Exploring India’s diverse cultural heritage through GI tags | Data Premium

Over 500 products across all the States in India have been given GI tags so far

Last Thursday, 17 products from across six States/Union Territories got the Geographical Indications (GI) tag. The products ranged from handicrafts such as the Dongaria Kondh shawl from Odisha, to agricultural products such as the Sundarban Honey from West Bengal. A GI tag is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.

In India, if one thinks of Tirupati or Nagpur, often laddus and oranges come to mind, respectively. Both these products have GI tags. While arguing for a GI tag, Tirumala Tirupati Devsthanam said in their application that the highest quality of raw material is procured for the production of the laddu prasad and a variety of skills are required for each stage of its making. The GI tag for the Nagpur orange reportedly helped farmers brand their products under the tag.

Any trader’s body, association, or organisation can apply for a GI tag. The applicants need to prove the uniqueness of the item with historical records and a complete breakdown of how the product is made. GI tags are also not meant just for popular products. There are hundreds of GI tags across States. Every GI tag recognises a particular region and product and brings it to the public eye.

It is important to note that the raw materials for such products do not have to come from that region (unless it is an agricultural tag). For instance, the leaf that gives the Banarasi paan its identity is not grown in Varanasi; it comes from Bihar, West Bengal, or Odisha. The mulberry silk used in Kancheepuram sarees comes from Karnataka and the gold zari from Surat.

Chart 1 | The chart shows the products in the GI registry that fall under five major categories.

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There are over 500 GI tags as of January 7, 2023. There are 34 classes of products that can get GI tags, — from chemicals and paint to foodstuff, handicrafts, musical instruments, and even firearms and locomotives. The products in the GI registry fall under five major categories (Chart 1). Handicrafts dominate the list, with over half the GI tags being given to products crafted by skilled artisans.