Jharkhand's Mandar folk instrument gets GI tag

Jharkhand's traditional folk musical instrument Mandar has been granted Geographical Indication status by the GI Registry in Chennai. The application, filed in 2021, documented the instrument's distinctive construction, local materials and deep cultural ties to the state's indigenous communities. Dr Satyadeep Singh of NUSRL Ranchi led the case, citing historical records dating to 1915.