Introduction: India’s Global Craftsmanship Achievement

The city of Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh has once again placed India’s traditional craftsmanship on the global stage. On October 7, 2025, the Guinness World Records officially recognized the world’s largest handcrafted (hand-tufted) carpet made in Bhadohi. The carpet has been laid in the Grand Mosque of Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, which is the largest mosque in Central Asia.

This achievement is not only proof of the skill of Indian artisans but also a symbol of the growing cultural and trade relations between India and Kazakhstan.

World Record Carpet: Key Facts

Size and Dimensions

Spanning 12,464.29 square meters (1,34,164 sq ft and 72 sq in), this massive carpet is named “Jannatul Firdaus.”
At its center lies a 70-meter-wide circular medallion design, which is its most striking feature.

Production Process

Duration: Completed in six months between January and June 2021

Artisans: Over 1,000 skilled artisans contributed

Installation Time: Took 50 days to install inside the mosque

Cost: Approximately ₹12–13 crore

Manufacturer: Patodia Contract (parent company of Hands Carpets)

Material and Design

The carpet was prepared in 125 separate pieces, each measuring 5 m × 25 m.
It is woven entirely from New Zealand wool and designed in Arabic–Persian style, featuring shades of blue, green, white, and indigo.

Only three tools were used during production — a tufting gun, scissors, and metal frames, while most of the work was done entirely by hand.

Astana Grand Mosque: Architectural Marvel of Central Asia

Key Features

Area: Spans 57,000 square meters

Capacity: Accommodates 10,000 worshippers at once

Main Dome: World’s largest dome — 83.2 m tall, 62 m in diameter

Minarets: Four 130-meter-high minarets, symbolizing the five pillars of Islam

Entrance Gate: 12.4 m high, made of African iroko wood — world’s tallest wooden entrance gate (weight: 1.5 tons)

Year of Construction: 2022

The mosque’s walls feature a 100 m long, 22.4 m high mosaic wall inscribed with 99 names of Allah, containing 25 million colored glass pieces.
Another highlight is a 197.8 m long Qur’an calligraphy scroll, one of the longest in the world.

Bhadohi: The Carpet Capital of India

Historical Background

The carpet-weaving tradition of Bhadohi dates back to the 16th century, during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar.
Historical records state that Persian master weavers, during their visit to India, stopped in Madhosingh village of Bhadohi and set up the first loom there.

Geographical Indication (GI) Tag

On 4 September 2010, Bhadohi’s handcrafted carpets were granted the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.
The GI tag covers carpets made across nine districts — Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Ghazipur, Sonbhadra, Kaushambi, Allahabad, Jaunpur, and Chandauli.

Economic Importance

Bhadohi–Mirzapur region is South Asia’s largest handwoven carpet center

About 3.2 million people (2.2 million rural artisans) are employed in this industry

Over 60% of India’s total carpet exports originate from Bhadohi

Annual export value: ₹17,000+ crore (≈ US$1.39 billion)

Major export markets: USA (58.6%), Germany, Australia, Europe

Product Diversity

Various types of carpets are made in Bhadohi, including hand-knotted, cotton dhurries, chapra mir, loribaft, indo-gabbeh, and indo-persian designs.

India–Kazakhstan Relations: Economic and Cultural Dimensions

Trade and Investment

Kazakhstan is India’s largest trading partner in Central Asia.
In 2024, bilateral trade reached US$974.9 million, with India’s exports to Kazakhstan amounting to US$464.2 million.
Since 2005, India has invested over US$500 million directly in Kazakhstan.

Institutional Framework

The India–Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC), established in 1993, serves as the top institutional mechanism for bilateral cooperation.
There are nine Joint Working Groups (JWGs) operating in fields such as trade, defense, transport, IT, and hydrocarbons.

Future Prospects

Both nations aim to increase bilateral trade to US$3 billion.
Direct Delhi–Astana flights are scheduled to start in May 2025, expected to boost trade and tourism.

Indian Carpet Industry: Global Overview

Global Position

India ranks among the top producers and exporters of handcrafted carpets in the world, commanding about 35–40% of global exports.

FY 2024 Performance

Total Exports: US$1.39 billion

June 2024 Exports: US$121.44 million (up from US$109.76 million in June 2023)

Annual Growth Rate (CAGR 2017–18 onwards): 7%

Government Initiatives

RoSCTL Scheme: Refund of State and Central Taxes and Levies

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Program: Benefited 74,891 artisans

35 Handicraft Technical Training Centers: Trained 2,476 artisans

India Carpet Expo (October 2023): Asia’s largest, with 350 foreign buyers from 45 countries

Challenges

The industry faces several challenges, including:

50% tariff by the USA

Competition from machine-made carpets of China and Turkey

Shortage of skilled artisans

Inadequate infrastructure

Why This Matters for Exam Preparation

UPSC Prelims Perspective

This topic is relevant for both Static GK and Current Affairs:

Geographical Indication (GI) Tag: Bhadohi carpets serve as a key GI example — important for GS Paper I (Indian Culture) and GS Paper III (Economy).

Industrial Landscape of Uttar Pradesh: Bhadohi as the “Carpet City” is a frequently asked topic in state and national exams.

India–Central Asia Relations: Kazakhstan as India’s biggest Central Asian trade partner — relevant for International Relations.

Export Promotion Schemes: Schemes like RoSCTL, MEIS/RODTEP are vital for Economy-based questions.

UPSC Mains Perspective

GS Paper I (Indian Culture & Heritage): Preservation and promotion of Mughal-era traditional crafts in a modern context.

GS Paper III (Economy):

Contribution of the handicraft sector to employment (22 lakh artisans)

Export promotion policies and trade balance

Challenges and reforms in the MSME sector

GS Paper II (International Relations):

India–Kazakhstan ties

India’s soft power in Central Asia through cultural diplomacy

Essay Topics:

“Indian Handicrafts: A Fusion of Tradition and Modernity”

“Culture as Soft Power”

“Rural Employment and Traditional Industries”

State PCS Exams (Especially UPPSC)

Possible questions include:

Bhadohi is famous for which industry?

Which districts are covered under the Bhadohi Carpet GI Tag?

How many people are employed in the carpet industry?

Other Competitive Exams

Banking, SSC, and Railway exams often feature questions on Uttar Pradesh’s key industries, GI-tagged products, and recent achievements.

Interview/Personality Test Relevance

Useful discussion themes:

Modernization of traditional industries

Rural employment and skill development

Cultural diplomacy as an instrument of India’s soft power

Preservation of local crafts in the age of globalization

Key Takeaways for Aspirants

Bhadohi = Carpet City (GI Tag: 2010)

Guinness Record: 12,464.29 sq. m recognized on 7 October 2025

Astana Grand Mosque: Largest mosque in Central Asia, built in 2022

India’s Export Share: 60% of carpet exports from Bhadohi

Kazakhstan: India’s largest Central Asian trade partner

This news highlights the intersection of India’s cultural heritage, economic potential, and global diplomacy — making it highly relevant for UPSC and other competitive exams.

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