Aspirational Districts

Maharashtra

Bhandara Chinoor Rice: Maharashtra's GI-Tagged Aromatic Grain

Aspirational District

Meghalaya is a hilly state in northeastern India.

Haryana is a North Indian state with Chandigarh as its capital. 

Rajasthan is a state in northern India with Jaipur as its capital. 

Odisha (formerly Orissa), an eastern Indian state, has Bhubaneswar as its capital. 

Chhattisgarh is a state in central India with Raipur as its capital. 

Provides information about innovative practices in Aspirational districts. 

Punjab is an Indian state with Chandigarh as its capital. 

Nagaland is a mountainous state in northeast India. Its capital city of Kohima. 

West Bengal is a state in eastern India, between the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal. It has four aspirational districts.

Himachal Pradesh is a northern Indian state with Shimla as its capital.

Tripura is a hilly state in northeast India, bordered on 3 sides by Bangladesh, and home to a diverse mix of tribal cultures and religious groups. In the capital Agartala, the imposing Ujjayanta Palace is set among Mughal gardens, and Gedu Mia’s Mosque has white marble domes and towers. South of the city, Neermahal summer palace sits in the middle of Lake Rudrasagar and blends Hindu and Islamic architectural styles.

Madhya Pradesh, a large state in central India, has Bhopal as its capital. 

Gujarat is a state in the western part of India with Gandhinagar as its capital.

Mizoram is a state in northeastern India, with Aizawl as its capital. 

/aspirational-districts/arunachal-pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh is the north-eastern most state of India. Itanagar is the state capital.

Andhra Pradesh state is situated in the south-eastern part of the country. It has three Aspirational districts. 

/aspirational-districts/jammu-and-kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir is a Union Territory of India 

Telangana is a state in southern India. Its capital is Hyderabad

Bihar is a state in East India with Patna as its capital.

Karnataka is a state in southwest India. It has two aspirational districts.

/aspirational-districts/maharashtra/solapur-chaddar-a-geographically-indicated-handloom-textile-from-maharashtra

The Solapur Chaddar, a handloom textile from Maharashtra with a GI tag since 2005, is renowned for its pure cotton construction, durability and unique reversible geometric patterns created on Jacquard looms.

/aspirational-districts/maharashtra/the-legacy-and-craft-of-sawantwadi-wooden-toys

Sawantwadi wooden toys are a centuries-old handicraft from Maharashtra, known for their hand-carved mango wood miniatures and vibrant lacquer finishes that reflect a rich royal heritage. Now holding a GI tag, these traditional creations represent the artistic spirit of the Chitari community while navigating modern challenges for survival.

/aspirational-districts/maharashtra/washim

Washim is a city and a municipal council in Washim district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. 

/aspirational-districts/maharashtra/gadchiroli

Gadchiroli district was carved out on the 26th of August 1982 by the division of erstwhile Chandrapur district. 

/aspirational-districts/maharashtra/osmanabad

Osmanabad is a city and a municipal council in Osmanabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. 

/aspirational-districts/maharashtra/vasmat-haldi-(turmeric)-receives-gi-tag-for-its-unique-qualities

Vasmat Haldi, a distinguished turmeric variety from Maharashtra's Hingoli district, has been granted a GI tag in 2024, recognizing its exceptional medicinal value due to high curcumin content, deep golden-yellow color, and strong aroma. This designation protects its regional identity, ensures product authenticity, and supports farmer income.

/aspirational-districts/maharashtra/nandurbar

Nandurbar is a district in the Khandesh region of the Indian state of Maharashtra and is the headquarters of the taluka. 

/aspirational-districts/maharashtra/alibag-white-onion-(alibag-pandhara-kanda)-a-profile-of-the-gi-tagged-agricultural-gem

Awarded a GI Tag in 2022, the Alibag White Onion is a unique agricultural product from Maharashtra's Raigad district, distinguished by its sweet flavor, low pungency, and high nutritional content. It thrives in a specific coastal microclimate and is traditionally preserved through a braiding technique known as veni.

/aspirational-districts/maharashtra/the-art-and-heritage-of-karvath-kati-silk-sarees

The Tasar Karvati Saree is a traditional handwoven textile from Maharashtra, distinguished by its unique temple-designed borders and intricate three-shuttle weaving technique. This cultural masterpiece reflects the rich heritage of the Vidarbha region through its skilled craftsmanship and pure tasar silk composition.

/aspirational-districts/maharashtra/pinguli-ganjifa-cards-a-traditional-handicraft-from-maharashtra

Pinguli Ganjifa Cards are unique, hand-painted playing cards from Maharashtra, India, created by Chitrakathi artisans using natural dyes and traditional techniques. These cards, often depicting mythological themes and recognized with a GI tag, are a blend of art, gaming, and cultural heritage facing challenges from replicas and declining interest.

/aspirational-districts/maharashtra/bhandara-chinoor-rice-maharashtras-gi-tagged-aromatic-grain

Bhandara Chinoor is a traditional, aromatic non-basmati rice from Maharashtra's Wainganga river basin, recognized for its unique soft texture, sweet taste, and 2023 GI tag status. Cultivated for over a century, this historic grain thrives in fertile clayey soils, earning its region the reputation of the 'Rice Bowl of Maharashtra'.

Maharashtra, a state in west-central India, has Mumbai as its capital. 

/aspirational-districts/agencies-working-in-aspirational-districts

Agencies working in aspirational districts

Uttarakhand, a state in northern India crossed by the Himalayas, is known for its Hindu pilgrimage sites. Rishikesh, a major centre for yoga study, was made famous by the Beatles’ 1968 visit. The city hosts the evening Ganga Aarti, a spiritual gathering on the sacred Ganges River. The state's forested Jim Corbett National Park shelters Bengal tigers and other native wildlife.

Tamil Nadu, a South Indian state, is famed for its Dravidian-style Hindu temples. 

Assam is a state in northeastern India with Dispur as its capital. 

Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with Imphal as its capital. 

Sikkim is a state in northeast India, bordered by Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal. Part of the Himalayas, the area has a dramatic landscape that includes India’s highest mountain, 8,586m Kangchenjunga. Sikkim is also home to glaciers, alpine meadows and thousands of varieties of wildflowers. Steep paths lead to hilltop Buddhist monasteries such as Pemayangtse, which dates to the early 1700s.

Kerala, a state on India's tropical Malabar Coast has Thiruvananthapuram as its capital. 

Jharkhand is a state in eastern India with Ranchi as its capital. 

Uttar Pradesh is a state in northern India. With roughly 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populous state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was created on 1 April 1937 as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh during British rule, and was renamed Uttar Pradesh in 1950.

✅ Basic Info 
Name: Bhandara Chinoor Rice&nbsp; State: <a title="External website that opens in new window" href="https://energy.vikaspedia.in/viewcontent/energy/policy-support/state-wise/maharashtra?lgn=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-page-id="1721">Maharashtra</a> (Bhandara district)&nbsp; GI Tag Year: 2023&nbsp; Category: Agricultural product&nbsp; Granted by Geographical Indications Registry (Chennai)&nbsp; &nbsp; 
🌱 Unique Features 
Aromatic non-basmati rice with natural fragrance (due to compounds like 2AP)&nbsp; Soft, non-sticky &amp; fluffy after <a title="External website that opens in new window" href="https://energy.vikaspedia.in/viewcontent/energy/energy-conservation/energy-conservation-at-home/cooking?lgn=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-page-id="612">cooking</a>&nbsp; Slightly sweet taste&nbsp; Medium grain, white &amp; smooth texture&nbsp; Shelf life ≈ 18 months&nbsp; &nbsp; 
🌍 Geographical Area 
Grown mainly in Bhandara district (Vidarbha)&nbsp; Talukas: Pauni, Tumsar, Mohadi, Sakoli, etc.&nbsp; Region known as “Rice Bowl of <a title="External website that opens in new window" href="https://education.vikaspedia.in/viewcontent/education/childrens-corner/places-to-visit/must-see-monuments-in-india/maharashtra?lgn=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-page-id="23605">Maharashtra</a>”&nbsp; 
Agro-climatic uniqueness Grown in Wainganga river basin Clayey, fertile soils + high humidity Traditional variety (not hybrid) 👉 Local soil + water → distinct aroma &amp; taste 
Cultivation Practices Mainly Kharif crop (monsoon) Transplantation method used Requires standing water in early stages Harvested manually in many areas<img style="max-width: 100%; height: auto;" src="https://static.vikaspedia.in/mediastorage/filestorage/20260419012315_Rice.webp" alt="Uploaded Image"> 
 📜 Historical Importance 
Cultivated for 100+ years&nbsp; Mentioned in records since 1867&nbsp; Traditionally consumed by local elites&nbsp;