Important Government Schemes and Initiatives for Sericulture and the Silk Industry

India holds a unique position in global textile production as the second-largest producer of silk and the only country that commercially produces all four primary wild and cultivated silk varieties: Mulberry, Tasar, Eri, and Muga. Sericulture functions as an agro-based enterprise providing employment to millions across rural areas, particularly empowering women and marginalized communities. The Ministry of Textiles, operating through the Central Silk Board, executes policy frameworks, infrastructure development projects, research initiatives, and technological interventions to reduce reliance on imported bivoltine raw silk, modernize post-cocoon processing, and establish domestic self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Central Silk Board and Statutory Framework

• Central Silk Board Act, 1948: Established the Central Silk Board (CSB) as a statutory body under the Ministry of Textiles, headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Mandate: CSB oversees the overall development of the sericulture and silk industry, ranging from scientific research and seed organization to quality standards and market regulation.
• Research Institutions: CSB manages dedicated research institutes including the Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSRTI) in Mysuru, Berhampore, and Pampore, and the Central Tasar Research and Training Institute (CTRTI) in Ranchi.

Flagship Scheme: Silk Samagra-2

Silk Samagra-2 serves as the primary central sector scheme for the holistic development of sericulture, running from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with an outlay of ₹4,424.90 crore. Jointly executed by the Central Silk Board and State Sericulture Departments, it targets the complete value chain across pre-cocoon and post-cocoon segments.

Four Core Pillars of Silk Samagra-2

• Research & Development and Capacity Building: Focuses on breeding high-yielding, disease-resistant silkworm hybrids, developing improved host-plant varieties, and conducting farmer training programs through field extension units.
• Seed Organisation: Strengthens a four-tier seed production system (Nucleus, Basic, Commercial, and Chawki Rearing Centres) to ensure the supply of Disease-Free Layings (DFLs) to farmers.
• Coordination and Market Development: Supports cluster-based sericulture, improves market linkages for cocoons and raw yarn, and expands infrastructure like rearing sheds and irrigation systems.
• Quality Certification and Tech Upgradation: Promotes the “Silk Mark” label, establishes cocoon testing units, and subsidizes modern reeling machinery.

Varieties of Indian Silk and Regional Specialization

India produces distinct commercial silk varieties adapted to regional ecological zones:

Sector-Specific Interventions and North East Focus

Bivoltine Mulberry Silk Production

• Bivoltine Drive: India traditionally produced multivoltine silk, which yields lower-grade yarn. Government schemes promote 3A and 4A international grade bivoltine silk to substitute imported Chinese raw silk.
• Automatic Reeling Machines (ARMs): The scheme provides capital subsidies for setting up Automatic Reeling Machines and Multi-End Reeling Units to yield high-tenacity yarn.

Special Focus on North Eastern Region

• NERTPS Integration: Sericulture projects under the North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) are integrated with Silk Samagra to build localized value chains.
• Preserving Wild Silks: Dedicated projects protect the wild habitats of Muga and Eri host plants across Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.

Post-Cocoon Sector and Silk Mark Scheme

• Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI): An initiative established by CSB to protect consumers and traders against synthetic or adulterated silk substitutes.
• Silk Mark Label: A hallmark tag featuring a pure silk logo issued to certified weavers, manufacturers, and retailers to guarantee 100% natural silk purity.
• Testing Facilities: Cocoon testing centres and silk testing laboratories operate across major trading hubs to standardize prices based on shell percentage and yarn quality.

Integrated Rural and Weaving Sector Schemes

• Samarth (Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector): Provides demand-driven, placement-oriented skilling in silk reeling, spinning, weaving, and processing for rural jobseekers.
• National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP): Supports handloom silk weavers through cluster development, financial assistance for loom upgrades, and raw material supply through the Yarn Supply Scheme.
• MGNREGA Alignment: State governments align MGNREGA funds with sericulture to subsidize land preparation, host plant plantation, and rearing shed construction for smallholders.
• PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): Promotes drip irrigation adoption in mulberry gardens to optimize water efficiency and leaf yields.

Key Facts for Quick Revision

• India is the second-largest producer of raw silk globally, after China.
• India is the only country in the world that commercially produces all four major natural silk varieties: Mulberry, Tasar, Eri, and Muga.
• Central Silk Board (CSB) was established as a statutory body in 1948 under the Ministry of Textiles, with headquarters in Bengaluru.
• Silk Samagra-2 is a central sector scheme running from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a total financial allocation of ₹4,424.90 crore.
• Karnataka is the largest producer of mulberry raw silk in India, followed by Andhra Pradesh.
• Assam holds a geographical virtual monopoly in the production of golden Muga silk.
• Eri silk is known as “Ahimsa Silk” or peaceful silk because the pupa is allowed to emerge naturally before spinning the cocoon.
• Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI) issues the “Silk Mark” hallmark tag to certify 100% natural silk purity.
• Bivoltine silkworm varieties complete two lifecycles a year and yield superior 3A/4A international grade silk compared to multivoltine breeds.
• Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSRTI) in Mysuru is the oldest premier research station for mulberry silk in India.