GI tags secured for 18 traditional handicrafts: Govt

Jammu, Mar 31: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday said it has secured Geographical Indication (GI) registration for 18 traditional handicrafts of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure their authenticity and promote genuine Kashmiri products.
Replying to an unstarred question by Tanvir Sadiq in the Assembly, the Minister In-charge of Industries and Commerce Department said that 15 GI tags have been granted for Kashmir division and three for Jammu division.
The registered crafts include Kashmir Hand-Knotted Carpet, Kashmir Pashmina, Kashmir Sozni, Kashmir Papier-Mâché, Kani Shawl, Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving, Khatamband, Crewel, Namda, Gabba, Chainstitch, Wagguv, Kashmir Tweed, Shikara, Basohli Pashmina, Basohli Painting and Rajouri Chikriwood.
The government said that a certification and GI labelling mechanism has already been operationalised through Pashmina Testing & Quality Certification Centre (PTQCC) and Carpet Testing Lab at Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT), Srinagar.
The minister further said that misbranding of handicrafts, including the sale of non-Kashmiri products as genuine items, has emerged as a major challenge. To curb such practices, the Quality Control Division is enforcing standards under various legislations, including Jammu and Kashmir Handicrafts Quality Control Act, 1978 and Jammu and Kashmir Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1978.
Inspection teams have been constituted to conduct regular checks of handicraft and handloom dealers in tourist areas and city centres, while penalties are being imposed on erring dealers, the government said.
As per official data, fines imposed in the last three years in Kashmir division stand at Rs 90,000 in 2023-24, Rs 12.95 lakh in 2024-25 and Rs 11.5 lakh in 2025-26.
The government also informed the House that a QR code-based GI labelling system has been launched to strengthen consumer confidence and promote authentic Kashmiri crafts.
“Since inception, around 70,000 handmade products have been tested and engraved with secure GI labels,” the minister said, adding that buyers can verify authenticity in real-time by scanning QR codes using smartphones before purchase.
The department has also procured additional machinery to strengthen testing labs and increase daily testing capacity, thereby reducing waiting time for artisans, the government added. (KNO)