On 16 June 2026 Tripura’s traditional stringed instrument Sarinda received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Tripura now has four GI‑tagged products.
About the Sarinda
- Description: Traditional stringed musical instrument crafted from a single block of wood with a hollow resonator.
- Use: Integral to folk music of Tripura’s indigenous communities; employed in performances and ritual contexts.
- Authenticity protected: GI recognition links the instrument to its traditional methods of manufacture and regional origin.
Tripura’s GI Portfolio
- Four GI‑tagged items: Tripura Sarinda; Queen Pineapple; Risha/Pachra (Rignai) traditional attire; Matabari Peda.
- Matabari Peda: Dairy‑based sweet offered as prasad at the 524‑year‑old Tripura Sundari Temple, Udaipur, Gomati district.
- Mission Queen Pineapple: A Rs 236‑crore project announced to expand cultivation and market access for the GI‑tagged Queen Pineapple variety.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Legal framework: Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 governs GI protection in India.
- WTO/TRIPS: TRIPS Article 22(1) defines a geographical indication as a sign identifying goods as originating in a territory with qualities/reputation due to that origin.
- GI Registry: Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (IPR Registry) in Chennai manages GI registrations under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Objective of GI: Protects product origin, traditional knowledge and authorised producers against misuse of the name.