**Executive Summary**
Indiahandmade is a digital marketplace launched in 2023 by the Ministry of Textiles to integrate India’s handloom and handicraft sectors into the online economy. The platform connects approximately 64.66 lakh artisans directly with buyers to eliminate intermediaries, ensure fair compensation, and preserve cultural heritage. With a target to onboard over 60 lakh artisans, the initiative specifically supports a workforce that is over 60% female and promotes the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Platform Features and Seller Benefits**
* **Direct Market Access:** Connects weavers and artisans directly to a global buyer base, reducing reliance on intermediaries.
* **Cost-Effective Selling:** The platform charges no commission and no shipping fees to sellers, ensuring higher profit margins.
* **Simplified Onboarding:** Provides a guided pathway for artisans and producer organizations; sellers without a GSTIN can register using an Enrolment ID for intrastate sales.
* **Digital Tools:** Equips traditional craftspeople with digital resources and visibility to participate in modern e-commerce.
**Buyer Assurance and Trust**
* **Reliable Shopping:** Offers free shipping, secure payment gateways, and purchase protection for all customers.
* **Customer Support:** Includes easy return policies and dedicated buyer support mechanisms to build consumer confidence.
* **Authenticity:** Provides a curated space for genuine handcrafted items, reinforcing trust through competitive pricing and verified origins.
**Product Diversity and Regional Identity**
* **Specialized Categories:** Highlights Geographical Indication (GI) tagged products, such as Pashmina shawls and Dokra décor, and One District One Product (ODOP) items like Banarasi silk and Ikat.
* **Extensive Range:** Features diverse products including apparel, home décor, furniture, musical instruments, jewelry, and stationery.
**Sector Demographics and Impact**
* **Inclusive Workforce:** As of August 2025, women represent 71% of handloom weavers and 64% of total artisans.
* **Livelihood Support:** Strengthens rural employment and provides financial and social empowerment through expanded market opportunities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Artisans and Weavers**
**Impact**
They gain direct access to a national market, receive fair compensation without commission deductions, and are empowered with digital commerce skills.
**Action Required**
Register on the platform via the guided onboarding process; those without GST registration must obtain an Enrolment ID for local sales.
**Buyers**
**Impact**
Consumers gain a secure, transparent channel to purchase authentic, regional, and GI-tagged Indian crafts with the benefit of free shipping and purchase protection.
**Action Required**
Utilize the Indiahandmade portal to discover and purchase verified handmade products directly from the creators.
**Ministry of Textiles / Digital India Corporation**
**Impact**
These bodies drive the digital transformation of traditional sectors, supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision and the preservation of national heritage.
**Action Required**
Execute plans to onboard the targeted 60 lakh+ artisans and maintain the platform's infrastructure to support regional craft visibility.
Key Entities Referenced
Indiahandmade: A dedicated digital marketplace developed to connect Indian handloom and handicraft artisans directly with buyers, expanding market access and supporting livelihoods.
Ministry of Textiles: The primary government department responsible for the oversight and development of the Indiahandmade platform.
Digital India Corporation: The agency under the Ministry of Textiles that developed the Indiahandmade platform to bridge traditional livelihoods with digital commerce.
One District One Product (ODOP): A government initiative promoted on the platform to identify and promote unique products from each district to support balanced regional growth.
Geographical Indication (GI): A legal certification category featured on the platform that links specific handicraft and handloom products to their region of origin and quality standards.
PIB Backgrounder
Indiahandmade: A Digital Platform for India's
Craft Heritage
प्रव तथ: 06 JUL 2026 2:13PM by PIB Delhi
Indiahandmade is a dedicated digital marketplace that brings India’s handloom and handicraft
traditions into the online economy. The platform connects artisans and weavers directly with buyers,
expanding market access while supporting livelihoods and cultural preservation. It showcases diverse
handmade products, including GI-tagged and ODOP items, giving regional crafts greater visibility.
A Digital India Bridge for Handmade Livelihoods
India is home to one of the world’s richest handloom and handicraft traditions. The sector represents not
only India’s cultural heritage, but is also an important source of inclusive livelihoods.
India currently has an estimated 64.66 lakh handloom and handicraft artisans. Women form a major
part of this workforce, accounting for 71% of handloom weavers and 64% of total artisans as of
August 2025. This strong participation highlights the sector’s role in supporting employment and
empowerment, especially in rural communities.
With a large number of artisans and weavers, the sector continues to hold an important place in India’s
evolving marketplace. As commerce becomes increasingly digital, online access is helping these craft
communities participate more directly in the market. Through the Digital India initiative, traditional
livelihoods are increasingly gaining access to digital commerce opportunities.
Launched in 2023 , Indiahandmade turns this vision into a dedicated digital marketplace. Developed by
Digital India Corporation under the Ministry of Textiles, the platform strengthens the visibility of
handmade products and opens wider market opportunities for sellers.
Salient features of Indiahandmade Platform
Indiahandmade brings traditions into the online marketplace through a set of features designed to support
sellers, buyers and craft heritage:
Specialised Online Marketplace : It enables weavers and artisans to sell their handloom and
handicraft products online.Direct Buyer Access: Artisans and weavers are directly connected with buyers, helping reduce
intermediaries and support fair compensation.
Greater Visibility: The platform showcases handmade products to a broader customer base,
expanding market opportunities for sellers.
Digital Empowerment: Artisans and weavers are provided with digital tools and visibility to
participate more effectively in online commerce.
Financial and Social Empowerment: Wider market access strengthens livelihoods and supports
income opportunities.
Cultural Preservation: A diverse range of craft-based products keeps India’s handmade heritage
visible and helps preserve traditional skills for future generations.
What Makes Indiahandmade Stand Out
The portal is designed around trust, accessibility and seller empowerment. It offers a seamless marketplace
where artisans and weavers can reach buyers, and buyers can discover handmade products with greater
confidence.
Craft Diversity and Regional IdentityThe platform provides a curated digital space for everyday handmade products and recognised regional
crafts. It offers a wide range of products, including apparel, home décor, furnishings, paintings,
furniture, religious items, stationery, musical instruments, jewellery, bags and footwear.
It also highlights special product categories such as GI-tagged and ODOP products. This gives
recognised regional crafts greater visibility and a distinct identity.
GI-Tagged Products ODOP Products
GI-tagged products carry a The One District One
Geographical Indication, Product (ODOP) initiative
linking them to a specific identifies and promotes a
region, quality and reputation. unique product from each district to support
The platform offers variety of balanced regional growth. The platform features
GI-tagged products such as Aipan art, pure Tangail sarees, Banarasi silk products, Ikat,
Pashmina shawls, Dokra décor and Mundu Tussar silk sarees, Chanderi silk and terracotta
products. products.
Building Trust and Easing Seller Participation
Better Access, Better Assurance: Buyers benefit from a more reliable shopping experience through free
shipping, purchase protection, secure payments and buyer support mechanisms. It also reinforces trust by
offering handcrafted products at competitive prices.
Simple Onboarding for Sellers: The platform provides a guided onboarding pathway for artisans,
weavers and producer organisations to access the marketplace.
Bringing Small Sellers into Digital Commerce
Sellers without GST registration can register using an Enrolment ID,
with a mandate to sell only within their own state. This makes the portal more inclusive and
accessible for smaller artisans and first-time digital sellers.
Success Stories Behind the Marketplace
Behind the platform are artisans, weavers and enterprises whose craft traditions continue to thrive through
digital commerce.
Santarms brings the warmth of handmade craft into everyday living. From wooden
décor and scented candles to terracotta diyas, marble idols and handloom sarees, each
piece reflects care, tradition and a quiet sense of beauty.
Dastkar Craft carries the skill of over 500 artisans into modern homes through cane
and bamboo products. They create high-quality, export-worthy pieces that celebrate
India’s heritage while seamlessly fitting into contemporary homes.
Villages Craft celebrates the simplicity and strength of handloom traditions. Its
cotton towels, gamchas and bedsheets are made with care by skilled artisans, turning
everyday essentials into products rooted in comfort, quality and heritage.These stories give handmade products a human face, showing how tradition, skill and livelihood come
together in the digital marketplace.
Carrying India’s Heritage into the Digital Future
Indiahandmade reflects the spirit of Digital India, recognising crafts as both a livelihood source and a
reflection of India’s cultural identity. With plans to onboard 60 lakh+ artisans, the platform supports the
vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. It gives artisans and weavers wider market access while helping buyers
discover handmade products with trust and ease.
With every handmade product, it ensures that India’s handmade legacy continues to inspire
livelihoods and opportunity for generations to come.
References:
Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology:
https://www.digitalindia.gov.in/initiative/india-handmade/
Ministry of Commerce & Industry:
https://ipindia.gov.in/page-content/geographical-indications-an-introduction
Ministry of Textiles:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2152551®=48&lang=2
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1919216®=48&lang=2
Ministry of Development of North-East Region:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2201421®=48&lang=2
Indiahandmade Platform:
https://www.indiahandmade.com
https://www.indiahandmade.com/marketplace/?srsltid=AfmBOookWpSt6aCR_kyx8SK_SyVuchTGhk8pJ
Ga7WO7Bq1SdXhXPQ1vL&utm_source=chatgpt.com#account_info
https://www.indiahandmade.com/static/version1782981084/frontend/ESHILP/theme/en_US/images/SOP_
Seller-Registration-English.pdf
PIB Archives:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?ModuleId=3&NoteId=156396&id=156396&lang=1®=3
Click here to see pdf
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PIB Research
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