The Indian government has initiated a review of the country's approved basmati varieties in a bid to prune the list of export-eligible aromatic rice strains and preserve the brand identity of popular varieties such as Pusa Basmati 1121, according to a report by The Hindu BusinessLine.
Current list and exporter concerns
At present, the government recognises 45 aromatic rice varieties as eligible for export as basmati, the report stated. Exporters have long argued that this list is too long because only a handful of varieties are actually sought after by overseas buyers. With the government deciding to prune the approved list, basmati varieties will be more aligned with what the export market demands, the report said.
The dominance of Pusa Basmati 1121
A key issue in the review is the naming of improved varieties. Typically, when scientists improve an existing basmati variety, they release it under a new code or name, creating a marketing problem because foreign buyers only recognise famous varieties such as Pusa Basmati 1121, which is the world’s longest elongated rice after cooking. The popularity of Pusa Basmati 1121 is such that the other producing country, Pakistan, also sells its aromatic rice using the 1121 code, according to the report.
To qualify as basmati, one of the few parameters is the size: the grain needs to be minimum 12 mm length after cooking. In the case of Pusa Basmati 1121, which was released in 2005, the length expands to 22 mm, the report noted.
Vijay Setia, a former President of the All India Rice Exporters Association, was quoted as saying: “Pusa 1121 contributed to taking India’s basmati exports to over ₹50,000 crore (2025-26) from less than ₹3,000 crore (2004-05) for which IARI has done a commendable job. But if there is an alignment in names of improved varieties with the parent successful variety, it is a welcome step.”
Review process and stakeholder views
Sources said that top scientists from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), officials of the government’s agri export promotion arm APEDA, and some exporters had a brainstorming earlier this week, the report stated. Though there is no decision yet, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is believed to have agreed to revisiting the naming issue in basmati varieties.
S Chandrasekaran, a trade policy expert, suggested a living variety management framework for the basmati Geographical Indication (GI) system. He proposed classifying varieties into the following categories:
| Classification | Description |
|---|---|
| Principal varieties | Form the core identity of the GI |
| Secondary varieties | Including improved varieties |
| Historic/Heritage varieties | Older traditional varieties |
| Experimental varieties | Under trial |
| Withdrawn varieties | No longer approved |
“For a mature GI product like basmati, a living variety management framework might be preferable to a static list through defined reputation principles,” Chandrasekaran was quoted as saying.
Implications for the basmati trade
For commodity traders and agribusiness executives, the outcome of this review could streamline export classifications, reduce confusion among buyers, and strengthen the premium commanded by well-known varieties like Pusa 1121. The move also underscores the growing importance of GI protection in maintaining India’s dominance in the global basmati market, with exports surging from less than ₹3,000 crore in 2004-05 to over ₹50,000 crore in 2025-26, according to Setia’s statement. The review is expected to conclude with a revised list that better reflects market realities, though no timeline has been announced.
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