- Topic: Art & Culture / Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) / Andhra Pradesh State News
- Event Date: December 2025 (Official reports confirm the grant)
- Product Name: Ponduru Khadi (locally known as Patnulu)
- Location: Ponduru Village, Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh
1. News Context
- The Update: The Geographical Indications Registry (Chennai) has officially granted the GI Tag to Ponduru Khadi.
- Significance: This provides legal protection to the unique hand-spun textile, preventing unauthorised use of the name and boosting the export potential of this “heritage fabric.”
- Applicant/Proprietor: The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) acts as the registered proprietor to safeguard the interests of the local weaver societies.
2. What Makes Ponduru Khadi Unique? (The Science & Art)
Unlike other Khadi, Ponduru Khadi is not just hand-woven; it is completely hand-processed from the cotton boll stage.
- Cotton Varieties: It uses two specific indigenous short-staple cotton varieties:
- Hill Cotton (White): Used for finer counts (up to 100-120 count).
- Punasa Cotton (Red): Used for coarser textures.
- The “Fish Jawbone” Technique (Crucial for Exams):
- This is the most distinctive feature. The raw cotton is cleaned and fluffed using the jawbone of the Valuga fish (a local catfish found in the Godavari river).
- Why? The fine teeth of the jawbone act as a comb to remove impurities without damaging the delicate short fibres of the indigenous cotton.
- Spinning: It is spun on a traditional single-spindle charkha (often called the Gandhi Charkha), not the mechanised Ambar Charkha used elsewhere.
3. Historical Significance
- Mahatma Gandhi’s Favourite:
- Mahatma Gandhi visited Ponduru in 1921 and was amazed by the finesse of the fabric.
- He famously remarked that he was surprised such fine cloth could be produced without machines, calling it “finer than the foreign mill-made cloth.”
- He sent his son, Devdas Gandhi, to the village to learn the spinning technique.
- Vinoba Bhave: The Bhoodan movement leader also championed this fabric.
4. Key Concepts for Exams
| Concept | Explanation |
| GI Tag (Geographical Indication) | A sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. Administered under the GI of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. |
| Valuga Fish | The specific fish whose jawbone is used in the ginning process of Ponduru Khadi. |
| Punasa Cotton | The indigenous “red cotton” variety native to Srikakulam, used for this fabric. |
5. Potential Exam Questions
- “Ponduru Khadi,” which recently received a GI Tag, belongs to which Indian state?
- (Answer: Andhra Pradesh)
- Which unique tool is used in the cleaning/ginning process of Ponduru Khadi?
- (Answer: Jawbone of the Valuga fish)
- Which Indian freedom fighter sent his son to Ponduru to study the art of fine Khadi spinning?
- (Answer: Mahatma Gandhi)