Banarasi Shehnai and 20 other traditional products from Uttar Pradesh have received the prestigious GI tag, making UP the leading state in India for GI-tagged items.
National
In April 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi awarded Geographical Indication (GI) certificates to 21 traditional products from Uttar Pradesh (UP). One of the key highlights was the Banarasi Shehnai—a traditional musical instrument deeply connected to the cultural roots of Varanasi (also called Banaras or Kashi). Other notable items included the Banarasi Tabla and Banarasi Bharwan Mirch.
- PM Modi personally handed over the GI certificate for the Banarasi Shehnai to Ramesh Kumar, a well-known artisan from Varanasi, during a public program held at Mehndi Ganj in UP.
- With this recent development, Uttar Pradesh (UP) has become the state with the highest number of Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged products in India, surpassing Tamil Nadu. UP now boasts a total of 77 GI-certified products, while Tamil Nadu holds 69.
- This was also the first time in India that GI certificates for 21 products were distributed at a single event by the Prime Minister since the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 came into effect in 2003.
Main Point :- (i) Out of the 21 products awarded GI tags, 9 are from Varanasi, showcasing the city's strong cultural and craftsmanship traditions.
(ii) Interestingly, Varanasi alone has 32 GI-tagged products, making it a global center for GI-recognized heritage items.
Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath
Governor: Anandiben Patel
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