12th National Handloom Day

Why in News?

President Droupadi Murmu presented the Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and National Handloom Awards 2025 at a Handloom Awards Ceremony held on the occasion of the 12th National Handloom Day on 7 August 2026.

About National Handloom Day

National Handloom Day is observed every year on 7 August to commemorate the launch of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905.

The day highlights India’s rich weaving and handloom traditions, the contribution of handloom workers to the country’s socio-economic development, the cultural heritage associated with traditional textiles and the importance of Swadeshi and self-reliance.

Handloom Sector in India

India has a long history of handloom production, with evidence of spinning and weaving dating back to the Indus Valley Civilisation. References to weaving and textiles can also be found in ancient texts such as the Rigveda, Ramayana and Mahabharata.

According to the Fourth All India Handloom Census 2019–20:

• Around 31.45 lakh handloom households were recorded.
• The sector had about 35.22 lakh weavers and allied workers.
• Around 8.48 lakh allied workers were engaged in activities such as winding, warping, dyeing and calendaring.
• Women account for 25.46 lakh workers, representing more than 72% of the total handloom workforce.

Rural Livelihoods and Women

The handloom sector is closely connected with rural livelihoods across India. Women constitute the majority of the workforce, making handloom an important source of employment and economic empowerment for rural women. 

The National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) was formulated for implementation during 2021–22 to 2025–26.

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