Question raised in Rajya Sabha on non acceptance of basmati rice produced in Madhya Pradesh by APEDA, 06/08/2014. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Independent Charge) Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in response to the question has stated that the National Agricultural Research System under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation has recognized the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttrakhand, Western U.P. and two districts of J&K i.e. Jammu and Kathua as the traditional GI area for Basmati rice cultivation. APEDA has included the said area in its application submitted to GI Registry, Chennai for registration of Basmati rice as a Geographical Indication (GI). The GI registry has passed a common order on December 31, 2013 with direction to APEDA to file an amended GI application including all uncovered areas where Basmati rice is cultivated in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and other areas of the country.