Lok Sabha Question No. 549 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: Eco-friendly Textile and Natural Dyes
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Shri Parshottambhai Rupala

## 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 biobased 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?

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज्  य मंत्री ( श्री पबित्र मार्घेररटा

## उत्तर )

## 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 biobased 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 (ICARCICR),  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.

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