President Presents Sant Kabir Handloom Awards 2025

President Droupadi Murmu presented the Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and the National Handloom Awards 2025 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi on 7 August 2026 during the 12th National Handloom Day celebrations. A total of 22 awards were presented, including three Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and 19 National Handloom Awards, for craftsmanship, innovation, and preservation in the handloom sector.

Sant Kabir Handloom Awards

The Sant Kabir Handloom Award is one of the highest honours in India’s handloom sector. In 2025, the award was given to Ram Meher of Odisha for a Bichitpar Khadi Saree, Runima Chetiya Choudhury of Assam for a Muga Silk Saree, and Shah Muhammad Ansari of Uttar Pradesh for a Zarbaft Shewatambari Awadh Jamdhani Saree.

National Handloom Awards and Regional Weaves

The National Handloom Awards recognise excellence in handloom weaving across India. The 2025 awards covered regional textiles such as Kanchipuram Silk of Tamil Nadu, Ikat of Telangana, and Kani Shawls of Jammu and Kashmir.

Handloom Sector and Commemorative Releases

The President released four commemorative postage stamps on India’s weaving traditions and unveiled the book Earth. Root. Thread – Aal Dyed Handloom Textiles of Central India. The book was compiled by the Office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms, which functions under the Ministry of Textiles.

Important Facts for Exams

• National Handloom Day is observed on 7 August in India.
• The date 7 August is linked with the Swadeshi Movement of 1905.
• Handloom weaving in India is a traditional cottage-based textile activity that uses manual looms.
• Muga silk is a natural silk variety associated with Assam.

Institutional and Policy Context

The ceremony was attended by Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, Minister of State Pabitra Margherita, and Development Commissioner for Handlooms Dr. M. Beena. The handloom sector in India includes weaving clusters, artisan households, and regional textile traditions across several states.