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New GI tags & tribal business conclave

13 Nov 2025 GS 3 Economy
New GI tags & tribal business conclave Click to view full image

Context

  • Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced a significant reduction in the Geographical Indication (GI) application fee:

    • From ₹5,000 → ₹1,000

  • Announcement made at the Tribal Business Conclave at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre.

Purpose of the Fee Reduction

  • Encourage more:

    • Tribal artisans

    • Traditional craft communities

    • Local producer groups
      to file GI applications.

  • Aim:

    • Protect indigenous knowledge

    • Prevent cultural appropriation

    • Boost incomes through brand protection

Support Measures Announced

  1. Export linkages

  2. E-commerce linkages

  3. International warehouses for tribal goods

  4. Full support of Ministry of Commerce and DPIIT

The goal: ensure global market access for tribal enterprises.

About the Tribal Business Conclave

Organised by:

  • Ministry of Tribal Affairs

  • Ministry of Culture

  • DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade)

Focus areas:

  • Financing innovations

  • Investment in tribal enterprises

  • Industry partnerships

  • Skilling

  • Expanding domestic & global market access

Held as part of:

  • Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, marking 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda.

GI Certificates Distributed at the Event

New GI tags honoured:

  • Kannadippaya (bamboo mat) – Kerala

  • Apatani textile – Arunachal Pradesh

  • Marthandam honey – Tamil Nadu

  • Lepcha Tungbuk – Sikkim

  • Bodo Aronai – Assam

  • Ambaji white marble – Gujarat

  • Bedu and Badri cow ghee – Uttarakhand

These reinforce cultural heritage and support local economies.

Tribal Affairs Grand Challenge

  • Announced by Tribal Affairs Ministry.

  • Invites enterprises to design innovative solutions for tribal development (details awaited).

  • Part of wider policy to support tribal entrepreneurship & livelihoods.

Prelims Practice MCQs

Q. Recently the Government reduced the GI registration application fee from ₹5,000 to ₹1,000. Which of the following bodies administers the GI registration process in India?

A. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
B. DPIIT under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
C. TRIFED under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs
D. NABARD

Answer: B

The Geographical Indications Registry functions under DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade).

Q. Which of the following newly GI-tagged products belong to the correct State?

  1. Kannadippaya – Assam

  2. Apatani textile – Arunachal Pradesh

  3. Ambaji white marble – Gujarat

  4. Bedu & Badri cow ghee – Uttarakhand

Choose the correct answer:
A. 1, 2 and 3
B. 2, 3 and 4
C. 1 and 4
D. 1, 3 and 4

Answer: B

  • Kannadippaya → Kerala, not Assam

  • Apatani textile → Arunachal Pradesh

  • Ambaji white marble → Gujarat

  • Bedu & Badri cow ghee → Uttarakhand



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