VARANASI, June 21 -- Uttar Pradesh has topped the country with 83 GI-tagged products being awarded to the likes of the world-famous 'Kanthi Mala' (bead necklace) of Mathura-Vrindavan, Aligarh metal sculptures, Aligarh hardware, and Bhojpur Pidhiya Paintings. Padma Shri Dr Rajni Kant, known as the 'GI Man of India,' stated that according to the list released by the GI Registry in Chennai, UP has retained the top spot in India. The 'Kashi GI Model' has garnered global acclaim. Varanasi leads with the highest number of GI tags (32). Furthermore, in the current financial year-with the technical support of Dr Rajni Kant-a total of 84 GI tags have been registered across various regions, including 8 for Ladakh, 8 for Jharkhand, 22 for Madhya Pradesh, and others across states like Bihar, Tripura, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Assam; additionally, 215 new applications were submitted within a single year, setting a record in itself, said Rajnikant. Efforts are underway to take ODOP (One District One Product) items from 'Local to Global' by securing GI tags through legal processes, a drive now being extended to the 'One District One Cuisine' initiative. Dr Rajni Kant believes this feat will transform the lives of lakhs of artisans, weavers, women, farmers, craftsmen, and entrepreneurs, while also contributing to the goal of a one-trillion-dollar economy....