GI TAG PRODUCTS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Several products from Uttarakhand, including a local brick-tea and textiles made from a Himalayan plant, have recently received the coveted GI tag from the Geographical Indications Registry.

Key Points

• Uttarakhand's Berinag tea, popular among London tea houses and tea blenders, is crafted from Himalayan plant leaves found growing wild in the region.
• The leaves are skillfully compressed into a solid mass to create this unique tea.
• Another product, Bichhu buti fabrics, made from Himalayan nettle fibers, has also earned the prestigious GI tag.
• The Uttarakhand mandua, a finger millet cultivated in Garhwal and Kumaon, is a dietary staple in various parts of the state.
• Jhangora, another homegrown millet, also made the list of products awarded the GI tag.

GI Tag

• About: It is a symbol used on items that come from a particular geographical area and have qualities or a reputation linked to that place of origin.
• Nodal Ministry: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Tenure: 10 Years
• Regulated By: Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999.
• India’s First GI Product: Darjeeling Tea (2004-05).