**Policy Summary: Promoting Organic Textiles and Naturally Colored Garments at the International Level**
The Ministry of Textiles is actively promoting organic textiles and naturally colored apparel through several initiatives. Key programs include:
* **National Handloom Development Program:** Providing financial assistance via the Mega Cluster Development Programme and Need-based Special Infrastructural Projects for natural vegetable dyes and dye house establishment, contingent upon proposals from State Governments.
* **Research and Development:** The Ministry has approved three R&D projects focused on natural dyes under the Research Development scheme.
* **India Handloom Brand (IHB) Initiative:** Branding high-quality handloom products with "zero defects and zero effect" on the environment. The Textiles Committee, a statutory body under the Ministry, registers products using natural dyes and facilitates their marketing.
* **Sustainability and Value Added in Agriculture Value Chain Project:** This project, led by the Ministry, aims to increase the supply of organic cotton in India and establish market linkages with international brands.
* **ICAR-CICR Collaboration:** Initiatives include developing practices for organic cotton production, releasing seed varieties of naturally colored cotton for commercial cultivation, and increasing organic/naturally colored cotton production.
* **Bharat Tex 2025:** Showcasing organic fibers (including milkweed and cotton) and natural dyes to raise awareness and promote their use.
This information was provided by the Minister of State for Textiles, Shri Pabitra Margherita, in a written reply to question number US Q2400 in Rajya Sabha on August 8, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Textiles: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation of policy and regulation of the textile industry.
National Handloom Development Program: A Government program aimed at the development of the handloom sector.
Mega Cluster Development Programme: A component of the National Handloom Development Program focused on developing handloom clusters.
India Handloom Brand IHB: An initiative by the Ministry of Textiles for branding high-quality handloom products.
Textiles Committee: A statutory body under the Ministry of Textiles that registers products using natural dyes.
Sustainability and Value Added in Agriculture Value Chain: A project steered by the Ministry focusing on augmenting the supply of organic cotton in India.
ICAR-CICR: An entity that has undertaken collaborative initiatives such as development of practices for organic cotton production.
Bharat Tex 2025: An event showcasing organic fibers and natural dyes.
Ministry of Textiles
PROMOTING ORGANIC TEXTILES AND
NATURALLY COLORED GARMENTS AT
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
Posted On: 08 AUG 2025 2:33PM by PIB Delhi
The Government with a view to promote organic textiles and naturally coloured apparel has undertaken a
number of initiatives like:
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 on receipt of proposals from the State Governments.
ii. The Ministry of Textiles has approved 3 R&D projects relating to natural dyes under the Research
& Development scheme.
iii. The Ministry of Textiles 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
which use natural dyes and helps in its marketing.
iv. A project on Sustainability and Value Added in Agriculture Value Chain being steered by the
Ministry focuses on augmenting supply of organic cotton in India and also facilitates market
linkages with international brands.
v. ICAR-CICR has undertaken a number of collaborative initiatives such as development of
practices for organic cotton production, release of seed varieties of naturally coloured cotton for
commercial cultivation, and augmenting production of organic-naturally coloured cotton.
vi. 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.
The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES SHRI PABITRA
MARGHERITA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
*******
MAM/SMP/NM
(Rajya Sabha US Q2400)
(Release ID: 2154074)