New Delhi, February 15, 2025 – The Ministry of Textiles, in collaboration with the natural fibre Boards – National Jute Board (NJB), the Central Silk Board (CSB), the Central Wool Development Board (CWDB), hosted a felicitation ceremony for the winners of four major innovation challenges at Bharat Tex 2025.
The event celebrated winners from Textiles Startup Grand Challenge hosted by Ministry of Textiles as well as 3 more challenges held by the three natural fibre Boards in the areas of Jute, Silk and Wool Innovation. Altogether, 19 winners were Navachar Ke Dhage: Celebrating Textile Trailblazers
Felicitation Ceremony for Textile Innovation Challenge Winners at Bharat Tex 2025 awarded at the event.
The felicitation ceremony was aimed to recognise excellence, showcase innovations & encourage collaboration. The event reaffirmed India’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship in textiles. By recognising and promoting cutting-edge solutions, the ceremony aimed to inspire the next wave of advancements, shaping a transformative future for the sector.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles interacted personally with each winner and expressed immense satisfaction at the emergence of such pioneering ideas within the country. The Secretary reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting innovation and sustainability, further strengthening its resolve to propel the textile industry forward. while sharing her experiences, stressed the importance of leveraging the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) scheme to further strengthen these innovations. She also highlighted the demographic diversity among the innovators, appreciating the broad age spectrum of participants and the wide range of innovations spanning upcycling, recycling, biochemistry, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, aternativr dyes, and more.
The ceremony was graced by esteemed officials, including Joint Secretaries Ms. Prajakta L. Verma and Mr. Ajay Gupta, Member Secretaries of CSB, NJB, and the Executive Director of CWDB.
Ms. Prajakta Verma, Joint Secretary, emphasized in her speech that these initiatives not only encourage innovators but also inspire wider participation, fostering a strong startup culture rooted in sustainability. Mr. Ajay Gupta, Joint Secretary, underscored the critical role of startups in India’s future and highlighted the need to harness innovation across all types of fibres.
The felicitation ceremony at Bharat Tex 2025 stands as a testament to India’s unwavering focus on innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship in textiles. By nurturing these groundbreaking ideas, the Ministry of Textiles continues to pave the way for a technologically advanced, eco-conscious, and globally competitive textile industry.
Launching of Upcycling Dashboard
Ministry of Textiles Promotes Upcycling and Sustainability at BharatTex 2025
New Delhi, 15th February 2025 – The Ministry of Textiles, through its statutory body, Textiles Committee, has taken a significant step towards promoting sustainable practices in the Indian textile industry by providing certification to upcyclers.
This initiative aims to tackle the growing issue of textile waste and promote Upcycling, the creative transformation of waste materials into products of equal or higher quality.
The Ministry’s efforts are focused on encouraging the government and public sector to source upcycled products and to benefit all sectors of society, especially the many women involved in the industry at all levels, from entrepreneurs to rural SHG groups. While the term upcycling might be a relatively, traditional Indian arts such as Kantha and Godhadi reflect how deeply it is rooted in the Indian tradition. This initiative, as well as Bharat Tex 2025, highlight the Ministry’s commitment to supporting entrepreneural energy as well as the preservation and promotion of traditional Indian arts.
In an effort to increase the visibility of the certified upcyclers, the Secretary of Textiles launched a new dashboard that showcases a state-wise list of registered upcyclers and provides access to their certification details. This portal serves as a valuable tool for ensuring the authenticity and legitimacy of upcycled products, offering greater outreach and recognition for these upcyclers.
Ms. Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary (Textiles) emphasized the key benefits of upcycling and outlined government’s resolve to further support the growth of this sector. She also highlighted the inclusion of upcycling in the Sustainability & Innovation Pavilion (called “Vastra Katha”) at BharatTex 2025 with a dedicated platform to showcase their work and underscore the importance of sustainable practices in the textile industry.
Ms. Sujata, a well-known upcycler from West Bengal, and the first to be certified through this initiative, shared how the certification greatly helped in gaining wider recognition within the industry and beyond.
The event, was attended by distinguished figures, including Joint Secretaries Ms. Prajakta L. Verma and Mr. Ajay Gupta. The gathering marked a significant moment in India’s efforts to promote sustainability and innovation in the textile sector.
For more information, please visit the official portal for upcycler registration and certification.
