Central Silk Board

The Central Silk Board (CSB) is a statutory body established by the Government of India to promote and regulate the growth of the sericulture and silk industry in the country. It functions under the Ministry of Textiles and serves as the principal organisation responsible for research, training, extension, and quality control related to silk production. Headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, the Board acts as the apex coordinating agency for both mulberry and non-mulberry silk sectors, contributing significantly to rural employment and textile development in India.

Background and Establishment

The Central Silk Board was constituted under the Central Silk Board Act, 1948 and became operational in April 1949. The Act provided the legal foundation for organising, developing, and regulating sericulture and silk production on a national scale. The Board comprises representatives from the central and state governments, research institutions, industry stakeholders, and experts in sericulture. Members are appointed for a fixed term, and the Board operates as an autonomous body with policy and advisory functions to the Government of India.
The primary objective of establishing the CSB was to coordinate research and development across different segments of the silk industry and ensure self-reliance in silk production, seed distribution, and technology dissemination.

Objectives and Mandate

The Central Silk Board’s objectives include promoting, developing, and regulating the silk industry through scientific and sustainable practices. Its main functions are:

• Conducting research and development in all aspects of sericulture, including mulberry, eri, muga, and tasar varieties.
• Maintaining a national silkworm seed organisation to ensure the supply of high-quality silkworm eggs and genetic stock.
• Standardising production and quality control procedures for silk yarn, cocoons, and other silk products.
• Advising the government on policy matters concerning the development and export of silk.
• Providing training and extension services to farmers, seed producers, and silk processors to promote scientific rearing and processing methods.
• Encouraging entrepreneurship and private sector participation in sericulture through technology transfer and market support.

Organisational Structure

The Central Silk Board operates through a nationwide network of research and training institutes, seed production centres, and regional extension units. These institutions support field-level implementation of sericulture development programmes, technology adoption, and farmer capacity building.
Major institutes under the Board include:

• Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSRTI) located at Mysuru and Berhampore.
• Central Silk Technological Research Institute (CSTRI) at Bengaluru.
• Silkworm Seed Production Centres and Extension Units established across various states such as Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

This extensive network allows the CSB to address region-specific challenges and promote both mulberry and non-mulberry silk production suited to diverse climatic zones.

Role in the Silk Industry

India is the only country producing all five commercial varieties of silk—mulberry, eri, muga, tropical tasar, and temperate tasar. The Central Silk Board plays a pivotal role in promoting each of these sectors by coordinating research, enhancing productivity, and linking farmers with domestic and international markets.
Its major contributions include:

• Improving the quality and productivity of mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing.
• Promoting high-yield silkworm breeds and disease-free seed production.
• Facilitating post-cocoon technologies, including reeling, spinning, weaving, and finishing.
• Strengthening marketing infrastructure and certification through initiatives such as the Silk Mark Organisation of India.
• Supporting sericulture as a sustainable source of rural income, particularly for women and small-scale farmers.

Socio-Economic Significance

The sericulture industry provides employment to millions of rural families, especially in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, and the North-Eastern states. The Central Silk Board’s initiatives promote rural livelihood, women’s empowerment, and skill development. By diversifying sericulture into non-traditional areas, the Board contributes to balanced regional development and environmental sustainability.
CSB’s research and development activities have led to innovations in silkworm breeding, pest management, disease control, and eco-friendly rearing practices. These efforts ensure higher productivity, improved silk quality, and better market competitiveness.

Challenges Facing the Board

While the Central Silk Board has achieved substantial progress, several challenges persist:

• Ensuring the consistent availability of high-quality silkworm seeds in remote and diverse sericultural regions.
• Upgrading post-cocoon infrastructure and linking farmers with value-added markets.
• Addressing price fluctuations and competition from synthetic fibres and imported silk.
• Promoting environmental sustainability through organic mulberry cultivation and waste management.
• Enhancing public-private partnerships for technology dissemination and export-oriented production.

To overcome these challenges, the CSB continues to modernise infrastructure, strengthen extension services, and encourage scientific innovation in silk production and processing.

Recent Developments

In recent years, the Central Silk Board has undertaken several initiatives to revitalise sericulture:

• Establishing advanced seed production units and diagnostic laboratories to maintain genetic purity and disease-free silkworm stock.
• Expanding capacity-building programmes to train farmers, entrepreneurs, and extension workers.
• Encouraging silk cluster development projects and integrated sericulture development schemes to promote collective production and marketing.
• Promoting digital platforms for seed supply, market linkages, and information dissemination.
• Fostering international cooperation to position Indian silk as a premium product in the global market.

Importance in National Development

The Central Silk Board contributes significantly to India’s textile economy by supporting the production of high-quality silk and reducing dependence on imports. It aligns with national goals of promoting Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Sustainable Rural Development. Through its research-driven, farmer-centric initiatives, the CSB enhances productivity, profitability, and ecological balance within the sericulture sector.
Moreover, the Board’s focus on non-mulberry silks such as eri and muga, unique to the North-Eastern states, highlights its commitment to preserving indigenous silk heritage while fostering inclusive economic growth.