The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM), Government of India, in collaboration with Pragya Sansthan, the Centre of Law and Critical Emerging Technologies at ASIA, Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP), TiE Patna, Startup Bihar, and the Department of Industries, Government of Bihar, successfully hosted GI Manthan: Strengthening the Mithila Makhana Sector on 19 November 2025.
The roundtable brought together institutional leaders, industry experts, entrepreneurs, and researchers to assess the current state of the Mithila Makhana ecosystem following the Government of India’s announcement of the National Makhana Board. Participants explored policy coherence, market development, and the strengthening of GI governance to secure Mithila Makhana’s global identity and value.
The session was chaired by Prof. Unnat P. Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trademarks, who emphasised the need for robust institutional frameworks, strong producer–market linkages, and clear GI governance protocols to build global trust around Mithila Makhana. He said ““The success of India’s Geographical Indications depends on transparency, traceability, and authenticity across the supply chain. Upcoming reforms in GI certification will focus on streamlined processes, digitised traceability, and the adoption of a standardised GI logo for Mithila Makhana, measures designed to reduce market confusion and strengthen credibility.”
Pawan Kumar, Director, Postal Service, Patna outlined how India Post can support rural producers through logistics integration, e-commerce enablement, and last-mile delivery solutions, enabling Makhana farmers and FPOs to reach national and international markets more efficiently.
Mr. Kumod Kumar, CAO, CIMP said “There is an urgent need for capacity-building interventions to strengthen the Makhana value chain. Beyond technical skills, what will truly empower this sector is structured management training for producer groups, Farmer Producer Organizations, and small businesses. By equipping them with knowledge in areas such as financial planning, supply chain management, quality assurance, and market linkage, we can help these stakeholders adopt stronger business practices. This will not only enhance efficiency and competitiveness but also ensure that the benefits of the Makhana ecosystem reach farmers and entrepreneurs at the grassroots level, driving sustainable growth and long-term resilience.”
Prof. Sunil Kumar, Professor, CIMP discussed the economic significance of Mithila Makhana, calling attention to fair pricing models, the need to ensure equitable distribution of value, and lessons learned from Basmati and Darjeeling GI frameworks.
Mr. Manish Anand, Founder & CEO, Mithila Naturals shared the entrepreneurial perspective, focusing on branding, export readiness, and leveraging the cultural heritage of Mithila to create a premium global identity for Makhana-based products.
Ms. Lily Jha, Founder & CEO, Organic Sattva highlighted the need for organic certification, sustainable farming practices, and creating women-centric microenterprises in the Makhana processing ecosystem.
Shivani Singh, Program Coordinator Law & Critical Emerging Technologies, ASIA
Spoke on the legal and regulatory side of GI protection, including misuse prevention, strengthening producer rights, and aligning the upcoming National Makhana Board with community-led governance mechanisms.
In his closing note, the Chair underlined that Mithila Makhana carries both economic value and cultural responsibility, and must be developed through a “community-first, market-forward” approach. He reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting GI-protected products with strong enforcement, better certification systems, and international branding.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks expressing gratitude to all speakers, participants, partner institutions, and the wider Makhana community for contributing to a constructive and forward-looking dialogue.