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Murshidabad Silk, a GI tagged textiles product of West Bengal

Photo: Hiart / Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Textiles · West Bengal

Murshidabad Silk

GI Registered West Bengal Textiles
GI numberGI Registered · 2026
Verified cooperativesProducer association pending — see the official GI Journal for authorised users
StateWest Bengal

About Murshidabad Silk

Murshidabad Silk is mulberry silk woven in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, and it was reported as registered for a GI in 2026. The district has long been one of Bengal's silk centres, producing plain and patterned silk for saris, dhotis, scarves and dress material. It is often described as smooth and lustrous, and the district is also the original home of the Baluchari sari.

Heritage and place

Murshidabad was the capital of Bengal under the Nawabs in the eighteenth century, and silk growing and weaving flourished around the court. Sericulture, from mulberry cultivation to reeling and weaving, has sustained families in the district for generations. The GI ties the name to district-made silk at a time when much silk sold in India comes from elsewhere or is blended with cheaper fibres.

How it is made

Silk starts with mulberry leaves that feed the silkworms. The cocoons are boiled, the filament is reeled into raw silk, and the yarn is degummed, dyed and woven. Handloom weavers produce plain silk, jacquard patterns and saris, while some production is powerloom. Quality depends on the reeling, the yarn thickness and the finishing, which is why hand-reeled silk usually costs more.

Registry record

Murshidabad Silk is a Geographical Indication tagged product of West Bengal in the textiles category, reported as newly registered in 2026; a confirmed registration number is not yet listed here. The name is legally protected: only producers within the notified region may sell under it. Confirm the entry in the official GI Journal before relying on it commercially.

◈ How to spot a fake Murshidabad Silk

What to check

Ask for the Silk Mark and check whether the piece is handloom or powerloom. Real silk feels smooth and slightly cool, and a burnt thread smells like hair, not plastic. Compare weights and prices across sellers and be cautious about unusually low prices. Buy from weavers' cooperatives, state emporia and established Murshidabad sellers, and confirm the registration in the GI Journal, since it is recent and was confirmed by only one news report in our research.

  • General guidance, not the registered specification: ask for the Silk Mark and whether the piece is handloom; a burnt thread of real silk smells like hair, not plastic. The registration was reported in 2026, so confirm authorised sellers in the GI Journal.

Where to buy

Authorised producers for this recent registration are not yet listed in our dataset. Check the GI Journal entry for authorised users, and prefer government emporia and cooperatives in West Bengal.

Catalogue record

Catalogue record: GI Registered · 2026 · West Bengal · reviewed

Frequently asked questions

What is the GI registration number of Murshidabad Silk?

Murshidabad Silk was reported as newly registered in 2026. This catalogue does not yet list a confirmed registration number, so check the official GI Journal for the entry.

Where is Murshidabad Silk made?

Murshidabad Silk is produced in West Bengal, in the textiles category of this catalogue.

Can Murshidabad Silk legally be made outside West Bengal?

No. GI protection means only producers within the notified region of West Bengal may legally sell goods under the name “Murshidabad Silk”.

How can I spot a fake Murshidabad Silk?

General guidance, not the registered specification: ask for the Silk Mark and whether the piece is handloom; a burnt thread of real silk smells like hair, not plastic. The registration was reported in 2026, so confirm authorised sellers in the GI Journal.