Etikoppaka toys – the GI-tagged lacquerware wooden toys of Andhra Pradesh – will get a dedicated theme park after the foundation stone was laid for the Rs 3 crore Etikoppaka Handicrafts Theme Park in Anakapalli district. This note lists the Etikoppaka toys facts and related AP GI crafts for prelims.
Why in News?
The foundation stone for the Etikoppaka Handicrafts Theme Park was laid in Etikoppaka village, Anakapalli district, to promote traditional lacquerware toys, support artisans and boost local tourism.
Etikoppaka toys: Key Facts for Prelims
- Also called Etikoppaka Bommalu; made in Etikoppaka village on the banks of the Varaha River.
- Material: soft wood of the Ankudu tree (Wrightia tinctoria) – lightweight and easy to shape.
- Technique: lacquer-turning on a hand- or machine-operated lathe; colours from natural dyes (seeds, bark, roots, leaves) mixed with lac – hence child-safe.
- GI tag in 2017 under the handicrafts category (Geographical Indications of Goods Act, 1999).
- Selected as the One District One Product (ODOP) of Anakapalli district; craft is over 400 years old.
Andhra Pradesh GI-tagged crafts – quick list
- Kondapalli toys (NTR district, Tella Poniki wood – often confused with Etikoppaka).
- Bobbili Veena (Vizianagaram), Machilipatnam Kalamkari (pen work, block prints), Srikalahasti Kalamkari (hand painted).
- Tirupati laddu, Araku Valley coffee, Banganapalle mango, Uppada Jamdani, Dharmavaram silk, Venkatagiri sarees, Mangalagiri sarees, Budithi bell metal, Durgi stone carving, Leather puppetry (Tholu Bommalata), Bandar laddu.
GI tag – static points
- Governed by the GI Act, 1999 (in force 2003); registry at Chennai under the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (DPIIT).
- Valid for 10 years, renewable; first GI in India – Darjeeling tea (2004); TRIPS Article 22–24 basis.
Quick Revision Table: Etikoppaka toys
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Craft | Etikoppaka lacquerware toys |
| Location | Etikoppaka, Anakapalli district (Varaha River) |
| Wood | Ankudu (Wrightia tinctoria) |
| Technique | Lacquer turning on lathe; natural dyes |
| GI tag | 2017 (handicrafts) |
| Theme park cost | Rs 3 crore |
| ODOP | Anakapalli district |
Trap / Confusing Points: Etikoppaka toys
| Confusion | Correct Position |
|---|---|
| Etikoppaka toys are made from Tella Poniki wood | No – that is Kondapalli; Etikoppaka uses Ankudu wood |
| Etikoppaka is in Visakhapatnam district | Now in Anakapalli district (carved out in 2022) |
| Colours are synthetic paints | No – natural dyes mixed with lac |
| GI tag is granted by the state government | No – by the GI Registry, Chennai (central) |
5 Practice MCQs on Etikoppaka toys
1. Etikoppaka toys are made from the wood of which tree?
a. Tella Poniki
b. Ankudu (Wrightia tinctoria)
c. Red sanders
d. Teak
Ans: B
Explanation: Ankudu is a soft, light wood ideal for lathe turning; Tella Poniki is used for Kondapalli toys.
2. Etikoppaka village lies on the banks of which river?
a. Sarada
b. Gosthani
c. Varaha
d. Nagavali
Ans: C
Explanation: Etikoppaka is on the Varaha River in Anakapalli district.
3. Etikoppaka toys received the GI tag in:
a. 2008
b. 2012
c. 2017
d. 2021
Ans: C
Explanation: GI registration was granted in 2017 under handicrafts.
4. The Geographical Indications Registry of India is located at:
a. New Delhi
b. Mumbai
c. Chennai
d. Kolkata
Ans: C
Explanation: The GI Registry functions at Chennai under the CGPDTM.
5. Which of the following is NOT a GI-tagged product of Andhra Pradesh?
a. Bobbili Veena
b. Pochampally Ikat
c. Araku Valley coffee
d. Uppada Jamdani
Ans: B
Explanation: Pochampally Ikat belongs to Telangana.
Exam tip: Revise Etikoppaka toys together with the static links above; UPSC and APPSC prelims often frame questions from these interconnections.
To learn current affairs from exam point of view, Click here.
To know more about the Etikoppaka theme park, Click here.
