Policy Update on Central Silk Board
Central Silk Board and India’s Sericulture Ecosystem: The Government of India has increased the approval limit of the Central Silk Board (CSB) to speed up project implementation. This move is aimed at reducing administrative delays in infrastructure development, research programmes, and farmer-centric initiatives.
Faster approvals will help in quick rollout of sericulture schemes, technology upgrades, and capacity-building programmes. It directly supports India’s vision of strengthening the textile and silk value chain from farm to fabric.
Institutional Structure of the Central Silk Board
The Central Silk Board is a statutory body established in 1948 through an Act of Parliament. It functions under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
The Board is responsible for policy planning, research coordination, seed production, quality control, and sectoral development. It acts as the central authority for the sericulture ecosystem in India.
Static GK fact: The Central Silk Board is one of the oldest sector-specific statutory bodies in independent India’s agricultural economy.
Silk Economy in India
India is the second largest producer of silk in the world and the largest consumer of silk globally. This dual position makes silk both a production commodity and a domestic consumption staple.
Silk supports rural employment, especially among women farmers, tribal communities, and small landholders. Sericulture is a low-investment, high-employment rural industry.
Static GK Tip: Sericulture is one of the few agri-based sectors that provides year-round income instead of seasonal earnings.
Types of Silk in India
India produces all major commercial varieties of silk:
- Mulberry silk
- Oak Tasar and Tropical Tasar
- Muga silk
- Eri silk
Among these, mulberry silk contributes 92% of India’s total raw silk production. This dominance makes mulberry cultivation the backbone of Indian sericulture.
Muga silk is globally unique to India and has strong cultural significance. Eri silk is known for thermal insulation and durability, making it suitable for sustainable textiles.
Static GK fact: India is the only country that produces all four major commercial silk varieties.
Regional Silk Production Geography
Major silk-producing States and Union Territories include:
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
- Tamil Nadu
- West Bengal
- Jammu and Kashmir
Karnataka leads mulberry silk production and cocoon markets. West Bengal is a major centre for tasar and mulberry-based weaving traditions.
Static GK Tip: Silk production clusters usually develop around river basins due to water availability for mulberry cultivation.
Developmental Significance of the Approval Hike
The increased approval limit of CSB strengthens institutional efficiency. It enables quicker execution of research projects, farmer training centres, seed farms, and technology labs.
This reform supports Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and rural industrialisation goals. It also improves India’s competitiveness in the global silk market.
By reducing procedural delays, the government strengthens sectoral governance in the textile economy. This directly benefits farmers, weavers, startups, and silk-based MSMEs.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Central Silk Board and India’s Sericulture Ecosystem:
| Topic | Detail |
| Central Silk Board | Statutory body established in 1948 by Act of Parliament |
| Administrative Ministry | Ministry of Textiles |
| Policy Update | Approval limit increased to speed up project implementation |
| Global Position | Second largest silk producer, largest silk consumer |
| Dominant Variety | Mulberry silk (92% of raw silk production) |
| Silk Types | Mulberry, Tasar, Muga, Eri |
| Major Regions | Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Economic Role | Rural employment, women participation, agri-based industry |
| Strategic Impact | Faster projects, stronger governance, sectoral growth |
