🎪 Chapter 07 · Topic 04 · Folk Arts
GI-Tagged Crafts & Products of India
Geographical Indication (GI) tags — what they are, India’s first GI, state-wise important GI products — complete UPSC & PSC notes.
📋 What is a GI Tag?
- A Geographical Indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation due to that origin
- Governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
- Administered by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks under the Ministry of Commerce
- GI Registry is located in Chennai
- India’s first GI tag: Darjeeling Tea (2004)
- India has over 600 registered GI products (as of 2024)
- GI protection lasts for 10 years and can be renewed
- GI tags protect against misuse and help producers get premium prices
⭐ India’s First GI Tag — Darjeeling Tea (2004): Darjeeling tea from the Darjeeling district of West Bengal was the first product to receive a GI tag in India in 2004. It is also one of the first GI-tagged products in the world. Darjeeling tea is known for its distinctive muscatel flavour and aroma. The GI tag protects it from imitation — only tea grown in the Darjeeling hills can be called “Darjeeling Tea.”
🗺️ Important GI-Tagged Products — State-wise
| Product | State | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Darjeeling Tea | West Bengal | Agricultural (first GI, 2004) |
| Banarasi Silk | Uttar Pradesh | Handicraft/Textile (2009) |
| Kanchipuram Silk | Tamil Nadu | Textile |
| Pochampally Ikat | Telangana | Textile |
| Pashmina | Jammu & Kashmir | Textile/Handicraft |
| Mysore Silk | Karnataka | Textile |
| Kolhapuri Chappal | Maharashtra/Karnataka | Handicraft (leather) |
| Kondapalli Toys | Andhra Pradesh | Handicraft (wood) |
| Tirupati Laddu | Andhra Pradesh | Food |
| Alphonso Mango | Maharashtra/Goa/Gujarat | Agricultural |
| Coorg Orange | Karnataka | Agricultural |
| Madhubani Painting | Bihar | Handicraft (2007) |
| Bankura Horse | West Bengal | Handicraft (terracotta) |
| Phulkari | Punjab | Textile/Handicraft |
| Bidriware | Karnataka | Handicraft (metal) |
| Channapatna Toys | Karnataka | Handicraft (wood) |
| Muga Silk | Assam | Textile |
| Tholu Bommalata | Andhra Pradesh | Handicraft (puppetry) |
📌 Kondapalli Toys: Wooden toys from Kondapalli village, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. Made from a soft wood called Tella Poniki (white sander). Painted with natural dyes in bright colours. Themes: rural life, animals, mythological characters. Made by the Aryakshatriya community. GI-tagged. The toys are lightweight and have a distinctive style — figures with elongated necks and stylised features. They are popular as decorative items and gifts.
✅ Revision Checklist — GI Tags
✅ GI = Geographical Indication = product linked to specific geographic origin
✅ GI Act = 1999 = administered by Controller General of Patents = GI Registry Chennai
✅ India’s first GI = Darjeeling Tea = 2004
✅ India has 600+ GI products (2024)
✅ GI protection = 10 years = renewable
✅ Banarasi Silk = UP = GI 2009
✅ Madhubani Painting = Bihar = GI 2007
✅ Kondapalli Toys = AP (Krishna district) = wood = Aryakshatriya community
✅ Tirupati Laddu = AP = food GI
✅ Kolhapuri Chappal = Maharashtra/Karnataka = leather
✅ Pashmina = J&K = Changthangi goat wool
✅ Muga Silk = Assam = golden colour = GI tagged
✅ GI Act = 1999 = administered by Controller General of Patents = GI Registry Chennai
✅ India’s first GI = Darjeeling Tea = 2004
✅ India has 600+ GI products (2024)
✅ GI protection = 10 years = renewable
✅ Banarasi Silk = UP = GI 2009
✅ Madhubani Painting = Bihar = GI 2007
✅ Kondapalli Toys = AP (Krishna district) = wood = Aryakshatriya community
✅ Tirupati Laddu = AP = food GI
✅ Kolhapuri Chappal = Maharashtra/Karnataka = leather
✅ Pashmina = J&K = Changthangi goat wool
✅ Muga Silk = Assam = golden colour = GI tagged