Eastern India Leads GI Registrations, Madhya Pradesh Tops India in 2025–26

In the 2025-2026 fiscal year, India saw a huge increase in the GI registrations. Over this period, total 125 new GI tags were granted nationwide. The state of Madhya Pradesh received the highest number of the new registrations with 26, while West Bengal was second with 24 recognitions. The results also indicate that eastern states, such as West Bengal and Jharkhand, have made significant progress in protecting traditional crafts, agricultural products, and Indigenous knowledge, as well as creating new market opportunities for local producers and artisans.

Which State Added Most GI Tag in 2025-2026?

During the 2025-2026 fiscal year, Indian businesses registered an additional 125 geographic indications (GI), therefore at the end of the last fiscal year, India had a total of 822 Registered GI products.

Of those registrations, some states exceed others with regard to the number of registered GIs.

The results indicate,

Thus, Indian states are becoming more aware of the need to protect their traditional products through Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs).

What is Geographical Indications Tag?

Geographical indications (GIs) are intellectual property rights that identify products that are related to a country or area, as well as to any specific quality, characteristic or reputation of that product based solely upon its place of origin.

GIs protect the following through registration,

• Traditional knowledge
• Culture and heritage
• The proper use of the names of the products
• Increasing product value and the amount of money received for artisans and farmers
• Also promotes exports

Registration of GIs in India currently works under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

Geographical Indications Tags for Madhya Pradesh

In comparing the production of various GIs during the period 2025-2026, Madhya Pradesh was the leading state with 26 new GI tags. Madhya Pradesh received GI recognition for many traditional handicrafts.

The following GIs were also awarded for major handicrafts produced by artisans located therein,

Stone craft (Khajuraho Stone Crafts)

• Craft utilising metal (Betul Bharewa Metal Craft);
• Craft utilising paper/mache (Gwalior Paper Mache Craft);
• Craftsman’s craft (Gwalior Stone Craft Handicraft);
• Traditional tribal agricultural products.

In addition to those previously mentioned, the following crops were awarded GI status for the traditional cultivation and consumption by Indigenous peoples, such as Baiga and Gond,

• Sitahi Kutki
• Nagdaman Kutki
• Baigani Arhar
• Mahakoshal Chhatriya Chawal aka Chhatriya Paddy.

West Bengal Added 24 GI products

The state of West Bengal has added 24 new geographical indications (GI) to their roster, making them the second highest in terms of GI registrations. Some of the most notable new products that achieved GI registration status includes,

• Jalbhara Sandesh (Chandannagar)
• Monohara (Janai)
• Santiniketan Batik
• Santiniketan Ektara
• Mecha Sandesh (Bankura)
• Banglar Nolen Gur
• Kanakchur Popped Rice
• Krishnanagar Clay Dolls
• Cooch Behar Sitalpati
• Bengal Singing Bowl
• Balagarh Boat
• Kolkatti Jewellery

This significant increase in the number of GI registrations for products within West Bengal has been made possible due to the support and facilitation provided by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade’s (DPIIT) Chair at the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS). The DPIIT Chair facilitated over half of these products achieving GI status.

As a result of these 24 new products achieving GI certification, the total number of registered GIs in West Bengal has increased to 59 registered GIs with 14 additional applications currently pending.

Jharkhand’s Rising GI Tally

The state of Jharkhand has seen a growth in their number of registered GIs as well after registering 11 new GIs most of which are representative of the state’s traditional handicraft and handloom products as well as the tribal heritage of Jharkhand.

The key products that received registration as GIs from Jharkhand includes,

• Tussar Silk Sarees
• Tribal Jewellery
• Bamboo Crafts
• Dokra Craft
• Kuchai Silk Sarees and Fabrics
• Bhagaiya Sarees
• Dumka Chadar Badoni Puppets
• Panchi Parhan Sarees
• Kesharia Kalakand
• Jharkhand Benam
• Jadupatia Paintings

These registrations have been facilitated through the Jharkhand Silk Textile and Handicraft Development Corporation (JHARCRAFT).

The Distribution of Geographical Indication Products in India

Among the 822 registered GI products in India, handicrafts comprise about 53% of the total, while agricultural products represent approximately 31%. Other parts of the distribution include food, manufactured, and natural products.

This distribution illustrates the diversity of cultural, artistic and agricultural patterns found in India.

States with the Highest Total Number of GI Registrations

Though Madhya Pradesh led in new registrations for 2025-26, the cumulative rankings were:

Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. These three states have had widespread success in obtaining GI protections for various traditional goods for many years.