From ‘nolen gur’ to ‘sitalpati’, 23 more Bengal items bag GI tag, 7 await nod
Times of India | 28 June 2026
Kolkata: Bengal has added another feather to its cap in the field of Geographical Indication (GI) recognition, with 23 more traditional products from the state receiving GI tags.
The newly GI-tagged products include ‘jalbhora' sandesh from Chandernagore, ‘monohara' from Janai, Santiniketan batik and Santiniketan ektara from Birbhum, ‘mecha' sandesh from Beliatore in Bankura, Banglar ‘nolen gur', kanakchur popped rice, clay doll of Krishnanagar, sitalpati of Cooch Behar, Bengal singing bowl from Bikrampur, Balagarh boat from Hooghly, Kolkatti jewellery from Kolkata (see box). The names of the products were included in the registered list on the govt of India on Friday.
"We have received GI recognition for these 23 products in June. With the addition of these products, Bengal ranks third, having 59 GI registrations among Indian states," said state science & technology and bio-technology minister Kalyan Chakraborty. "We will take steps to use the GI logo and QR code to ensure the genuineness of original GI products," he added.
The state has also applied GI recognition for seven more products — radhatilak rice from south Bengal, dudher swar rice from South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Midnapore, Bengal ‘rasamalai' and ‘mishti doi', rhododendron/guras wine/raksi, ‘sarbhaja' and ‘sarpuria' from Krishnanagar. The GI tag certifies that a product possesses qualities or a reputation attributable to its place of origin. It is expected to enhance the market value of these products, safeguard the interests of traditional artisans and producers and boost their prospects in domestic as well as international markets.
The state has undertaken several post-registration initiatives aimed at maximising the socio-economic benefits of GI recognition. These include facilitating authorised user registrations, organising awareness programmes, conducting capacity-building workshops, promoting quality assurance, supporting branding and marketing, and encouraging GI-based entrepreneurship. The state has also proposed dedicated GI outlets, GI corners in govt retail establishments, and participation in national and international exhibitions.
The portfolio of GI products from Bengal includes Darjeeling tea, Baluchari saree, Santipuri saree, Dhaniakhali saree, nakshi kantha, Santiniketan leather goods, gobindobhog rice, tulaipanji rice, Joynagar ‘moa', Malda fazli mango, himsagar mango, lakshmanbhog mango, Bengal patachitra, wooden mask of Kushmandi, madur kathi, Sundarbans honey, kalonunia rice, Garad saree, Korial saree, Tangail saree of Bengal and several other unique products.