New Delhi, August 5, 2026 — A big event called the GI & Beyond 2.0 Summit was held in New Delhi today to promote India’s beautiful traditional handmade products. The event was organised by the Ministry of Textiles and the Handloom Export Promotion Council.
What is this all about?
Many people may not know these terms, so here’s a simple explanation:
- Handloom means cloth and fabric that is woven by hand on traditional wooden looms by weavers, not by machines.
- Handicrafts are beautiful items made by skilled artisans using their hands — such as pottery, jewellery, bamboo work, and decorative items.
- GI (Geographical Indication) is a special government recognition given to products that come from a particular place and have unique qualities because of that region’s tradition, climate, or craftsmanship. For example, just like Darjeeling Tea or Banarasi Saree, these products get legal protection so that only authentic items from that area can use the name.
The summit brought together government officials, weavers, artisans, exporters, buyers from other countries, and experts to discuss how these traditional products can reach more people in India and abroad.
What happened at the summit?
The event was opened by Shri Pabitra Margherita, Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles. He said that GI products are not just commercial goods — they represent India’s rich culture, history, and the hard work of artisans. He also spoke about using modern technology to help these traditional products find new markets without losing their original charm.
During the event, the Minister gave official GI certificates to several new products, including:
- Ladakh Nambu Textile
- Ladakh Pashmina Textile
- Himachal Gudma
- Himachal Lingchay
- Jharkhand Bamboo Craft
- Jharkhand Tussar Silk Saree & Fabrics
- Munda Jewellery of Jharkhand
- Bareilly Terracotta
These products are now officially recognised and protected.
New Digital Platform Launched
One of the most important announcements was the launch of the Digital Handloom Atlas.
This is an online platform with the slogan “One Platform. Endless Markets.”
It will help people across India and the world easily discover genuine handloom and GI products, and will also connect weavers and artisans directly to buyers.
The Handloom Export Promotion Council also celebrated its 60th anniversary by unveiling a special Diamond Jubilee logo.
Exhibition and Discussions
Visitors could see more than 100 authentic GI-tagged handloom and handicraft items from different states. Artisans also gave live demonstrations of their traditional skills.
Experts from IIT Madras spoke about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help protect and promote these traditional crafts. There were also detailed discussions on how to register more products under GI, how to sell them better inside India, and how to increase their exports.
Why does this matter?
Millions of weavers and artisans in India depend on handloom and handicraft work for their livelihood. When these products get GI recognition and better market access, it helps preserve traditional skills, supports rural families, and also shows the world the unique cultural wealth of India.
The Ministry of Textiles said this summit is another step towards giving India’s traditional handmade products the respect, protection, and market they deserve.
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