**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1593, answered on July 29, 2025, regarding Tea Research Associations and the tea industry.
Currently, two Tea Research Associations, partly supported by the Tea Board, serve the research needs of the tea industry:
1. The Tea Research Association (TRA), with its research institute located in Jorhat, Assam.
2. The Tea Research Foundation, United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI TRF), with its research institute in Valparai, Tamil Nadu.
Both TRA and UPASI TRF operate advisory centers across various tea-growing states, focusing on R&D, training for planters (including small tea growers), and knowledge dissemination. No new Tea Research Associations have been established recently.
As of July 2025, there are 1963 operational tea factories in India, distributed as follows:
* Arunachal Pradesh: 31
* Assam: 961
* Bihar: 12
* Himachal Pradesh: 46
* Karnataka: 11
* Kerala: 79
* Meghalaya: 11
* Mizoram: 1
* Nagaland: 12
* Sikkim: 1
* Tamil Nadu: 278
* Tripura: 22
* Uttarakhand: 8
* West Bengal: 490
The development and promotion of tea tourism infrastructure are the responsibility of the respective State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations. The Union Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance to these entities through schemes like Swadesh Darshan, Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD), and Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development. Project proposals are submitted by State Governments/UT Administrations/Central Agencies and are sanctioned based on adherence to scheme guidelines and submission of Detailed Project Reports. Implementation of sanctioned projects is carried out by the respective State Governments/UT Administrations.
Key Entities Referenced
Tea Board: A governmental organization that partly supports the Tea Research Association and the Tea Research Foundation, United Planters Association of Southern India.
Tea Research Association: An association partly supported by the Tea Board, with its research institute at Jorhat, Assam, that caters to the research needs of the tea industry.
Jorhat, Assam: Location of the research institute of the Tea Research Association.
Tea Research Foundation, United Planters Association of Southern India: An association partly supported by the Tea Board, with its research institute at Valparai, Tamil Nadu, that caters to the research needs of the tea industry.
Valparai, Tamil Nadu: Location of the research institute of the Tea Research Foundation, United Planters Association of Southern India.
Union Ministry of Tourism: The ministry responsible for extending financial assistance to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for tourism infrastructure development, including tea tourism infrastructure.
Swadesh Darshan: A scheme of the Union Ministry of Tourism that provides financial assistance to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for tourism infrastructure development.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive PRASHAD: A scheme of the Union Ministry of Tourism that provides financial assistance to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for tourism infrastructure development.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1593
ANSWERED ON 29.07.2025
TEA RESEARCH ASSOCIATIONS
1593. SHRI AASHTIKAR PATIL NAGESH BAPURAO
Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्री) be
pleased to state :-
(a) whether the Government has recently opened any Tea Research Associations
in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the names and locations of these associations
and if not, the reasons therefor, State-wise:
(c) the number of tea factories currently operational in the country, State-wise; and
(d) whether the Government is upgrading the tea tourism infrastructure in the
country and if so, the details therof?
ANSWER
वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद)
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) & (b): Currently, there are 2 Associations, partly supported by the Tea Board, that
cater to the research needs of the tea industry. These are:
The Tea Research Association (TRA), having its research institute at Jorhat, Assam
The Tea Research Foundation, United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI-
TRF), having its research institute at Valparai, Tamil Nadu.
Both TRA and UPASI-TRF have their advisory centres located across different
belts of tea growing states and are looking after the R&D needs, imparting training to
planters including small tea growers and carrying out knowledge dissemination to the
tea industry. No new associations have been opened recently.
(c): Currently, a total of 1963 tea factories are operational in the country. The details
of number of tea factories, State-wise, is attached as Annexure-I.
(d): The development and promotion of tourist destinations and products, including tea
tourism infrastructure is undertaken by the respective State Government/Union
Territory (UT) Administration. The Union Ministry of Tourism through its schemes of
‘Swadesh Darshan’, ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation
1Drive (PRASHAD)’ and ‘Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure
Development’ extend financial assistance to the State Governments/UT
Administrations for tourism infrastructure development including tea tourism
infrastructure in the country. The projects undertaken for development by the Ministry
are identified in consultation with State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations/
Central Agencies and are sanctioned subject to submission of project proposals by
them, their adherence to relevant scheme guidelines and submission of suitable
Detailed Project Reports. The projects sanctioned under the above schemes are
implemented by respective State Government/UT Administrations.
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2Annexure-I
Annexure referred to in Part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1593 for
answer on 29.07.2025
Number of tea
State factories
Arunachal Pradesh 31
Assam 961
Bihar 12
Himachal Pradesh 46
Karnataka 11
Kerala 79
Meghalaya 11
Mizoram 1
Nagaland 12
Sikkim 1
Tamil Nadu 278
Tripura 22
Uttarakhand 8
West Bengal 490
Total 1963
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