showcase tribal culture and cuisine over the two day event.

India has a rich legacy of indigenous products, be it handicrafts, handlooms, and other produce. It is in this context that Geographical Indication or GI tagging has acquired even more of an importance. Registering a geographical indication and seeking protection for specific products produced in a particular geographical region encourages the growers & artisans and motivates the marketers to expand their business both nationally & internationally. Some of the Make in India products include the world-famous Darjeeling tea, Mysore silk, Chanderi saree, Banarasi brocades, Pochampalli, varieties of spices, Orissa Patchitra, Worli painting, Araku valley coffee, Kullu shawls, Jaipur blue pottery, Naga Mircha (also known as bhutjolokia) and many more.

As the national nodal agency TRIFED has been working extensively to help market and promote the indigenous products that tribal groups across the country have been producing since centuries. TRIFED is already marketing 50 GI products and has been taking major steps to get its tribal sellers registered as authorized sellers and also add a new base of sellers as authorized sellers of the GI products. This will increase the reach of the products in terms of buyers as well as producers.

TRIFED is also working on the identification of new products that can be GI tagged and has identified about 54 such products.

TRIFED continues to working to improve the income and livelihoods of the tribal people, while preserving their way of life and traditions.

25-Jul-2020: Central govt. issues certificate of GI registration for Saffron grown in Kashmir Valley

The Union Government has issued a certificate of GI registration for Saffron grown in the Kashmir Valley in a significant decision. While expressing happiness on the development, Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu has said that this is the first major step to put Saffron produced in Kashmir Valley on the world map with authentication.

With the GI tag, Kashmir Saffron will acquire more prominence in the export market and would help the farmers get a better remunerative price. The LG has complimented Director of Agriculture in Kashmir for pursuing GI certification and said that restoring the pristine glory of Kashmir Saffron is top priority for both the Union Territory Administration as well as the Centre.

He further said that with the completion and inauguration of state of the art Spice Park next month, these measures will prove to be the game changer for Kashmir Saffron.

The GI certification establishes specific geographical origin and certifies certain unique qualities of the product and enables those who have the right to use sign in order to prevent third parties using the sign.

The GI certification would also stop the prevalent adulteration of Kashmir Saffron and thereby authenticated Saffron will fetch much better prices.

1-May-2020: Kashmir saffron gets GI tag

Kashmir saffron, which is cultivated and harvested in the Karewa (highlands) of Jammu and Kashmir, has been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry. The spice is grown in some regions of Kashmir, including Pulwama, Budgam, Kishtwar and Srinagar.

The application was filed by the Directorate of Agriculture, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, and facilitated by the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Kashmir, and Saffron Research Station, Dussu (Pampore).

Chinnaraja G. Naidu, Deputy Registrar of Geographical Indications, said, “Kashmir saffron is a very precious and costly product. Iran is the largest producer of saffron and India is a close competitor. With the GI tag, Kashmir saffron would gain more prominence in the export market,” he added.

Kashmir saffron is renowned globally as a spice. It rejuvenates health and is used in cosmetics and for medicinal purposes. It has been associated with traditional Kashmiri cuisine and represents the rich cultural heritage of the region. The unique characteristics of Kashmir saffron are its longer and thicker stigmas, natural deep-red colour, high aroma, bitter flavour, chemical-free processing, and high quantity of crocin (colouring strength), safranal (flavour) and picrocrocin (bitterness).

It is the only saffron in the world grown at an altitude of 1,600 m to 1,800 m AMSL (above mean sea level), which adds to its uniqueness and differentiates it from other saffron varieties available the world over.

The saffron available in Kashmir is of three types — ‘Lachha Saffron’, with stigmas just separated from the flowers and dried without further processing; ‘Mongra Saffron’, in which stigmas are detached from the flower, dried in the sun and processed traditionally; and ‘Guchhi Saffron’, which is the same as Lachha, except that the latter’s dried stigmas are packed loosely in air-tight containers while the former has stigmas joined together in a bundle tied with a cloth thread.

Saffron cultivation is believed to have been introduced in Kashmir by Central Asian immigrants around 1st Century BCE. In ancient Sanskrit literature, saffron is referred to as ‘bahukam’.

14-Aug-2019: ‘Panchamirtham’ of Palani temple gets GI tag

The famous Palani panchamirtham, given as ‘prasadam’ at the Murugan temple has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. This is the first time a temple ‘prasadam’ from Tamil Nadu has been bestowed with the GI tag.

The panchamirtham is a combination of five natural substances — banana, jaggery, cow ghee, honey and cardamom. Dates and diamond sugar candies are added for flavour.

The panchamirtham is an ‘abhisheka prasadam’ (food that is a religious offering), which is served in a semi-solid state. It is sweet in taste and one of the main offerings for Lord Dhandayuthapani Swamy, the presiding deity of Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, situated on Palani Hills.

Not even a single drop of water is added during the preparation of the panchamirtham. This gives it its classic semi-solid consistency and taste. No preservatives or artificial ingredients are used.

As per the GI application, the geographical area for production of panchamirtham is Palani town in Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu. It lies within latitude of 10.44 ° and longitude of 77.52 °.

According to the GI application filed, the Palani panchamirtham is prepared under the guidance given by the CFTRI (Central Food Technological Research Institute) Mysore, a government of India undertaking.

The whole process of producing the panchamirtham is automated. It is doubly ensured that the hygienic aspects are maintained. Devotees who visit the temple are offered the panchamirtham as a prasadam in the hill temple as well as in stalls run by temple administration at Adivaram. It is believed that the panchamirtham cures diseases of devotees.

30-Aug-2019: Dindigul lock, Kandangi saree get GI tag

The products — the Dindigul lock and the Kandangi saree — were given the GI tag by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai. While the application for the lock was made by the Dindigul Lock, Hardware and Steel Furniture Workers Industrial Co-operative Society Limited, the Amarar Rajeev Gandhi Handloom Weavers Co-operative Production and Sales Society Limited filed the application for the Kandangi saree.

It remains to be seen whether the GI tag will infuse fresh interest in these two products and improve their performance in the market, and thereby revive the workers dependent on these products.

The famous Dindigul locks are known throughout the world for their superior quality and durability, so much so that even the city is called Lock City. The abundance of iron in this region is the reason for the growth of the lock-making industry.

Though machine-made locks are easily available, government institutions like prisons, godowns, hospitals and even temples use the older pattern locks. These lock manufacturing units are limited to an area of 5 km in and around Dindigul. There are over 50 varieties of locks made by the artisans.

But over the last few years, this industry has been slowly dying due to competition from Aligarh and Rajapalayam. Marketing these locks has also been a challenge. A. The lock industry in Dindigul is focussed on quality than production. Aligarh replicates mechanisms from here but produces in large quantities. The GI tag will help people differentiate Dindigul locks from others. Several people have moved away from the craft due to meagre wages and waning demand. Currently, this industry is worth over ₹20 crore per annum.

The Kandangi saree, manufactured in Karaikudi taluk in Sivaganga district, is facing challenges similar to Dindigul lock’s. GI tag for the Kandangi saree will help revive lost patronage. The market is flooded with sarees that are woven in other parts of the State and look like the Kandangi saree.

The original Kandangi saree is manually made using a winding machine, loom, shuttle and bobbin. It is a team effort of the families who live in the town of Karaikudi and it forms part of their livelihood. These sarees are characterised by the large contrast borders, and some of them are known to have borders covering as much as two-thirds of the saree.

The sarees are usually around 5.10 meters – 5.60 meters in length. The Kandangi sarees exude brilliant colours like bright yellow, orange, red and a minimal black in the traditional pattern of stripes or checks with broad borders woven in coarse cotton. Over the years, more interesting colours have been introduced for the saree, which is worn in a particular manner.

30-Jul-2019: 'Odisha Rasagola' finally gets GI tag

The rasagola, a popular dessert of Odisha, has received the geographical indication tag from the Registrar of Geographical Indication after years of controversy around the sweet.

The registration was conferred to ‘Odisha Rasagola’ under Section 16(I) or of authorized Section 17(3)(c) of Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999. The GI number 612 has been registered in favour of the Odisha Small Industries Corporation Limited (OSIC Limited), a government of Odisha undertaking and Utkal Mistanna Byabasayee Samiti, a traders’ organisation, in the foodstuff category.

According to the application submitted to the Registrar of GI, ‘Odisha Rasagola’ is a sweet from the state of Odisha made of chhena (cottage cheese) cooked in sugar syrup, which is very soft to feel, is juicy and non- chewy in consistency and can be swallowed without teeth pressure.

Odisha Rasagolas are white in colour with round shape (non‐ spherical). Colour development of the ‘Odisha Rasagola’ is very specific, where without addition of external colour, various intensely-coloured rasagolas are prepared using the principle of caramelisation of sugar with specific methods of preparation. The area of production of Odisha Rasagola has been shown all 30 districts.

Both Odisha and West Bengal have been contesting the origin of the rasagola. Historical records submitted say the ‘Odisha Rasagola’ is associated with world famous Puri Jagannath Temple.

As per Record of Rights, this is the duty of Bhitarachha Sebaka. It is mentioned in Bhitarachha Sebara Niyama and published in Record of Rights, Part‐III, The Orissa Gazette, Extra‐ordinary, Law Department Notification Dated 12 October, 1955. The reference of rasagola is found in the late 15th-century Odia Ramayana written by Balaram Das. Balaram Das’s Ramayana is known as Dandi Ramayana or Jagamohana Ramayana as it was composed and sung at the Jagamohana of the Puri Temple.

19-Jun-2019: Namma Kolhapuri chappal gets GI tag

The ethnic and colourful Kolhapuri chappal is all set to get Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Authorities want to promote the made-in-Karnataka footwear here and abroad.

The approval for GI tag was jointly received by Karnataka and Maharashtra recently for making these chappals. There is a perception that these artisans are from Maharashtra alone, but a large number of them are from Karnataka, and have been making these chappals for centuries.

According to LIDKAR officials, there are 5,000 people from villages in Belagavi, Bagalkot and even Dharwad making Kolhapuri chappals at their houses. Their market is restricted to nearest towns.

As these chappals are made in both the states, Maharashtra and Karnataka jointly applied for GI tag last year and a few weeks back it was approved. With GI tag, these artisans get legal support. Anyone who is going to copy this can be punished.

These leather chappals are hand-crafted and tanned using vegetable dyes. The art of making them is passed down one generation to another. The traditional chappal making will get a modern touch.

1-Apr-2019: Odisha receives GI tag for 'Kandhamal Haldi'

'Kandhamal Haldi', a variety of turmeric indigenous to southern Odisha, has earned the Geographical indication (GI) tag from Intellectual Property India, an organisation functioning under the auspices of the Union ministry of commerce & industry.

The recognition coincided with the state's Foundation Day (Utkal Divas). Odisha, on April 1 1936, was carved out as a separate state in the then British India on a linguistic identity.

Kandhamal in Odisha's southern hinterland is famed for its turmeric, a spice that enjoys its pride of place in an array of cuisines. The agricultural product also stands out for its healing properties and arresting aroma. Last year, Kandhamal Apex Spices Association for Marketing (KASAM) had moved an application for GI tag for the locally sourced product. KASAM is a registered society involved in processing, value addition and marketing of spices and other products.

The Central Tool Room & Training Centre (CTTC) under the micro, small & medium enterprises (MSME) ministry had guided KASAM in filing the application.

The GI tag was primarily developed with the purpose of recognising the unique identity connecting different products and places. For a product to get GI tag, it has to have a unique quality, reputation or characteristic which is attributable to its geographic origin. 'Kandhamal Haldi' has been placed under Class-30 type.

Kandhamal Haldi (turmeric) has more oleo resin and volatile oil contents compared to other turmeric varieties. It gives strong aroma and has a high medicinal value.

30-Mar-2019: Five varieties of Indian coffee gets GI tag

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry has awarded the GI or Geographical Indication tag to five varieties of Indian coffee. These 5 varieties are:

  1. Coorg Arabica coffee - grown specifically in Kodagu district, Karnataka.
  2. Chikmagalur Arabica coffee – is grown particularly in Chikmagalur district and it is located in the Deccan plateau, belongs to the Malnad region of Karnataka.
  3. Wayanad Robusta coffee – is grown specifically in Wayanad district situated on the eastern portion of Kerala.
  4. Araku Valley Arabica coffee – is from the hilly tracks of Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh & Odisha.
  5. Bababudangiris Arabica coffee - is grown specifically in the birthplace of coffee in India & area is located in the central portion of Chikmagalur district. This coffee is also known as high grown coffee which slowly grows in the mild climate & thereby the bean acquires a special taste & aroma.

Earlier, the Monsoonal Malabar Robusta Coffee, a unique specialty coffee from the country, was given Geographical Indication certification.

Coffee in India is cultivated in around 4.54 lakh hectares by more than 3.66 lakh farmers, out of which 98 percent are small farmers. It is important to mention that coffee cultivation is primarily done in the Southern States of India like:

  1. Karnataka – 54 percent
  2. Kerala – 19 percent
  3. Tamil Nadu – 8 percent

Coffee is also grown in some of non-traditional regions like Andhra Pradesh, Odisha (17.2 percent) and North East States (1.8 percent).

India is the only country in the world where the entire coffee farming is done under shade, hand-picked & sun dried. The country produces some of the best coffee in the world, which is grown by tribal farmers in the Eastern and Western Ghats. Indian coffee is highly valued in the international market and is sold as premium coffee in Europe.

The recognition & protection that comes with Geographical Indication certification will let the coffee producers of the country to invest in maintaining the specific qualities of the coffee grown in that particular area. Moreover, it will also improve the visibility of Indian coffee worldwide and allow farmers to get maximum price for their premium coffee.

12-Mar-2019: Sirsi Supari gets GI tag

For the first time in the arecanut sector, ‘Sirsi Supari’ grown in Uttara Kannada has received the Geographic Indication (GI) tag. It is cultivated in Yellapura, Siddapura and Sirsi taluks.

Totgars’ Cooperative Sale Society Ltd., Sirsi, is the registered proprietor of the GI. The Registrar of Geographical Indications, under the Union government, Chennai issued the certificate to the society on March 4, 2019. Its GI number is 464.

The arecanut grown in these taluks have unique features like a round and flattened coin shape, particular texture, size, cross-sectional views, taste, etc. These features are not seen in arecanut grown in any other regions. Its average dry weight is 7.5 g and average thickness is 16 mm.

This particular variety has a unique taste due to differences in chemical composition. The total average flavonoids content in it is around 90 whereas in others it is around 80. The total carbohydrates in ‘Sirsi Supari’ are 23% to 26%, total arecoline is 0.11% to 0.13%, total tannin content is 14.5% to 17.5%.

‘Sirsi Supari’ is used both as ‘chali’ (white arecanut) and red arecanut. The ‘chali’ variety is made by peeling the ripened nuts and sun drying them later. The red arecanut is produced by harvesting the tender nuts, then boiling and colouring them, then making them into different grades and finally sun drying them.

7-Mar-2019: Marayur jaggery gets Geographical Indication tag

The Marayur jaggery has got the geographical indication (GI) tag, making it safe for consumption while rejuvenating the traditional way of production and ensuring a safe market in future.

It has been a long-term demand of farmers in Marayur and Kanthallur grama panchayats, where jaggery is produced without adding any chemicals. Though the Marayur jaggery has always been known for its high quality, fake jaggery with a salty taste was being marketed as Marayur jaggery.

It was the persistent efforts made by the Intellectual Property Rights cell, Kerala Agriculture University, from August 2016 that resulted in the jaggery receiving the GI tag which would help get more acceptance in the international market for the product. The GI tag would aid in initiating legal action against fake jaggery being sold as Marayur jaggery.

The dark brown Marayur jaggery is handmade at household units in Marayur and Kanthallur. It has high sweetness with less saltiness, high content of iron and less sodium. The produce is free of impurities and the sugar cane fields are free of chemical pesticides and fertilisers.

5-Oct-2018: GI Tag for Alphonso from Konkan

Alphonso from Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Palghar, Thane and Raigad districts of  Maharashtra, is registered as Geographical Indication (GI).  A Geographical Indication or a GI is an indication used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. Such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness which is essentially attributable to its origin in that defined geographical locality. Darjeeling Tea, Mahabaleshwar Strawberry, Blue Pottery of Jaipur, Banarasi Sarees and Tirupati Laddus are some of the GIs.

GI products can benefit the rural economy in remote areas, by supplementing the incomes of artisans, farmers, weavers and craftsmen. Our rural artisans possess unique skills and knowledge of traditional practices and methods, passed down from generation to generation, which need to be protected and promoted.

Recently, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Suresh Prabhu, launched the logo and tagline for the Geographical Indications (GI) of India and said that the GI will give the rightful share in the intellectual property to the artisan and the place of origin of the product. He emphasised that it’s an area of strength and optimism for India, whereby GI tag has given protection to a large number of hand-made and manufactured products, especially in the informal sector.

 The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has taken several initiatives in this regard and is actively involved in promotion and marketing of GIs with a vision to enhance the horizon both socially and economically for GI producers.

The king of mangoes, Alphonso, better known as ‘Hapus’ in Maharashtra, is in demand in domestic and international markets not only for its taste but also for pleasant fragrance and vibrant colour. It has long been one of the world's most popular fruit and is exported to various countries including Japan, Korea and Europe. New markets such as USA and Australia have recently opened up.

The first product to get a GI tag in India was the Darjeeling tea in 2004. There are a total of 325 products from India that carry this indication.

2-Aug-2018: Kadaknath chicken meat from Jhabua gets GI tag

The famous Kadaknath chicken meat from Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh has now got a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The tag denotes that the product comes from a particular geographical area, and often enhances its commercial value.

A Chhattisgarh-based organisation too had sought similar recognition for the Kadaknath chickens bred in Dantewada district, but Jhabua's claim seems to have prevailed.

The Gramin Vikas Trust of Krishak Bharati Cooperative (KRIBHCO) had sought GI tag for the protein-rich and black coloured meat of Kadaknath variety of chicken, which is mainly reared in Jhabua.

As per the information available on the Geographical Indications Registry, India, the application, made in the category of "Meat Product, Poultry & Poultry Meat", was approved on July 30.

The trust had applied for GI tag in 2012 on behalf of tribals of Jhabua district who breed the variety. Chhattisgarh-based Global Business Incubator Private Limited (GBIPL) had also sought GI tag for the chicken breed, claiming that the birds are bred uniquely in the state's Dantewada district.

When contacted, Dantewada collector Saurabh Kumar said they would not challenge grant of GI tag for Kadaknath meat from Jhabua, as they did not look upon this as a "commercial dispute".

1-Aug-2018: Logo and Tagline for Geographical Indications Launched

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Suresh Prabhu launched the logo and tagline for the Geographical Indications (GI) of India in New Delhi. On this occasion the Minister said that the GI logo provides an identity to a product and a tagline captures the spirit of India. It describes the bounty, labour and creativity of India’s artisans and the unique nature of products from different parts of the country. The GI will give the rightful share of intellectual property to the artisan and the place of origin of the product. It’s an area of strength and optimism for India, whereby GI tag has given protection to a large number of hand-made and manufactured products, especially in the informal sector. GI products can benefit the rural economy in remote areas, by supplementing the incomes of artisans, farmers, weavers and craftsmen. India’s rural artisans possess unique skills and knowledge of traditional practices and methods, passed down from generation to generation, which need to be protected and promoted.

The Minister further said that this will promote grass root development and give a boost to the development of districts for which 6 districts in 5 states have been selected for a pilot project. The Minister stated that he will ensure that major airports of the country have stalls displaying GI and self-help group products and discussion are also on with NABARD for setting up a portal for GI and self-help group products.

The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) had launched a Logo and a Tagline Contest for Geographical Indications of India on 18th October, 2017, through mygov.in platform. A total of 918 entries for tagline and slogan and 383 entries for logo were received and the winners of logo and tagline contest were awarded an amount of Rs 50,000 each.

The GI logo will act as a certifying mark that can be used to identify all registered GIs irrespective of the categories. The tagline अतुल्य भारत की अमूल्य निधि (Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India) represents the spirit of Geographical Indications of India and will be helpful in effective branding and promotion of GIs. This will also help in engaging more people on the subject of GIs and making them aware about the benefits of a GI tag.

31-May-2018: Six rural crafts from Bengal, including Chau masks, Madurkathi and Patachitra, get GI tag

Six rural crafts from West Bengal – Chau mask, terracotta, wooden mask, Dokra, Madurkathi (a kind of mat) and the Patachitra — have been presented with the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indication Registry and Intellectual Property India. In addition, terracotta has also achieved its own logo.

Charida village of Purulia district is famous for making Chau masks, South Dinajpur’s Kushmandi is known for wooden masks, Bankura’s Bikna and Bardhaman’s Dariyapur have already attracted global recognition for the Dokra work (identified as Dokra of Bengal), Bankura’s Panchmura is renowned for terracotta craft while both West Midnapore and East Midnapore districts are known for Madurkathi. Paschim Medinipur’s Pingla and Purba Medinipur’s Chandipur are renowned for the Patachitra work.

The GI tag will help artisans involved in these crafts to create their work under these brands that are all legally protected, and it will also help marketing the products globally.

Till now, only the crafts were getting promoted but buyers didn’t know where these were being made; they had no idea who the artists were. The GI tag will not only highlight the craft but also it will bring global recognition to the artists and small villages involved in the making of these crafts.

Back in 2004, Bhattacharya and his team had started an initiative “Art of Life” with the message – “without the artists, craft can’t survive”. The campaign mainly focused on three issues – capacity building of artists, reinforcing a direct market linkage with the artists and promoting the craft, artists and the villages simultaneously.

Later in 2013, Government of West Bengal’s Department of micro, small and medium enterprises & Textiles (MSME&T), West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board in collaboration with The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) came on board establishing ten ‘Rural Craft Hub’ with 3,000 people. Three years later, it was expanded as ‘Rural Craft and Cultural Hub’ with 12,000 more people enrolling themselves in the hub.

Also, the government of West Bengal created a retail platform – Biswa Bangla- for the artists to promote their crafts which prompted many interested people to visit the villages involved in making and buying the crafts.

18-Apr-2018: Adilabad Dokra and Warangal Durries get GI tag

Two craft forms that are unique to Telangana were recently granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the GI registry in Chennai.

Adilabad Dokra: An ancient metal craft that is popular in the state’s tribal regions. The uniqueness of this art form is that no two sculptures are the same, as they are not made out of a pre-designed cast. The craftsmen of this art form belong to the Woj community, commonly referred to as Wojaris or Ohjas in the rural areas of Telangana. They use brass as their main material and an ancient casting technique called ‘cire perdue’. As part of this technique, the craftsmen use clay and design a model of the sculpture that they want to create. They wrap the clay with wax threads before baking the mould, so that the wax melts away and the molten metal is poured into the mould. The common items made by the craftsmen include small idols and statues of tribal deities, jewellery, bells, small-scale animal sculptures and others.

Warangal durries: In this style of durries, weavers create beautiful patterns and dye them using vegetable colours, which are washed in flowing water after the printing process. Warangal district became a renowned hub for weaving these rugs due to the availability of cotton, which is grown by farmers in the area.

29-Mar-2018: Kadaknath chicken gets GI tag

Madhya Pradesh has won the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Kadaknath, a black-feathered chicken known for its flavourful meat and found mainly in the tribal district of Jhabua, trumping Chhattisgarh’s claim over the breed.

The GI certification for the chicken was notified in GI Journal No 104 dated March 28. The GI tag will ensure that no one else can use the name Kadaknath while selling any other black chicken and will also translate into higher prices for producers.

Madhya Pradesh filed an application with the GI registry office in 2012 and the Chhattisgarh government filed its claim in 2017. The news that Chhattisgarh too had applied for the same GI tag had alarmed the Madhya Pradesh government, which redoubled its efforts to ensure its variety won.

Kadaknath is in demand not only because of its taste but also due to its low cholesterol and high protein content. It sells at about Rs 500 per kg, which is around five times the price of normal broiler chicken.

23-odd cooperatives formed by tribes, or more than 500 people, are engaged in breeding of these birds. MP Govt. has plans to provide loans to all these cooperatives so that they can purchase hatching machines and increase production.

The GI registry recently dismissed Madhya Pradesh’s plea for inclusion of basmati rice grown in the central Indian state.

1-Jan-2018: Nilambur teak gets GI tag

Nilambur teak(Malabar teak) has found its place in the Geographical Indications (GI) Registry. The golden brown teak is known for its log dimensions, desired wood figure and wide reputation in the world of trade.

Malabar teak had reportedly found a place in the construction of the Buckingham Palace, the Ka'ba building in Mecca, the legendary Titanic and even in the interior of Rolls Royce cars. The main challenge before the state government and the teak cultivators is to protect the variety from other teak varieties.

A good number of teak wood carrying the tag of Nilambur teak are not genuine as unscrupulous merchants sell teak brought from other parts of the state in the guise of Nilambur teak. Therefore, the society which took the initiative for registration under the guidance of the IPR cell and the state government should ensure or mark the teak sourced from the Nilambur teak forest as genuine in order to make sure the customers do not fall prey to fraudsters. Further, if a niche market is exclusively developed for the Nilambur teak, the growers will benefit from the legacy of the teak. Nilambur teak is famous for its larger size, superior colour and durability.

Its durability is attributed to the synergistic effect of total extensive components and the resistance to fungal decay to naphthoquinone and derivatives it contains. The hydrophobicity, anti-oxidant properties and oily nature are due to a caoutchouc compound. The superiority of teak from this area used for shipbuilding and structural purposes have earned reputation world over and it is believed the Nilambur-Shoranur railway line itself was laid by the Britishers to transport teak logs.

According to the data available with the GI registry, about 5,000 including Kerala Forest Department cultivators are involved in Nilambur teak cultivation and preparation of its products in the Nilambur region. The annual turnover of the Nilambur teak is Rs 35 crore. It fetches Rs 4,600-4,800 for B2 quality log and Rs 2,800-3,100 for B3 quality per cubic feet, while the teakwood from other parts of the state can be sold at a cheaper price — Rs 1,000-1,500 less than Nilambur teak.

The KAU has already helped acquire GI registration for as many as eight indigenous agriculture products. Nilambur teak is the teak wood obtained from the forest areas, plantations and homesteads in Nilambur Taluk and the nearby panchayat of Edavanna in Eranad Taluk in Malappuram.

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14-Dec-2022: Total number of Registered Geographical Indications (GI) rise to 432

India having a diverse culture is home to various arts and crafts mastered by many generations over the years. Adding to the present collection of GIs, 09 new items from various states of India such as Gamosa of Assam, Tandur Redgram of Telangana, Raktsey Karpo Apricot of Ladakh, Alibag White Onion of Maharashtra etc. have been given the coveted GI Tags. With this the total number of GI Tags of India comes to 432. The top 5 states holding maximum number of GIs are Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. 

Several initiatives have been undertaken by DPIIT in collaboration with various stakeholders where exclusive GI products showcased Indian tradition, culture and enterprising activities under a single umbrella:

GI Pavilion (Aahar 2022) at ITPO, New Delhi for five days (26th -30th April 2022), India GI fair (26th-28th Aug 2022) was organized at the India Expo Center and Mart, Greater Noida. A weekly GI Mahotsav was conducted (16th -21st October 2022) at Trade facilitation Center, Varanasi. An exclusive GI pavilion was set up at IITF 2022 which was organized by ITPO from 14th -27th November 2022 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Further, giving a boost to build up cross-cultural societies within the country, such activities will not only promote the transfer of diverse products amongst the states but will also contribute in building a better vibrant cultural society in the future.

Recently, the Govt. has supported the promotion of GIs by approving an expenditure of Rs. 75 Crores for 03 years for promotion at awareness programmes.  

17-Mar-2022: Centre focusses on promoting exports of GI-tagged niche agricultural products

In a bid to promote exports of locally sourced Geographical Indications (GI) tagged agricultural products, Centre has been striving to identify new products and new export destinations.

While Darjeeling Tea and Basmati Rice are the two popular GI-tagged agricultural products of India, which have ready markets across the globe, there is a host of GI-tagged products in various corners of the country which have niche but loyal customers and need to be marketed properly to reach more potential buyers.

In line with Hon’ble Prime Minister’s call for ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, the Centre, through Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) has been facilitating trial shipments into new markets worldwide for products such as Kala Namak rice, Naga Mircha, Assam Kaji Nemu, Bangalore Rose Onion, Nagpur Oranges, GI varieties of Mangoes, GI-tagged Shahi Litchi, Bhalia wheat, Madurai Malli, Bardhaman Mihidana and Sitabhog, Dahanu Gholvad Sapota, Jalgaon Banana, Vazhakulam Pineapple, Marayoor Jaggery, etc.

Notable shipments of GI products in 2021 included export of Naga Mircha (King Chilli) from Nagaland to UK, Black Rice from Manipur and Assam to the United Kingdom, Assam Lemon to the United Kingdom and Italy, three GI varieties of Mango (Fazli, Khirsapati, and Laxmanbhog) from West Bengal and one GI variety of Mango (Zardalu) from Bihar to Bahrain and Qatar. Around 30 kgs of a sample shipment of Joynagar Moa, a sweetmeat delicacy from South 24 Pargana district of West Bengal was sent via Kolkata airport to Bahrain.

 Subsequent to the sample shipment, further orders for Joynagar Moa were received from Bahrain.

In a major thrust to exports of GI-tagged products from Bihar, the first shipment of 524 Kg GI tagged Shahi Litchi was exported from Muzaffarpur district of Bihar to London in May 2021. The year also witnessed the export of GI tagged Banganapalli Mango from Andhra Pradesh to South Korea.

The Government has placed great emphasis on connecting farmer producer organisations (FPOs), food producer companies (FPCs) and exporters with international business communities to create an export hub in Varanasi, especially for GI-tagged agricultural products.

To ensure GI tagged product promotion, a prime location has been identified at the departure area of Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi. In June 2021, the season’s first shipment of 1048 kg GI Tagged Malihabadi Dusseheri Mango was exported from Lucknow to the United Kingdom and UAE.

To promote the unique GI Products from the North Eastern Region such as Manipur Black Rice (Chak-Hao), Manipur Kachai Lemon, Mizo Chilli, Arunachal Orange, Meghalaya Khasi Mandarin, Assam Kaji Nemu, Karbi Anglong Ginger, Joha Rice, and Tripura Queen Pineapple, Centre through APEDA has been organising buyer-seller meets, conducting awareness and capacity building workshops with the participation of representatives of the NER States, FPOs/FPCs, Exporters, Associations, and Government Departments such as Indian Railways, AAICLAS, NAFED, DGFT, IIFPT etc.

GI products from other regions included Sangli raisins, Nagpur Orange, Dahanu Gholvad Chikoo, Marathwada Kesar Mango, Jalgaon Banana from Maharashtra, Kandhamal Turmeric from Odisha and Bangalore Rose Onion from Karnataka, Allahabad Surkha Guava, Kalanamak Rice from Uttar Pradesh, Madurai Malli from Tamil Nadu etc.

In 2020, virtual buyer-seller meets were organized with UAE and USA, two of the largest export markets for APEDA scheduled products, in association with the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Embassy of India in Washington DC.

The meet on GI products provided a platform for interaction between Indian exporters and importers of USA and UAE. The exporters were informed about the potential GI products for exports such as Basmati Rice, Mango, Pomegranates, Bangalore Rose Onions, Sangli Grapes/Raisin, Banana and products of North-Eastern Region such as Joha Rice of Assam, Black Rice (Chak-Hao), Naga Mircha, and their derived processed products. During April 2020 to March 2021, VBSMs were held with potential importing countries such as UAE, Indonesia, Kuwait Iran, Thailand, Bhutan, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, etc., for the promotion of APEDA scheduled products. Special focus was given on export of GI-tagged products.

APEDA also organized in-store promotional programmes in importing countries in association with foreign retailers such as Al-Zajira Group of Bahrain and Family Food Center of Doha, Qatar. Dispatch of samples of GI-tagged Nanjangud Banana from Karnataka to LuLu Group, UAE was also facilitated to enhance exports.

As on date, there are 417 registered GI products and of them, around 150 GI tagged products are agricultural and food products, out of which more than 100 registered GI products fall under the category of APEDA scheduled products (Cereals, Fresh Fruits and vegetables, processed products, etc.).

2-Mar-2021: TRIFED, Ministry of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with Ministry of Culture and Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration to present a 2 day- GI Mahotsav

In keeping with the Prime Minister’s vision towards  “Vocal for Local” and building an “Atmanirbhar Bharat”,  Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation Ltd (TRIFED), Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India is organizing “GI Mahotsav” in collaboration with Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie and Ministry of Culture, Government of India on 4th and 5th March 2021. More than 40 authorized sellers of identified GI products and tribal artisans will be participating and exhibiting their goods at this event which is being held in the premises of Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration (LBSNAA).

The purpose of the GI Mahotsav is the exhibition and demonstration of the various GI products from across the country in a bid to increase the awareness of these products amongst the IAS probationers and sensitize them about the rich cultural heritage of India so that they can in-turn formulate policies that safeguard the interest of GI products in their region.

The event will be a platform where the Officer Trainees can get to interact with these authorized producers and artisans and help in developing a production, branding, packaging and marketing plan for the different regions. Dr Rajani Kant, Padmashri will educate the Officer Trainees about the status of GI products across India and the process for GI tagging and also speak about the challenges faced by tribal producers and artisans in getting the tag on March 4, 2021.

On March 5, 2021, a TRIBES India outlet in LBSNAA, which will market and promote GI products, along with tribal handicrafts and produce will be inaugurated. Another highlight of the event is the launch of TRIFED jackets made in the traditional geometric Ikat weaving style practised by the weavers from Pochampally on March 5.

Besides this, there are cultural shows and a culinary festival planned to showcase tribal culture and cuisine over the two day event.

India has a rich legacy of indigenous products, be it handicrafts, handlooms, and other produce. It is in this context that Geographical Indication or GI tagging has acquired even more of an importance. Registering a geographical indication and seeking protection for specific products produced in a particular geographical region encourages the growers & artisans and motivates the marketers to expand their business both nationally & internationally. Some of the Make in India products include the world-famous Darjeeling tea, Mysore silk, Chanderi saree, Banarasi brocades, Pochampalli, varieties of spices, Orissa Patchitra, Worli painting, Araku valley coffee, Kullu shawls, Jaipur blue pottery, Naga Mircha (also known as bhutjolokia) and many more.

As the national nodal agency TRIFED has been working extensively to help market and promote the indigenous products that tribal groups across the country have been producing since centuries. TRIFED is already marketing 50 GI products and has been taking major steps to get its tribal sellers registered as authorized sellers and also add a new base of sellers as authorized sellers of the GI products. This will increase the reach of the products in terms of buyers as well as producers.

TRIFED is also working on the identification of new products that can be GI tagged and has identified about 54 such products.

TRIFED continues to working to improve the income and livelihoods of the tribal people, while preserving their way of life and traditions.

25-Jul-2020: Central govt. issues certificate of GI registration for Saffron grown in Kashmir Valley

The Union Government has issued a certificate of GI registration for Saffron grown in the Kashmir Valley in a significant decision. While expressing happiness on the development, Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu has said that this is the first major step to put Saffron produced in Kashmir Valley on the world map with authentication.

With the GI tag, Kashmir Saffron will acquire more prominence in the export market and would help the farmers get a better remunerative price. The LG has complimented Director of Agriculture in Kashmir for pursuing GI certification and said that restoring the pristine glory of Kashmir Saffron is top priority for both the Union Territory Administration as well as the Centre.

He further said that with the completion and inauguration of state of the art Spice Park next month, these measures will prove to be the game changer for Kashmir Saffron.

The GI certification establishes specific geographical origin and certifies certain unique qualities of the product and enables those who have the right to use sign in order to prevent third parties using the sign.

The GI certification would also stop the prevalent adulteration of Kashmir Saffron and thereby authenticated Saffron will fetch much better prices.

1-May-2020: Kashmir saffron gets GI tag

Kashmir saffron, which is cultivated and harvested in the Karewa (highlands) of Jammu and Kashmir, has been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry. The spice is grown in some regions of Kashmir, including Pulwama, Budgam, Kishtwar and Srinagar.

The application was filed by the Directorate of Agriculture, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, and facilitated by the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Kashmir, and Saffron Research Station, Dussu (Pampore).

Chinnaraja G. Naidu, Deputy Registrar of Geographical Indications, said, “Kashmir saffron is a very precious and costly product. Iran is the largest producer of saffron and India is a close competitor. With the GI tag, Kashmir saffron would gain more prominence in the export market,” he added.

Kashmir saffron is renowned globally as a spice. It rejuvenates health and is used in cosmetics and for medicinal purposes. It has been associated with traditional Kashmiri cuisine and represents the rich cultural heritage of the region. The unique characteristics of Kashmir saffron are its longer and thicker stigmas, natural deep-red colour, high aroma, bitter flavour, chemical-free processing, and high quantity of crocin (colouring strength), safranal (flavour) and picrocrocin (bitterness).

It is the only saffron in the world grown at an altitude of 1,600 m to 1,800 m AMSL (above mean sea level), which adds to its uniqueness and differentiates it from other saffron varieties available the world over.

The saffron available in Kashmir is of three types — ‘Lachha Saffron’, with stigmas just separated from the flowers and dried without further processing; ‘Mongra Saffron’, in which stigmas are detached from the flower, dried in the sun and processed traditionally; and ‘Guchhi Saffron’, which is the same as Lachha, except that the latter’s dried stigmas are packed loosely in air-tight containers while the former has stigmas joined together in a bundle tied with a cloth thread.

Saffron cultivation is believed to have been introduced in Kashmir by Central Asian immigrants around 1st Century BCE. In ancient Sanskrit literature, saffron is referred to as ‘bahukam’.

14-Aug-2019: ‘Panchamirtham’ of Palani temple gets GI tag

The famous Palani panchamirtham, given as ‘prasadam’ at the Murugan temple has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. This is the first time a temple ‘prasadam’ from Tamil Nadu has been bestowed with the GI tag.

The panchamirtham is a combination of five natural substances — banana, jaggery, cow ghee, honey and cardamom. Dates and diamond sugar candies are added for flavour.

The panchamirtham is an ‘abhisheka prasadam’ (food that is a religious offering), which is served in a semi-solid state. It is sweet in taste and one of the main offerings for Lord Dhandayuthapani Swamy, the presiding deity of Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, situated on Palani Hills.

Not even a single drop of water is added during the preparation of the panchamirtham. This gives it its classic semi-solid consistency and taste. No preservatives or artificial ingredients are used.

As per the GI application, the geographical area for production of panchamirtham is Palani town in Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu. It lies within latitude of 10.44 ° and longitude of 77.52 °.

According to the GI application filed, the Palani panchamirtham is prepared under the guidance given by the CFTRI (Central Food Technological Research Institute) Mysore, a government of India undertaking.

The whole process of producing the panchamirtham is automated. It is doubly ensured that the hygienic aspects are maintained. Devotees who visit the temple are offered the panchamirtham as a prasadam in the hill temple as well as in stalls run by temple administration at Adivaram. It is believed that the panchamirtham cures diseases of devotees.

30-Aug-2019: Dindigul lock, Kandangi saree get GI tag

The products — the Dindigul lock and the Kandangi saree — were given the GI tag by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai. While the application for the lock was made by the Dindigul Lock, Hardware and Steel Furniture Workers Industrial Co-operative Society Limited, the Amarar Rajeev Gandhi Handloom Weavers Co-operative Production and Sales Society Limited filed the application for the Kandangi saree.

It remains to be seen whether the GI tag will infuse fresh interest in these two products and improve their performance in the market, and thereby revive the workers dependent on these products.

The famous Dindigul locks are known throughout the world for their superior quality and durability, so much so that even the city is called Lock City. The abundance of iron in this region is the reason for the growth of the lock-making industry.

Though machine-made locks are easily available, government institutions like prisons, godowns, hospitals and even temples use the older pattern locks. These lock manufacturing units are limited to an area of 5 km in and around Dindigul. There are over 50 varieties of locks made by the artisans.

But over the last few years, this industry has been slowly dying due to competition from Aligarh and Rajapalayam. Marketing these locks has also been a challenge. A. The lock industry in Dindigul is focussed on quality than production. Aligarh replicates mechanisms from here but produces in large quantities. The GI tag will help people differentiate Dindigul locks from others. Several people have moved away from the craft due to meagre wages and waning demand. Currently, this industry is worth over ₹20 crore per annum.

The Kandangi saree, manufactured in Karaikudi taluk in Sivaganga district, is facing challenges similar to Dindigul lock’s. GI tag for the Kandangi saree will help revive lost patronage. The market is flooded with sarees that are woven in other parts of the State and look like the Kandangi saree.

The original Kandangi saree is manually made using a winding machine, loom, shuttle and bobbin. It is a team effort of the families who live in the town of Karaikudi and it forms part of their livelihood. These sarees are characterised by the large contrast borders, and some of them are known to have borders covering as much as two-thirds of the saree.

The sarees are usually around 5.10 meters – 5.60 meters in length. The Kandangi sarees exude brilliant colours like bright yellow, orange, red and a minimal black in the traditional pattern of stripes or checks with broad borders woven in coarse cotton. Over the years, more interesting colours have been introduced for the saree, which is worn in a particular manner.

30-Jul-2019: 'Odisha Rasagola' finally gets GI tag

The rasagola, a popular dessert of Odisha, has received the geographical indication tag from the Registrar of Geographical Indication after years of controversy around the sweet.

The registration was conferred to ‘Odisha Rasagola’ under Section 16(I) or of authorized Section 17(3)(c) of Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999. The GI number 612 has been registered in favour of the Odisha Small Industries Corporation Limited (OSIC Limited), a government of Odisha undertaking and Utkal Mistanna Byabasayee Samiti, a traders’ organisation, in the foodstuff category.

According to the application submitted to the Registrar of GI, ‘Odisha Rasagola’ is a sweet from the state of Odisha made of chhena (cottage cheese) cooked in sugar syrup, which is very soft to feel, is juicy and non- chewy in consistency and can be swallowed without teeth pressure.

Odisha Rasagolas are white in colour with round shape (non‐ spherical). Colour development of the ‘Odisha Rasagola’ is very specific, where without addition of external colour, various intensely-coloured rasagolas are prepared using the principle of caramelisation of sugar with specific methods of preparation. The area of production of Odisha Rasagola has been shown all 30 districts.

Both Odisha and West Bengal have been contesting the origin of the rasagola. Historical records submitted say the ‘Odisha Rasagola’ is associated with world famous Puri Jagannath Temple.

As per Record of Rights, this is the duty of Bhitarachha Sebaka. It is mentioned in Bhitarachha Sebara Niyama and published in Record of Rights, Part‐III, The Orissa Gazette, Extra‐ordinary, Law Department Notification Dated 12 October, 1955. The reference of rasagola is found in the late 15th-century Odia Ramayana written by Balaram Das. Balaram Das’s Ramayana is known as Dandi Ramayana or Jagamohana Ramayana as it was composed and sung at the Jagamohana of the Puri Temple.

19-Jun-2019: Namma Kolhapuri chappal gets GI tag

The ethnic and colourful Kolhapuri chappal is all set to get Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Authorities want to promote the made-in-Karnataka footwear here and abroad.

The approval for GI tag was jointly received by Karnataka and Maharashtra recently for making these chappals. There is a perception that these artisans are from Maharashtra alone, but a large number of them are from Karnataka, and have been making these chappals for centuries.

According to LIDKAR officials, there are 5,000 people from villages in Belagavi, Bagalkot and even Dharwad making Kolhapuri chappals at their houses. Their market is restricted to nearest towns.

As these chappals are made in both the states, Maharashtra and Karnataka jointly applied for GI tag last year and a few weeks back it was approved. With GI tag, these artisans get legal support. Anyone who is going to copy this can be punished.

These leather chappals are hand-crafted and tanned using vegetable dyes. The art of making them is passed down one generation to another. The traditional chappal making will get a modern touch.

1-Apr-2019: Odisha receives GI tag for 'Kandhamal Haldi'

'Kandhamal Haldi', a variety of turmeric indigenous to southern Odisha, has earned the Geographical indication (GI) tag from Intellectual Property India, an organisation functioning under the auspices of the Union ministry of commerce & industry.

The recognition coincided with the state's Foundation Day (Utkal Divas). Odisha, on April 1 1936, was carved out as a separate state in the then British India on a linguistic identity.

Kandhamal in Odisha's southern hinterland is famed for its turmeric, a spice that enjoys its pride of place in an array of cuisines. The agricultural product also stands out for its healing properties and arresting aroma. Last year, Kandhamal Apex Spices Association for Marketing (KASAM) had moved an application for GI tag for the locally sourced product. KASAM is a registered society involved in processing, value addition and marketing of spices and other products.

The Central Tool Room & Training Centre (CTTC) under the micro, small & medium enterprises (MSME) ministry had guided KASAM in filing the application.

The GI tag was primarily developed with the purpose of recognising the unique identity connecting different products and places. For a product to get GI tag, it has to have a unique quality, reputation or characteristic which is attributable to its geographic origin. 'Kandhamal Haldi' has been placed under Class-30 type.

Kandhamal Haldi (turmeric) has more oleo resin and volatile oil contents compared to other turmeric varieties. It gives strong aroma and has a high medicinal value.

30-Mar-2019: Five varieties of Indian coffee gets GI tag

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry has awarded the GI or Geographical Indication tag to five varieties of Indian coffee. These 5 varieties are:

  1. Coorg Arabica coffee - grown specifically in Kodagu district, Karnataka.
  2. Chikmagalur Arabica coffee – is grown particularly in Chikmagalur district and it is located in the Deccan plateau, belongs to the Malnad region of Karnataka.
  3. Wayanad Robusta coffee – is grown specifically in Wayanad district situated on the eastern portion of Kerala.
  4. Araku Valley Arabica coffee – is from the hilly tracks of Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh & Odisha.
  5. Bababudangiris Arabica coffee - is grown specifically in the birthplace of coffee in India & area is located in the central portion of Chikmagalur district. This coffee is also known as high grown coffee which slowly grows in the mild climate & thereby the bean acquires a special taste & aroma.

Earlier, the Monsoonal Malabar Robusta Coffee, a unique specialty coffee from the country, was given Geographical Indication certification.

Coffee in India is cultivated in around 4.54 lakh hectares by more than 3.66 lakh farmers, out of which 98 percent are small farmers. It is important to mention that coffee cultivation is primarily done in the Southern States of India like:

  1. Karnataka – 54 percent
  2. Kerala – 19 percent
  3. Tamil Nadu – 8 percent

Coffee is also grown in some of non-traditional regions like Andhra Pradesh, Odisha (17.2 percent) and North East States (1.8 percent).

India is the only country in the world where the entire coffee farming is done under shade, hand-picked & sun dried. The country produces some of the best coffee in the world, which is grown by tribal farmers in the Eastern and Western Ghats. Indian coffee is highly valued in the international market and is sold as premium coffee in Europe.

The recognition & protection that comes with Geographical Indication certification will let the coffee producers of the country to invest in maintaining the specific qualities of the coffee grown in that particular area. Moreover, it will also improve the visibility of Indian coffee worldwide and allow farmers to get maximum price for their premium coffee.

12-Mar-2019: Sirsi Supari gets GI tag

For the first time in the arecanut sector, ‘Sirsi Supari’ grown in Uttara Kannada has received the Geographic Indication (GI) tag. It is cultivated in Yellapura, Siddapura and Sirsi taluks.

Totgars’ Cooperative Sale Society Ltd., Sirsi, is the registered proprietor of the GI. The Registrar of Geographical Indications, under the Union government, Chennai issued the certificate to the society on March 4, 2019. Its GI number is 464.

The arecanut grown in these taluks have unique features like a round and flattened coin shape, particular texture, size, cross-sectional views, taste, etc. These features are not seen in arecanut grown in any other regions. Its average dry weight is 7.5 g and average thickness is 16 mm.

This particular variety has a unique taste due to differences in chemical composition. The total average flavonoids content in it is around 90 whereas in others it is around 80. The total carbohydrates in ‘Sirsi Supari’ are 23% to 26%, total arecoline is 0.11% to 0.13%, total tannin content is 14.5% to 17.5%.

‘Sirsi Supari’ is used both as ‘chali’ (white arecanut) and red arecanut. The ‘chali’ variety is made by peeling the ripened nuts and sun drying them later. The red arecanut is produced by harvesting the tender nuts, then boiling and colouring them, then making them into different grades and finally sun drying them.

7-Mar-2019: Marayur jaggery gets Geographical Indication tag

The Marayur jaggery has got the geographical indication (GI) tag, making it safe for consumption while rejuvenating the traditional way of production and ensuring a safe market in future.

It has been a long-term demand of farmers in Marayur and Kanthallur grama panchayats, where jaggery is produced without adding any chemicals. Though the Marayur jaggery has always been known for its high quality, fake jaggery with a salty taste was being marketed as Marayur jaggery.

It was the persistent efforts made by the Intellectual Property Rights cell, Kerala Agriculture University, from August 2016 that resulted in the jaggery receiving the GI tag which would help get more acceptance in the international market for the product. The GI tag would aid in initiating legal action against fake jaggery being sold as Marayur jaggery.

The dark brown Marayur jaggery is handmade at household units in Marayur and Kanthallur. It has high sweetness with less saltiness, high content of iron and less sodium. The produce is free of impurities and the sugar cane fields are free of chemical pesticides and fertilisers.

5-Oct-2018: GI Tag for Alphonso from Konkan

Alphonso from Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Palghar, Thane and Raigad districts of  Maharashtra, is registered as Geographical Indication (GI).  A Geographical Indication or a GI is an indication used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. Such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness which is essentially attributable to its origin in that defined geographical locality. Darjeeling Tea, Mahabaleshwar Strawberry, Blue Pottery of Jaipur, Banarasi Sarees and Tirupati Laddus are some of the GIs.

GI products can benefit the rural economy in remote areas, by supplementing the incomes of artisans, farmers, weavers and craftsmen. Our rural artisans possess unique skills and knowledge of traditional practices and methods, passed down from generation to generation, which need to be protected and promoted.

Recently, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Suresh Prabhu, launched the logo and tagline for the Geographical Indications (GI) of India and said that the GI will give the rightful share in the intellectual property to the artisan and the place of origin of the product. He emphasised that it’s an area of strength and optimism for India, whereby GI tag has given protection to a large number of hand-made and manufactured products, especially in the informal sector.

 The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has taken several initiatives in this regard and is actively involved in promotion and marketing of GIs with a vision to enhance the horizon both socially and economically for GI producers.

The king of mangoes, Alphonso, better known as ‘Hapus’ in Maharashtra, is in demand in domestic and international markets not only for its taste but also for pleasant fragrance and vibrant colour. It has long been one of the world's most popular fruit and is exported to various countries including Japan, Korea and Europe. New markets such as USA and Australia have recently opened up.

The first product to get a GI tag in India was the Darjeeling tea in 2004. There are a total of 325 products from India that carry this indication.

2-Aug-2018: Kadaknath chicken meat from Jhabua gets GI tag

The famous Kadaknath chicken meat from Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh has now got a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The tag denotes that the product comes from a particular geographical area, and often enhances its commercial value.

A Chhattisgarh-based organisation too had sought similar recognition for the Kadaknath chickens bred in Dantewada district, but Jhabua's claim seems to have prevailed.

The Gramin Vikas Trust of Krishak Bharati Cooperative (KRIBHCO) had sought GI tag for the protein-rich and black coloured meat of Kadaknath variety of chicken, which is mainly reared in Jhabua.

As per the information available on the Geographical Indications Registry, India, the application, made in the category of "Meat Product, Poultry & Poultry Meat", was approved on July 30.

The trust had applied for GI tag in 2012 on behalf of tribals of Jhabua district who breed the variety. Chhattisgarh-based Global Business Incubator Private Limited (GBIPL) had also sought GI tag for the chicken breed, claiming that the birds are bred uniquely in the state's Dantewada district.

When contacted, Dantewada collector Saurabh Kumar said they would not challenge grant of GI tag for Kadaknath meat from Jhabua, as they did not look upon this as a "commercial dispute".

1-Aug-2018: Logo and Tagline for Geographical Indications Launched

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Suresh Prabhu launched the logo and tagline for the Geographical Indications (GI) of India in New Delhi. On this occasion the Minister said that the GI logo provides an identity to a product and a tagline captures the spirit of India. It describes the bounty, labour and creativity of India’s artisans and the unique nature of products from different parts of the country. The GI will give the rightful share of intellectual property to the artisan and the place of origin of the product. It’s an area of strength and optimism for India, whereby GI tag has given protection to a large number of hand-made and manufactured products, especially in the informal sector. GI products can benefit the rural economy in remote areas, by supplementing the incomes of artisans, farmers, weavers and craftsmen. India’s rural artisans possess unique skills and knowledge of traditional practices and methods, passed down from generation to generation, which need to be protected and promoted.

The Minister further said that this will promote grass root development and give a boost to the development of districts for which 6 districts in 5 states have been selected for a pilot project. The Minister stated that he will ensure that major airports of the country have stalls displaying GI and self-help group products and discussion are also on with NABARD for setting up a portal for GI and self-help group products.

The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) had launched a Logo and a Tagline Contest for Geographical Indications of India on 18th October, 2017, through mygov.in platform. A total of 918 entries for tagline and slogan and 383 entries for logo were received and the winners of logo and tagline contest were awarded an amount of Rs 50,000 each.

The GI logo will act as a certifying mark that can be used to identify all registered GIs irrespective of the categories. The tagline अतुल्य भारत की अमूल्य निधि (Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India) represents the spirit of Geographical Indications of India and will be helpful in effective branding and promotion of GIs. This will also help in engaging more people on the subject of GIs and making them aware about the benefits of a GI tag.

31-May-2018: Six rural crafts from Bengal, including Chau masks, Madurkathi and Patachitra, get GI tag

Six rural crafts from West Bengal – Chau mask, terracotta, wooden mask, Dokra, Madurkathi (a kind of mat) and the Patachitra — have been presented with the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indication Registry and Intellectual Property India. In addition, terracotta has also achieved its own logo.

Charida village of Purulia district is famous for making Chau masks, South Dinajpur’s Kushmandi is known for wooden masks, Bankura’s Bikna and Bardhaman’s Dariyapur have already attracted global recognition for the Dokra work (identified as Dokra of Bengal), Bankura’s Panchmura is renowned for terracotta craft while both West Midnapore and East Midnapore districts are known for Madurkathi. Paschim Medinipur’s Pingla and Purba Medinipur’s Chandipur are renowned for the Patachitra work.

The GI tag will help artisans involved in these crafts to create their work under these brands that are all legally protected, and it will also help marketing the products globally.

Till now, only the crafts were getting promoted but buyers didn’t know where these were being made; they had no idea who the artists were. The GI tag will not only highlight the craft but also it will bring global recognition to the artists and small villages involved in the making of these crafts.

Back in 2004, Bhattacharya and his team had started an initiative “Art of Life” with the message – “without the artists, craft can’t survive”. The campaign mainly focused on three issues – capacity building of artists, reinforcing a direct market linkage with the artists and promoting the craft, artists and the villages simultaneously.

Later in 2013, Government of West Bengal’s Department of micro, small and medium enterprises & Textiles (MSME&T), West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board in collaboration with The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) came on board establishing ten ‘Rural Craft Hub’ with 3,000 people. Three years later, it was expanded as ‘Rural Craft and Cultural Hub’ with 12,000 more people enrolling themselves in the hub.

Also, the government of West Bengal created a retail platform – Biswa Bangla- for the artists to promote their crafts which prompted many interested people to visit the villages involved in making and buying the crafts.

18-Apr-2018: Adilabad Dokra and Warangal Durries get GI tag

Two craft forms that are unique to Telangana were recently granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the GI registry in Chennai.

Adilabad Dokra: An ancient metal craft that is popular in the state’s tribal regions. The uniqueness of this art form is that no two sculptures are the same, as they are not made out of a pre-designed cast. The craftsmen of this art form belong to the Woj community, commonly referred to as Wojaris or Ohjas in the rural areas of Telangana. They use brass as their main material and an ancient casting technique called ‘cire perdue’. As part of this technique, the craftsmen use clay and design a model of the sculpture that they want to create. They wrap the clay with wax threads before baking the mould, so that the wax melts away and the molten metal is poured into the mould. The common items made by the craftsmen include small idols and statues of tribal deities, jewellery, bells, small-scale animal sculptures and others.

Warangal durries: In this style of durries, weavers create beautiful patterns and dye them using vegetable colours, which are washed in flowing water after the printing process. Warangal district became a renowned hub for weaving these rugs due to the availability of cotton, which is grown by farmers in the area.

29-Mar-2018: Kadaknath chicken gets GI tag

Madhya Pradesh has won the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Kadaknath, a black-feathered chicken known for its flavourful meat and found mainly in the tribal district of Jhabua, trumping Chhattisgarh’s claim over the breed.

The GI certification for the chicken was notified in GI Journal No 104 dated March 28. The GI tag will ensure that no one else can use the name Kadaknath while selling any other black chicken and will also translate into higher prices for producers.

Madhya Pradesh filed an application with the GI registry office in 2012 and the Chhattisgarh government filed its claim in 2017. The news that Chhattisgarh too had applied for the same GI tag had alarmed the Madhya Pradesh government, which redoubled its efforts to ensure its variety won.

Kadaknath is in demand not only because of its taste but also due to its low cholesterol and high protein content. It sells at about Rs 500 per kg, which is around five times the price of normal broiler chicken.

23-odd cooperatives formed by tribes, or more than 500 people, are engaged in breeding of these birds. MP Govt. has plans to provide loans to all these cooperatives so that they can purchase hatching machines and increase production.

The GI registry recently dismissed Madhya Pradesh’s plea for inclusion of basmati rice grown in the central Indian state.

1-Jan-2018: Nilambur teak gets GI tag

Nilambur teak(Malabar teak) has found its place in the Geographical Indications (GI) Registry. The golden brown teak is known for its log dimensions, desired wood figure and wide reputation in the world of trade.

Malabar teak had reportedly found a place in the construction of the Buckingham Palace, the Ka'ba building in Mecca, the legendary Titanic and even in the interior of Rolls Royce cars. The main challenge before the state government and the teak cultivators is to protect the variety from other teak varieties.

A good number of teak wood carrying the tag of Nilambur teak are not genuine as unscrupulous merchants sell teak brought from other parts of the state in the guise of Nilambur teak. Therefore, the society which took the initiative for registration under the guidance of the IPR cell and the state government should ensure or mark the teak sourced from the Nilambur teak forest as genuine in order to make sure the customers do not fall prey to fraudsters. Further, if a niche market is exclusively developed for the Nilambur teak, the growers will benefit from the legacy of the teak. Nilambur teak is famous for its larger size, superior colour and durability.

Its durability is attributed to the synergistic effect of total extensive components and the resistance to fungal decay to naphthoquinone and derivatives it contains. The hydrophobicity, anti-oxidant properties and oily nature are due to a caoutchouc compound. The superiority of teak from this area used for shipbuilding and structural purposes have earned reputation world over and it is believed the Nilambur-Shoranur railway line itself was laid by the Britishers to transport teak logs.

According to the data available with the GI registry, about 5,000 including Kerala Forest Department cultivators are involved in Nilambur teak cultivation and preparation of its products in the Nilambur region. The annual turnover of the Nilambur teak is Rs 35 crore. It fetches Rs 4,600-4,800 for B2 quality log and Rs 2,800-3,100 for B3 quality per cubic feet, while the teakwood from other parts of the state can be sold at a cheaper price — Rs 1,000-1,500 less than Nilambur teak.

The KAU has already helped acquire GI registration for as many as eight indigenous agriculture products. Nilambur teak is the teak wood obtained from the forest areas, plantations and homesteads in Nilambur Taluk and the nearby panchayat of Edavanna in Eranad Taluk in Malappuram.

2017

15-Nov-2017: Rasogolla gets GI tag

The Geographical Indication (GI) Registry and Intellectual Property India presented the Geographical Indication Tag status to Banglar Rasogolla of West Bengal and Mamallapuram stone sculptures of Tamil Nadu. West Bengal was involved in a lengthy battle with Odisha, which too had claimed Rasogolla as its invention.

5-Nov-2017: Banganapalle mangoes get GI tag

The famous Banaganapalle mangoes of Andhra Pradesh and Tulaipanji rice of West Bengal are among the seven commodities that have been granted Geographical Indication (GI) this fiscal year by the Indian patent office.

A GI is primarily an agricultural, natural or a manufactured product (handicrafts and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory. Typically, such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, which is essentially attributable to the place of its origin.

Darjeeling tea, Tirupati laddu, Kangra paintings, Nagpur orange and Kashmir pashmina are among the registered GIs in India.

The other five products which have received the GI tag this year include Pochampally Ikat of Telangana; Gobindobhog rice of West Bengal; Durgi stone carvings and Etikoppaka toys of Andhra Pradesh; and Chakshesang shawl of Nagaland. In 2016-17, as many as 33 items got GI registration.

Experts said that this tag gave protection to the producer of these genuine products, which commanded premium pricing in the markets, both domestic and international.

Once the GI protection is granted, no other producer can misuse the name to market similar products. It also provides comfort to customers about the authenticity of that product.

3-Nov-2017: Etikoppaka toys get GI tag

The Etikoppaka toys are not only popular in Andhra Pradesh but also gained their popularity all over the country and abroad over the years. But this art form suffered a setback in the last decade. The exports to the US and Europe, which were to the tune of Rs 50 to 80 lakh per annum, were stopped in 2007 when the importers insisted on GI certification and heavy metal analysis, both not in the hands of the villagers.

Etikoppaka toys, popularly known as Lakkapidathalu, finally received Geographical Indication by the Registration of Geographical Indication. The artisans are yet to get heavy metal analysis certificate for exporting to the US and European countries. Artisans are facing a new threat from dumping of identical Chinese wooden toys into the markets. Getting little help from the government, the artisans are now looking for online trading agencies to sell their products.

28-Aug-2017: Gobindobhog rice gets geographical indication status

Gobindobhog rice, a speciality from Burdwan district of West Bengal, has got the geographical indication (GI) status.

As a result of getting the GI tag, as the certification is also called, rice from other regions or rice of other varieties cannot be branded as ‘Gobindobhog’. Hence, the marketability of the rice would be strengthened, for the local, national and international markets.

Gobindobhog is a rice cultivar from West Bengal. It is a short grain, white, aromatic, sticky rice having a sweet buttery flavor. It derives its name from its usage as the principal ingredient in the preparation of the offerings to Govindajiu, the family deity of the Setts of Kolkata. The rice has several advantages. It is cultivated late and therefore not much affected by rains. It is less prone to pests as well. The productivity per area is high and farmers get better prices for Gobindobhog rice.

4-May-2017: Banganapalle mango gets GI tag

Banganapalle mango has received Geographical Indication (GI) tag, making Andhra Pradesh the proprietor of the variety known for its sweetness.

Banganapalle mangoes have been grown for over 100 years in Andhra Pradesh. It is also known as Benesha, Baneshan, Benishan, Chappatai and Safeda. Besides, they are also called Banaganapalli, Banginapalli, Banaganapalle. The fruits can retain their quality under cold storage even up to three months. The prominent characteristic of Banganapalle mangoes is that their skin has very light spots, stone is oblong in shape and has very thin seed with sparse and soft fibre all over. The primary centre of origin of the fruit is Kurnool district comprising Banganapalle, Paanyam and Nandyal mandals.

10-Feb-2017: Nilambur teak to get GI tag.

Nilambur teak has superior mechanical and physical properties, besides an incomparable aesthetic appearance. Internationally known for its superior quality and elegant appearance, it will soon be added to the list of Kerala produces with the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

The effort to obtain the GI status for this unique timber variety, pioneered by the IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) Cell of the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) with the support of the Nilambur Teak Heritage Society, the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) and the Department of Forests, is set to bear fruit within a month.

It was the Britishers who identified the superior quality of teak from Nilambur plantations and forests. Later, the region became the major supplier of quality teak in the world. Tonnes of timber was taken to London and other parts of the world. The Nilambur-Shoranur Railway line was laid for transporting the teak logs.

However, fake products with false tags started flooding the wood/ furniture markets as the fame of Nilambur teak increased. Understanding the potential risk, the IPR Cell and the College of Forestry of Kerala Agricultural University motivated the people of Nilambur to protect their rights legally, by registering the unique product as a Geographical Indication under the GI Act.

GI registration of Pokkali rice, one of the first Kerala produces to get the GI tag has been renewed. Other Kerala products with GI registration include Vazhakulam Pineapple, Wayanad rice varieties Jeerakasala and Gandhakasala, Tirur Betel vine, Central Travancore Jaggery and Chengalikodan Nendran, a banana variety.