Srinagar, Oct 28 (KNS): The Pashmina Testing and Quality Certification Centre (PTQCC) at the Craft Development Institute (CDI), Srinagar, has witnessed a significant increase in the testing of Geographical Indication (GI) products, including Kashmir Pashmina, Kani and Sozni embroidered shawls, with the number of tests projected to reach 42,000 during the current financial year.
An official spokesperson of the Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, said the centre's daily testing rate has increased from 40–45 tests in 2024-25 to around 170 in 2026-27, reflecting improved laboratory infrastructure and growing demand for authentication of traditional Kashmiri handicrafts.
According to the department, PTQCC conducted 13,369 tests during 2024-25, averaging 40–45 tests daily. The figure increased to 22,351 in 2025-26, when the daily average rose to 75–85 tests.
During the current financial year, the centre has already conducted approximately 21,000 tests, while another 21,000 are projected between November 2026 and March 31, 2027.
The spokesperson said the projected annual figure of 42,000 tests would represent nearly a twofold increase over the previous financial year's total.
To strengthen testing capabilities, the department has equipped the Pashmina Laboratory with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and two High-Resolution Digital Microscopes.
The department is also procuring another OFDA 2000 fibre analyser and an additional digital microscope under the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) programme for 2026-27.
The spokesperson said the additional equipment would improve precision in fibre identification, accelerate quality assessment and help meet the increasing demand for GI certification and QR coding.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
GI-authorised users submitting hand-spun and hand-woven Pashmina products with Sozni embroidery are also being accorded preferential treatment during testing.
In another initiative aimed at improving transparency, the department has developed an in-house Online Appointment Token Management System to streamline GI testing, certification and QR coding.
The web-based application, developed by the department's Resource Cell, will initially be introduced on a pilot basis and will cover testing laboratories, including the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT) and Quality Control Division (QCD).
The department is simultaneously working to augment technical manpower to operate the upgraded laboratory equipment.
Technical staff are being deputed to the Wool Research Association (WRA) in Thane, Maharashtra, for specialised training.
The spokesperson said additional trained personnel would enable PTQCC to deploy more testing teams and address the increasing number of applications from GI-authorised users following the department's awareness campaigns.
The department maintained that enhanced testing and certification would help safeguard Kashmir's traditional handicrafts against misrepresentation while protecting the interests of artisans and weavers.
It said faster authentication and QR-based certification would also strengthen buyer confidence in genuine Kashmir Pashmina, Kani and Sozni products, particularly in export markets and the premium domestic segment, where authenticity remains a major consideration. (KNS)