Odisha, located in eastern India, is known for its rich cultural heritage and unique products deeply rooted in its history and traditions. Many of these products have been granted the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which recognizes their unique qualities, origin, and cultural significance. The GI tag is a valuable form of intellectual property protection that helps promote and protect traditional products and skills while boosting rural employment and exports. In this article, we will explore the significance of the GI tag in Odisha and some of the unique products that have been granted this recognition.
GI Tag of Odisha List
Here’s a list of some of the products from Odisha that have been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag:
| S.no. | GI Tag | Description |
| 1. | Kotpad Handloom Fabric | Handicraft |
| 2. | Orissa Ikat | Handicraft |
| 3. | Konark Stone Carving | Handicraft |
| 4. | Pipli Applique Work | Handicraft |
| 5. | Odisha Rasagola | Food Stuff |
| 6. | Odisha Pattachitra | Handicraft |
| 7. | Berhampur Patta | Handicraft |
| 8. | Habaspuri Saree and fabrics | Handicraft |
| 9. | Bomkai Saree and Fabrics | Handicraft |
| 10. | Khandua Saree and Fabrics | Handicraft |
| 11. | Gopal Tussar Fabrics | Handicraft |
| 12. | Ganjam Kewda Flower | Agriculture |
| 13. | Ganjam Kewda Rooh | Manufactured |
| 14. | Dhalapathar Parda and Fabrics | Handicraft |
| 15. | Sambalpuri Bandha Saree and Fabrics | Handicraft |
| 16. | Kandhamal Haladi | Agriculture |
| 17. | ArakuValley Arabica Coffee | Agriculture |
Download the PDF of the GI Tag of Odisha here!
Check the latest updates below-
Five Products From Odisha To Be Examined For GI Tag
A consulting committee of specialists from the Geographical Indications (GI) Registry, Chennai, determined the authenticity of five Odisha goods during a conference on December 6 in Bhubaneswar.
Odisha is attempting to obtain a Geographical Indication (GI) label for three food products: Kai (ant) chutney from Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal’s Magji and Rasabali of Kendrapada, and silver filigree of Cuttack under the crafts category, and Gajapati date palm jaggery, which has been classed as an agricultural product.
In December 2020, the Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT) applied to the GI Registry for the tag for Kai Chutney and Magji under the foodstuff category.
Magji is a milk product with a distinct taste and flavor made from buffalo milk, sugar, and cardamom powder. This delicacy has been made by local confectioners for over a century. It is thought to have originated in either Mandar or Sadangi in the Gondia block.
Odisha State Co-operative Handicrafts Corporation Limited submitted a GI application for silver filigree (Chandi Tarakasi) in the same year. Filigree craft is manufactured by transforming silver bricks into thin fine wires or foils from which jewelry or showpieces are constructed.
Kendrapada Rasabali Mistanna Nirmata Sangha and Rural Infrastructure Development and Employment also filed GI for Rasabali last to last year, while Odisha Rajya Talgur Samabaya Sangha Ltd sought date palm jaggery status in 2020.
The pre-examination of all five products has been finished, and the examination reports will be delivered to the applicants based on the consultative group’s suggestions following the meeting on December 6, according to sources.
After the relevant conditions are met, the applications will be accepted and published for the public to file an opposition within a certain time frame. If no one objects, the GIs will be registered.
Recent GI Tag of Odisha
On July 29, 2019, Odisha received the long-awaited GI Tag on “RASAGOLA”. Odisha Small Industries Corporation Limited (OSIC Ltd.) and Utkal Mistanna Byabasayee Samiti, Odisha filed the application for ‘Odisha Rasagola’ on February 23rd, 2018.
Rasagola is mentioned in the 15th century Odia Ramayana authored by Balaram Das, commonly known as Dandi Ramayana or Jagamohana Ramayana since it was penned and sung at the Puri Temple’s Jagamohana. The essential information relating to the popularity of Rasagola is also present in Fakir Mohan Senapati’s travelogue Waltier Darshan, which was published in the Utkal Sahitya, a monthly Odia literary magazine, in 1904.
The sweet is well-known for its specific quality, features, and qualities; it has a very soft, juicy, and non-chewy consistency and can be easily ingested. It is made with tender Chhena [Chhena is made from the milk of Odisha’s native cow breed], semolina, floor, little cardamom powder, milk, and sugar.
However, on October 23, 2019, Ms. Smriti Lekha Chakraborty filed an objection, alleging that the grant of the Rasagola GI tag to Odisha is legally untenable. The complaint raised major concerns about the proof of provenance, historical context, and preparation of the ‘Odisha Rasagola’. The Odisha Small Industries Corporation Limited (OSIC Ltd.) put out the counter-statement/response to each query/objection brought by the petitioner, Smriti Lekha Chakraborty, on the GI tag of ‘Odisha Rasagola’ on December 18th, 2019. The registry will now determine whether to reject or accept the objections.
FAQs on GI Tag of Odisha
A GI tag is a type of intellectual property right that is given to products that are unique to a particular geographic region. These products are recognized for their qualities, reputation, and origin.
The GI tag ensures that the unique products from Odisha are protected from imitation and misuse and that their producers receive a fair price for their work. It also helps to promote and protect traditional products and skills, while boosting rural employment and exports.
As of August 2019, there were 17 products from Odisha that have been granted the GI tag. These include Pattachitra, Odisha Ikat, Sambalpuri Bandha Saree & Fabrics, and Koraput Ginger, among others.
It is a vegetable-dyed fabric woven by tribals from the Mirgan community of Kotpad village in the Koraput district. It is the first item from Odisha to bear the GI label.
The GI tag is granted by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The applicant must provide evidence of the unique qualities, origin, and cultural significance of the product, as well as its traditional methods of production.