The Prime Minister recently welcomed students with the Assamese Gamosa during the 9th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026, calling it his “most cherished possession”.

About Gamocha

• The ‘gamocha’, a handwoven rectangular cotton piece of cloth with red borders and different designs and motifs. 
• It is traditionally offered to elders and guests as a mark of respect and honour by Assamese people and is an integral part of all socio-religious ceremonies in the state

What is the significance of this gesture?

• The Gamosa is not just a piece of cloth but a symbol of Assamese identity, dignity, and respect.
• The Prime Minister described it as a symbol of women’s empowerment, reflecting the labour, skill, and resilience of lakhs of women weavers in Assam and the Northeast.
• By gifting the Gamosa to students, the Prime Minister linked cultural heritage with youth inspiration and education.

GI Tag and cultural importance

• The Assamese Gamocha received the Geographical Indication tag in December 2022, 5-year (2017) after the application was made.
• The application for a GI tag for gamusa was filed by the Institute of Handicraft Development of Golaghat.
  • The GI tag was registered in favour of the Directorate of Handloom & Textiles of the Assam government under the Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
• GI status legally links the product to Assam, protecting its authenticity and traditional knowledge.
• It recognises the handloom tradition, indigenous motifs, and community-based production systems.
• The Chief Minister of Assam highlighted that such national-level recognition boosts global visibility of the GI-tagged handloom.

Women empowerment and livelihoods

• Weaving of Gamosa is largely undertaken by rural women, making it a key livelihood-linked cultural product.
• National appreciation strengthens economic confidence, encourages handloom sustainability, and aligns with goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat and is vocal for locals.

Educational messages from Pariksha Pe Charcha

• The Prime Minister advised teachers to share chapters in advance so students can prepare with curiosity.
• He stressed learning should be within reach but not overwhelming, improving focus and retention.
• Students highlighted themes of unity in diversity, echoing Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.

One-line wrap

By gifting the GI-tagged Gamosa at Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026, the Prime Minister elevated Assam’s handloom heritage as a national symbol of culture, unity, and women’s empowerment.

Exam Hook – 

Consider the following statements about the Assamese Gamocha:

1. It has received Geographical Indication status.
2. It is closely associated with women-led handloom livelihoods in Assam.
3. GI tagging links the product’s identity exclusively to a specific geographical region.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Answer: 1, 2 and 3

Source