West Bengal Obtains GI Tag for Nolen Gurer Sandesh08 Apr 2025

West Bengal has secured GI tags for seven traditional products, including Nolen Gurer Sandesh and Baruipur guavas, boosting its cultural identity and local economy. Other tagged items include Kamarpukur’s white bonde, Chhanabora, Motichur Laddoo, Radhunipagal rice, and Nistari silk yarn. These tags offer global recognition, protect product authenticity, and support artisans and farmers. Challenges like limited shelf life hinder sweet exports. Promotion efforts continue, with more regional specialties like Langcha and Pantua being considered for future GI recognition.

Key Points:

New GI Tags for West Bengal: West Bengal has secured seven new Geographical Indication (GI) tags, including Nolen Gurer Sandesh, Kamarpukur’s White Bonde, and Malda’s Nistari Silk Yarn, bringing the state’s total to 33 GI-tagged products across sweets, textiles, and handicrafts.
Economic and Cultural Impact: These GI tags boost global recognition, protect product authenticity, and support local economies by promoting regional craftsmanship and agriculture while also preventing the misuse of traditional product names.
Challenges and Future Plans: Despite recognition, short shelf life and export logistics pose challenges—especially for sweets like Nolen Gurer Sandesh. The state plans to pursue more GI tags for traditional items like Shaktigarh’s Langcha and Krishnanager’s Swar Puriya, further preserving Bengal’s cultural heritage.