Srinagar, August 22, 2026: The Department of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, has formally launched the Geographical Indication (GI) QR Code Management System at its Quality Control Division (QCD) in Srinagar, marking a significant step towards strengthening GI testing and certification, particularly for non-textile and languishing crafts.
With the launch, the QCD has become the third GI laboratory in Jammu & Kashmir after the NABL-accredited IICT and PTQCC laboratories. It will now test and affix GI labels on a range of traditional products, including Wagguv, Gabba, felted Namdah, Walnut Wood Carving, Chain Stitch, Khatamband and Crewel.
The introduction of GI QR labels for fading crafts such as Wagguv and Namdah is expected to strengthen these traditional skills by enhancing their brand value and improving their reach in domestic and international markets.
The initiative also expands GI certification beyond high-value products such as Kashmir Pashmina, hand-knotted carpets, and Kani and Sozni embroidered shawls, bringing a wider range of handmade crafts under the certification system.
The Chief Minister had recently inaugurated the refurbished QCD Laboratory, which has been equipped with a High-Resolution Digital Microscope and other required equipment. The upgradation was funded by the Ministry of Textiles under the National Handicrafts Development Programme as well as the UT Capex Budget.
Until recently, the laboratory had been labelling only non-GI handmade products from Kashmir.
The GI QR labelling system will certify the authenticity of selected handmade products and help them access the affordable market segment. It will also complement the Department’s ongoing efforts in capacity building and improved packaging, with particular focus on languishing crafts such as Namdah, Gabba and Wagguv, which have significant market potential within and outside Jammu & Kashmir.
The Department has urged artisans, weavers and other stakeholders to approach the QCD Laboratory to get their products labelled at nominal user charges, with the aim of adding brand value and improving market access for Kashmir’s handmade crafts.
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