Lok Sabha Question No. 6239 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-02
Subject: Promotion of Khadi as Suitable Textile
Ministry: MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6239 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.04.2026

## PROMOTION OF KHADI AS SUITABLE TEXTILE

6239. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Khadi  fabric  is  a  completely  sustainable  textile  under  national  and  international benchmarks and if so, the details thereof including certifications, environmental impact assessments and comparative data against synthetic fabrics, if not, the extent of its sustainability;
- (b) the details of Khadi production volume, water/energy consumption per unit, carbon footprint and waste generation from 2020 to 2026 along with the measures taken to minimize environmental impact, year-wise;
- (c) whether lifecycle analyses or scientific studies have been conducted on Khadi's sustainability (from  cotton  cultivation to garment  disposal)  and  if so, the key  findings  thereof including biodegradability and recyclability metrics;
- (d) the  details  of  Government  policies,  schemes and  financial  incentives  specifically  promoting Khadi  as  a  sustainable  textile  including  budget  allocations  and  employment  generation  for  rural artisans during the last five years and the current year; and
- (e) the steps proposed to position Khadi as a global model for sustainable fashion?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

- (a): Khadi  is  a  handspun  and  handwoven  fabric  made  from  natural  fibers  such  as  cotton,  silk, wool,  and  their  blends,  and  possesses  attributes  associated  with  sustainable  textiles  under  both national  and  international  sustainability  parameters,  particularly  in  terms  of  energy  efficiency  and resource utilization, as its largely manual production process results in very low energy consumption and  a  minimal  carbon  footprint,  while  the  use  of  natural  and  biodegradable  fibers  further  reduces environmental impact  and  supports  circularity.  Certain  varieties  of  Khadi,  such  as  Ponduru  Khadi (Andhra Pradesh), Kala cotton (Gujarat), and silk variants like Tussar and Eri, are produced through traditional and low-input processes that enhance their sustainability profile. Khadi is also dyed using natural  dyes,  rendering  it  environmentally  friendly  enabling  Khadi  to  broadly  align  with  global sustainability principles.
- (b) & (c): The  details  of  quantity  of  Khadi  Production  during  FY  2020-21  to  FY  2024-25  are given below:

| Year    |   Quantity of Production of Khadi ( in million sq. meters) |
|---------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2020-21 |                                                     145.99 |
| 2021-22 |                                                     194.47 |
| 2022-23 |                                                     183    |
| 2023-24 |                                                     172.86 |
| 2024-25 |                                                     172.99 |

Specific assessments have not been undertaken with respect to water and energy consumption per  unit,  carbon  footprint,  and  waste  generation  for  the  period  2020-2026  including  life  cycle analyses or scientific studies on Khadi's sustainability.

(d): The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), under the umbrella scheme of Khadi and  Gramodyog  Vikas  Yojana  (KGVY),  is  implementing  various  schemes  and  programmes  to support  and  promote  Khadi  activities  across  the  country,  including  production,  sales,  marketing, infrastructure, training etc.

(e): The  Khadi  and  Village  Industries  Commission  is  undertaking  targeted  interventions  to position Khadi as a global sustainable textile, including focused promotional campaigns with digital outreach, strengthening of quality and environmental standards, and expanded capacity building and handholding support for Khadi Institutions. In this regard, a Centre of Excellence for Khadi (CoEK) has been established in collaboration with the National Institute of Fashion Technology under a Huband-Spoke model to provide design intervention, product development, capacity building, and support the Khadi products for international market.

In addition, KVIC operates e-commerce portal www.khadiindia.gov.in wherein around 5000 plus  various  KVI  products  are  on-boarded.  This  provides  digital  marketing  access  to  various  KVI units.

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