India Aims to Be World's No. 1 Silk Producer by 2028-29
India's silk output has risen from 26,000 tonnes in 2014 to 42,000 tonnes; the Centre targets 60,000 tonnes by 2030-31 and the world's top spot by 2028-29.

Why in News
Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh announced the target of making India the world's top silk producer by 2028-29 at the Central Silk Board's 77th Foundation Day in Bengaluru.
The target
The Union Government wants India to become the world's largest silk producer by 2028-29. Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh set out the goal on 20 September 2026 in Bengaluru, where he and Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje opened the Central Silk Board's 77th Foundation Day programme and an exhibition of silk products and technologies at the UAS-GKVK auditorium.
Where production stands
According to the minister, India produced 26,000 metric tonnes of silk in 2014 and produces 42,000 metric tonnes today. The next milestone is 60,000 metric tonnes by 2030-31. Padmini Singla, Joint Secretary (Silk) in the Ministry of Textiles and Vice Chairperson of the Board, said that target will be chased with high-yielding silkworm hybrids and new machinery, while AI, GIS and machine learning are being brought in to check quality and raise capacity.
| Period | Silk production |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 26,000 metric tonnes |
| At present | 42,000 metric tonnes |
| Target for 2030-31 | 60,000 metric tonnes |
What is planned for farmers
The minister said better mulberry leaf yields and more cocoon-rearing cycles in a year could lift a silk farmer's annual income to between ₹10 lakh and ₹12 lakh. He called for 'Best Silk Farmer' award competitions at the district, state and national levels to spur sericulture farmers on, and said new research, hybrid varieties and modern machinery must reach farmers directly.
He also pointed to the market. Demand for Indian silk is growing abroad at a time when China's output is falling, he said. The government's priorities are to strengthen every link in the chain, from rearing silkworms through reeling to weaving, to take India's textile market to 300 billion dollars, and to give weavers and workers a floor of economic security.
Karnataka's lead
Shobha Karandlaje said Karnataka holds the leading position in India's total silk production. She said the government is backing the sector with infrastructure and industrial development and is encouraging silk of global export quality through modern technology and high-density production, which should raise domestic output and cut reliance on imports. Many entrepreneurs are registering under the MSME framework, she added, and subsidy and quality improvement schemes are being run to support them.
Other announcements
During the programme the Board exchanged MoUs with several organisations, handed appointment letters to 28 scientists, gave awards to outstanding employees and stakeholders and released its publications. Silk farmers and weavers from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu attended.
For the exam
Keep the figures together: 26,000 tonnes in 2014, 42,000 tonnes now, 60,000 tonnes targeted for 2030-31, and the world No. 1 goal set for 2028-29. Also remember the leading silk-producing state named at the event, Karnataka, and the occasion, the Central Silk Board's 77th Foundation Day.
Important Facts
| Occasion | 77th Foundation Day of the Central Silk Board, Bengaluru, 20 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated by | Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh and MoS Shobha Karandlaje |
| Silk production in 2014 | 26,000 metric tonnes |
| Silk production at present | 42,000 metric tonnes |
| Production target | 60,000 metric tonnes by 2030-31 |
| World No. 1 goal | By 2028-29 |
| Leading silk-producing state | Karnataka |
| Farmer income aspiration | ₹10 lakh to ₹12 lakh a year |
| Textile market goal | 300 billion dollars |
| Scientists given appointment letters | 28 |
Exam Point of View
Remember the production figures (26,000 tonnes in 2014, 42,000 tonnes now, 60,000 tonnes by 2030-31), the world No. 1 goal for 2028-29, Karnataka as the leading silk state, and the ₹10–12 lakh farmer income aspiration.
Practice Questions
According to Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh, India's silk production, which stood at 26,000 metric tonnes in 2014, has now reached how much?
- A.32,000 metric tonnes
- B.38,000 metric tonnes
- C.42,000 metric tonnes
- D.60,000 metric tonnes
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 42,000 metric tonnes
Explanation
The correct answer is 42,000 metric tonnes. Speaking at the Central Silk Board's 77th Foundation Day in Bengaluru on 20 September 2026, the minister said India's silk production had grown from 26,000 metric tonnes in 2014 to 42,000 metric tonnes today. He linked that growth to the government's commitment to expanding sericulture and raising silk farmers' incomes.
Option D, 60,000 metric tonnes, is the trap: it is not today's output but the target the government has set for 2030-31. Options A and B, 32,000 and 38,000 metric tonnes, do not appear in the release at all. Questions like this often place the current figure next to the target, so memorise the series in order: 26,000 tonnes in 2014, 42,000 tonnes now, 60,000 tonnes by 2030-31, and the world No. 1 position by 2028-29.
By which year has the Government of India resolved to make India the world's No. 1 producer of silk?
- A.2026-27
- B.2028-29
- C.2030-31
- D.2035-36
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 2028-29
Explanation
The correct answer is 2028-29. Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh said a resolve has been made to take India to the No. 1 rank in global silk production by 2028-29. He said the effort rests on raising mulberry leaf yields and the number of cocoon-rearing cycles, with the aim of lifting farmers' annual incomes to ₹10 lakh to ₹12 lakh.
Option C, 2030-31, is the year attached to a different goal: producing 60,000 metric tonnes of silk. Options A and D, 2026-27 and 2035-36, are not mentioned in the release. The two targets are easy to mix up because they were announced together, so keep them apart: world No. 1 by 2028-29, and 60,000 metric tonnes by 2030-31. The minister added that demand for Indian silk is rising abroad as China's production declines.
The 77th Foundation Day of which body was held in Bengaluru on 20 September 2026?
- A.Coir Board
- B.Central Silk Board
- C.Tea Board
- D.Khadi and Village Industries Commission
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Central Silk Board
Explanation
The correct answer is Central Silk Board. Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh and Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje inaugurated the 77th Foundation Day programme of the Central Silk Board, together with an exhibition of silk products and technologies, at the UAS-GKVK auditorium in Bengaluru on 20 September 2026. During the event the Board exchanged MoUs, gave appointment letters to 28 scientists and released its publications.
The Coir Board, the Tea Board and the Khadi and Village Industries Commission are other bodies connected with traditional industries and crops, but the release concerns none of them, so options A, C and D are wrong. When a foundation day is in the news, the questions usually ask for the body, the anniversary number and the city, so remember all three here: Central Silk Board, 77th, Bengaluru.
Which state holds the leading position in India's total silk production, according to Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje?
- A.Karnataka
- B.Assam
- C.West Bengal
- D.Tamil Nadu
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Karnataka
Explanation
The correct answer is Karnataka. Speaking at the Central Silk Board's 77th Foundation Day in Bengaluru, Shobha Karandlaje said Karnataka occupies the leading position in the country's total silk production. She added that the government is giving special attention to infrastructure and industrial growth to strengthen the sector further, and is encouraging silk of global export quality to cut reliance on imports.
Assam and West Bengal are not named in the release, so options B and C are wrong. Tamil Nadu is mentioned, but only as one of the states whose silk farmers and weavers attended the event, along with Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, not as the leading producer, so option D is also wrong. A question on the leading state is a common static-GK pairing with news on silk, so link Karnataka to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much silk does India produce now?
About 42,000 metric tonnes, up from 26,000 metric tonnes in 2014, according to Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh.
What is India's silk production target?
The government aims to produce 60,000 metric tonnes of silk by 2030-31 and has resolved to make India the world's No. 1 silk producer by 2028-29.
Which state leads India's silk production?
Karnataka holds the leading position in India's total silk production, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje said at the Central Silk Board's 77th Foundation Day.
Sources
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