Nearly 65 lakh Indian artisans and weavers keep centuries-old crafts alive. One government platform now sells their work directly to buyers online, with no middleman.
Timeline
- 2023: Indiahandmade launches. The Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Textiles, develops the platform.
- As of August 2025: India has an estimated 64.66 lakh handloom and handicraft artisans. Women make up 71% of handloom weavers and 64% of all artisans.
- Ongoing: The platform curates GI-tagged and ODOP (One District One Product) items alongside everyday handmade goods.
- 6 July 2026: PIB publishes a full backgrounder explaining the platform’s design, features, and reach.
Must Know
- Indiahandmade is a dedicated digital marketplace for India’s handloom and handicraft products.
- It was developed by the Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Textiles, and launched in 2023.
- The platform connects artisans and weavers directly with buyers, cutting out intermediaries.
- It showcases both GI-tagged products and ODOP (One District One Product) items, giving regional crafts visibility.
- India’s handloom and handicraft sector supports an estimated 64.66 lakh artisans, with women forming a majority of the workforce.
Good to Know
- Women make up 71% of handloom weavers and 64% of total artisans, as of August 2025. The sector is a major source of rural employment for women.
- The platform sells a wide product range: apparel, home decor, furnishings, paintings, furniture, religious items, stationery, musical instruments, jewellery, bags, and footwear.
- GI-tagged products on the platform include Aipan art, pure Pashmina shawls, Dokra decor, and Mundu products.
- ODOP items on the platform include Banarasi silk, Tussar silk, Chanderi silk, Ikat, and terracotta products.
- Sellers without GST registration can still join, using an Enrolment ID. This route is restricted to sales within the seller’s own state.
- Buyers get free shipping, purchase protection, and secure payments, building trust in an unfamiliar, decentralised marketplace.
Current Affairs
- On 13 July 2026, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh visited Indie Haat 2026 at the National Crafts Museum, New Delhi. NIFT curated the event, linked to Bharat Tex 2026. It features handcrafted and handwoven products from 48 artisans and weavers, plus 12 design-led craft brands. (Source: PIB)
- 11 July 2026: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the 6th Lok Samvardhan Parv. It opened at Parade Ground, Dehradun, and runs through 15 July 2026. The five-day festival showcases India’s artisanal heritage, with over 150 stalls and live craft demonstrations. (Source: PIB)
- This was the first Lok Samvardhan Parv organised in partnership with a State Government, under the PM VIKAS Scheme. Nearly 40% of the stalls are dedicated to Uttarakhand’s own crafts, alongside handicrafts from across India. Since its 2024 launch, the festival’s five earlier editions have benefited over 550 artisans, weavers, and culinary experts. (Source: PIB)
- 8 July 2026: The Ministry of Textiles launched Handloom Hackathon 2026, titled “Weaving Innovation.” It seeks technology, design, and entrepreneurship solutions for the handloom sector. The launch was timed to National Handloom Day 2026 celebrations. (Source: PIB)
- Registrations were open until 20 July 2026. Students, designers, technologists, weavers, and startups can all take part. The Grand Finale is set for 1 August 2026, at IIT Delhi. (Source: PIB)
Test Yourself
Great to Know
- The GST-free Enrolment ID route is a deliberate design choice, not an oversight. It recognises that many small artisans and first-time digital sellers can’t clear the GST registration bar. They shouldn’t be locked out of digital commerce because of it.
- Indiahandmade doesn’t replace craft-specific institutions and GI protections. It sits on top of them, giving crafts that already have a GI tag or ODOP status a direct sales channel they didn’t have before.
- Several crafts named in Indiahandmade’s own showcase already have dedicated coverage on this site. See ArtnCulture0110 — The Banarasi Saree and ArtnCulture0116 — Dhokra Art, the “Dokra decor” on the platform. See also ArtnCulture0121 — Bengal Terracotta, among others in the same GI-handicrafts cluster.
- Indiahandmade sits alongside ArtnCulture0137 — TribeX in a broader 2026 push to digitise India’s traditional knowledge and livelihoods.
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IndEco0120 — Handloom in India: Weavers, GI Traditions, and National Handloom DayIndGov0022 — Digital IndiaIndEco0112 — Textile Industry in IndiaArtnCulture0110 — The Banarasi Saree: Varanasi's GI-Tagged Silk and Zari WeaveArtnCulture0137 — TribeX❓ Practice this topic
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