The Pashmina Testing and Quality Certification Centre (PTQCC) at the Craft Development Institute (CDI) in Srinagar has witnessed a significant surge in the testing of Geographical Indication (GI) registered products, with a particular focus on Kashmir Pashmina, Kani shawls, and Sozni-embroidered shawls during the current financial year. This amplified testing activity underscores a growing emphasis on authenticity and quality assurance within the region’s renowned handicraft sector.
Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the centre’s daily testing capacity has seen a dramatic increase. From an average of 40-45 tests per day in the 2024-25 financial year, the capacity has expanded to approximately 170 tests daily by the 2026-27 period. This growth is attributed to enhanced institutional capabilities, significant upgrades to laboratory infrastructure, and a rising demand for genuine GI certification coupled with QR coding for product traceability. A spokesperson for the Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, detailed the progressive increase in testing volumes, noting that the PTQCC conducted 13,369 tests in 2024-25, averaging 40-45 tests daily. This figure rose to 22,351 tests in 2025-26, with a daily average of 75-85 tests. For the current financial year, the centre has already completed around 21,000 tests. Projections indicate that an additional 21,000 tests will be conducted between November 2026 and March 31, 2027, potentially doubling the previous year’s total to approximately 42,000 tests annually.
To facilitate this expansion and improve the precision of its assessments, the Pashmina laboratory has been outfitted with advanced instrumentation. This includes the acquisition of a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and two high-resolution digital microscopes, which are crucial for detailed fibre analysis and quality evaluation. Furthermore, the department is actively engaged in procuring additional sophisticated equipment under the CAPEX programme during the 2026-27 financial year. These planned acquisitions include an OFDA 2000 fibre analyser and another digital microscope. The integration of these new instruments is expected to significantly accelerate the testing process, enhance the accuracy of fibre identification and quality assessment, and effectively meet the escalating demand for GI testing and the implementation of QR codes on certified products.
The department is also prioritizing GI-authorised users who submit hand-spun, hand-woven Pashmina products that feature Sozni embroidery, offering them preferential treatment in the testing and certification process. This focus aims to support and promote specific artisanal techniques and product categories that are integral to Kashmir’s handicraft heritage. In a move to bolster transparency and streamline the entire workflow of GI testing, certification, and QR coding, the department has developed an in-house Online Appointment Token Management System. This comprehensive web application, developed by the department’s Resource Cell, is designed to encompass all testing laboratories operated by the department, including those at the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT) and the Quality Control Division (QCD). The system is slated for a pilot launch in the near future, promising to bring greater efficiency and clarity to the certification procedures.
Complementing the infrastructural and technological advancements, the Directorate is also investing in its human capital. To ensure the effective operation of the newly acquired advanced equipment, staff members are being dispatched to the Wool Research Association (WRA) in Thane, Maharashtra, for specialized training. The department anticipates that these newly trained personnel will enable the formation of additional testing teams at the PTQCC. This expansion of the workforce is critical to managing the rising demand, which has been further stimulated by an intensive media campaign designed to promote GI-authorised users and educate consumers about the value of authenticated Kashmiri handicrafts. The enhanced testing capacity and improved operational efficiency are projected to significantly strengthen the authentication of Kashmir’s prized handicrafts. This, in turn, is expected to safeguard the interests of local artisans and weavers, while simultaneously boosting consumer and buyer confidence in genuine GI-tagged products, thereby contributing to the sustained growth and integrity of the handicraft industry.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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