Gujarat 7th nationally with 28 GI Tags especially in handicrafts

Gujarat has secured the seventh position among Indian states for the number of Geographical Indication (GI) tags, earning a total of 28 recognitions spanning handicrafts, agricultural produce and a natural resource.

The GI system, created by UNESCO to protect traditional crafts and region-specific products, plays a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage and giving artisans and farmers legal protection in domestic and global markets.

Out of India’s roughly 6,000 listed handicrafts, about 600 have received GI status, and states continue to push their distinctive crafts for recognition. Gujarat, known for its rich artisanal traditions, has 23 GI-tagged handicrafts, including Sankheda wooden furniture from Vadodara, Surendranagar’s Tangaliya shawl with its distinctive ‘daana’ weave, the rare and premium Patan Patola double-ikat silk saree, and Kutchi embroidery. Surat’s zari craft, Jamnagar’s bandhani, Khambhat’s traditional gharachola sarees, Ahmedabad’s Sodagari block prints and Khambhat agate work are part of the list.

In agriculture, four products have earned GI status — Gir Kesar mango, long-grain Bhalia wheat from the Bhal region covering Ahmedabad and Surendranagar, Kutch’s famed kharek (dried dates), and Amlasadi chikoo from Navsari in south Gujarat. The state’s sole natural resource GI tag is for Ambaji white marble.

State-wise, Uttar Pradesh tops the national list with 77 GI-tagged products, followed by Tamil Nadu with 59. Gujarat and West Bengal share the seventh position with 28 each.

Top states by number of GI-tagged products:

Uttar Pradesh – 77

Tamil Nadu – 59

Maharashtra – 51

Karnataka – 48

Kerala – 39

Assam – 33

Gujarat – 28

West Bengal – 28

Odisha – 27

Uttarakhand – 26

Rajasthan – 21

Andhra Pradesh – 21

Telangana – 18

Jammu & Kashmir – 17

Bihar – 16