Why this matters now
This topic spans Art & Culture and the economy — crafts/textiles by region (match-the-following), and the GI framework (GI Act 1999, the first GI, why GI matters for artisans and exports). GI updates appear in current affairs.
Textile traditions
| Textile | Region |
|---|---|
| Banarasi silk | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh |
| Kanchipuram silk | Tamil Nadu |
| Pochampally ikat | Telangana |
| Pashmina | Jammu & Kashmir/Ladakh |
| Chanderi & Maheshwari | Madhya Pradesh |
| Muga silk | Assam |
| Bandhani (tie-dye) | Gujarat & Rajasthan |
Handicrafts
Famous crafts include Bidriware (metal inlay, Bidar, Karnataka), Blue Pottery (Jaipur), Channapatna toys (Karnataka), Pattachitra and Dhokra metal casting (tribal). These sustain millions of artisan livelihoods and are promoted through bodies like the Handicrafts and Handlooms development programmes and e-marketplaces.
Geographical Indication (GI) tags
A Geographical Indication is a sign used on products with a specific geographical origin and qualities due to that origin. India’s Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 governs GIs (administered by the GI Registry, Chennai). Darjeeling tea was India’s first GI (2004). GI protection prevents misuse of the name, boosts artisan incomes and supports exports — examples include Banarasi sarees, Kanchipuram silk, Mysore silk, Tirupati laddu and Naga Mircha.
UPSC angle
Match textile/craft → region; know the GI Act 1999, GI Registry (Chennai) and Darjeeling tea as the first GI. GI links to both Art & Culture and GS-3 (economy/IPR).
Frequently asked questions
What is a Geographical Indication (GI) tag?
A sign on products with a specific geographical origin and qualities arising from that origin; it legally protects the product name from misuse.
Which was India’s first GI product?
Darjeeling tea, registered in 2004 under the GI Act 1999.
Which law governs GIs in India?
The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, administered by the GI Registry in Chennai.
Why do GI tags matter?
They prevent misuse of a product’s name, protect traditional knowledge, raise artisan incomes and support exports.