Parliament Question: Eco-friendly Textile and Natural Dyes

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 549 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2026 ECO-FRIENDLY TEXTILE AND NATURAL DYES 549. SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA: Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state : (a) whether the Government is aware of the rapidly increasing global demand for eco-friendly and bio- based clothing (Bio-Clothes) and the export potential for the country in this segment; (b) if so, the concrete steps taken or proposed by the Government to promote domestic manufacturing, quality certification, branding, marketing and export of bio-clothes, particularly through Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and traditional textile clusters; (c) whether the Government has initiated any scheme or policy intervention to encourage the use of natural colours and dyes in garments in place of synthetic and hazardous chemicals; and (d) whether the Government in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and State Governments has launched programmes to promote cultivation, processing and assured market linkage for plants used in natural dyes to benefit farmers and sustainable textiles? उत्तर ANSWER वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री (श्री पबित्र मार्घरे रटा) THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA) (a) & (b): There is a growing global demand and a strong export potential for eco-friendly and bio- based clothing. The Government is taking a number of steps to promote and support manufacturing and export of organic, new-age, eco-friendly fibres and clothing: i. The Ministry of Textiles is implementing a pilot project, across eight clusters and four fashion houses, titled 'Eliminating Hazardous Chemicals from Apparel Fashion Supply Chain in India’ which inter alia aims to facilitate processing and production of new-age, eco-friendly and organic fibres as well as generate demand for sustainable clothing through consumer awareness. ii. The Ministry has also constituted an ESG Task Force which serves as a platform for deliberation on issues pertaining sustainable production, certification, exports, etc. The Task Force has also enabled various industry centric programmes which focus on domestic manufacturing, quality certification, etc. through platforms including Circular Samvaad and Cluster Exchange Mechanism. iii. The Government has also undertaken a number of collaborative initiatives through institutions including Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Central Institute for Cotton Research (ICAR- CICR), North Indian Textile Research Association (NITRA), etc. such as development of practices for organic production, augmenting supply of quality raw materials including bio-fibres, release of seed varieties of naturally coloured cotton for commercial cultivation, and augmenting production of organic-naturally coloured cotton.(c) & (d): With a view to promoting the production and use of natural colours and dyes in garments, the Government is undertaking a number of initiatives: i. The Government, under the National Handloom Development Program, through its two components, namely ‘Mega Cluster Development Programme’ and ‘Need based Special Infrastructural Projects’ is providing financial assistance for promotion of natural/vegetable dyes and setting up of Dye houses. ii. The Government has approved 3 R&D projects relating to natural dyes under the Research & Development scheme. iii. The Government has launched India Handloom Brand (IHB) initiative for branding of high quality handloom products with zero defects and zero effect on the environment. Under IHB, Textiles Committee, a statutory body under the Ministry of Textiles, registers products including those made of natural dyes. iv. In Bharat Tex 2025, a showcase of organic fibres, including milkweed, cotton, etc. along with natural dyes was made to generate awareness and promote their use. v. Programmes such as the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through State/UT Governments, promote organic cultivation through cluster-based approaches, including support for production, processing, certification and marketing. ****