Introduction Silk is the most elegant textile in the world with unparalleled grandeur, natural sheen, and inherent affinity for dyes, high absorbance, light weight, soft touch and high durability and known as the “Queen of Textiles” the world over. On the other hand, it stands for livelihood opportunity for millions owing to high employment oriented, low capital intensive and remunerative nature of its production. The very nature of this industry with its rural based on-farm and off-farm activities and enormous employment generation potential has attracted the attention of the planners and policy makers to recognize the industry among one of the most appropriate avenues for socio-economic development of a largely agrarian economy like India. Silk has been intermingled with the life and culture of the Indians. India has a rich and complex history in silk production and its silk trade which dates back to 15th century. Sericulture industry provides employment to approximately 8.7 million persons in rural and semi-urban areas in India. Of these, a sizeable number of workers belong to the economically weaker sections of society, including women. India’s traditional and culture bound domestic market and an amazing diversity of silk garments that reflect geographic specificity has helped the country to achieve a leading position in silk industry. Silk production in India India has the unique distinction of being the only country producing all the five known commercial silks, namely, mulberry, tropical tasar, oak tasar, eri and muga, of which muga with its golden yellow glitter is unique and prerogative of India. Mulberry sericulture is mainly practised in states such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Bodoland (Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri districts of Assam), West Bengal, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu who are the major silk producing states in the country. North East has the unique distinction of being the only region producing four varieties of silk viz., Mulberry, Oak Tasar, Muga and Eri. Overall NE region contributes 18% of India's total silk production. India is the second largest producer of silk in the world. India is the only country producing all four varieties of silk namely mulberry, tasar, eri and muga. Among these, mulberry silk dominates in production, accounting for approximately 77% of the country's total raw silk output. India has achieved a record production of 41,121 MT of raw silk in 2024-25, which is 6% higher than the production achieved during 2023-24 (38,913 MT) and 93% achievement against the target of 44,400 MT. The bivoltine raw silk production increased by 5% from 9675 MT in 2023-24 to 10,160 MT in 2024-25. There was also an increase in cross breed raw silk production by 4% in 2024-25 compared to the previous year. With a significant increase in bivoltine and cross breed silk production, an all-time high mulberry production of 31,119 MT was achieved in 2024-25. The tasar silk production increased by 19% to 1,884 MT in 2024-25 from 1,586 MT in 2023-24. Eri silk production increased by 10% to 7,886 MT in 2024-25 from 7,183 MT in 2023-24. However, a reduction in muga silk production by 8% has been reported during 2024-25 compared to 2023-24. The area under mulberry has decreased by 1% during 2024-25 compared to the previous year. Fabrics, made-ups, and readymade garments continue to constitute the major share of India's silk exports. During 2024-25, export earnings from silk goods reached Rs.2,361.75 crore (US$ 279.32 million), marking a notable increase from Rs.2,027.56 crore (US$ 244.27 million) recorded in 2023-24. Raw silk is the major item of imports, which accounts for 64% of the total imports followed by fabrics and made-ups. During 2024-25, the value of silk goods imports has been reported Rs. 1561.77 crore (US$ 184.70 million) compared to Rs.1894.44 crore (US$ 228.99 million) in 2023-24. The total raw silk imports reduced by 23% from 2,650 MT in 2023-24 to 2,036 MT in 2024-25. Central Silk Board (CSB), constituted by an Act of Parliament (Act No. LXI of 1948), is a Statutory Body under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, established for the development of sericulture and silk industry in the country. Functioning under the administrative control of Ministry of Textiles and serves as an apex body for planning, coordinating, and monitoring the growth of silk sector across India. Guided by its vision "To see India emerge as the Global Silk Leader", CSB formulates and implements policies and programmes aimed at holistic development of the industry across three major sectors viz., (a) Silkworm seed production, (b) Farm and pre-cocoon sector and (c) Industry and post-cocoon sector. During 2024-25, the sericulture sector's key focus remained on enhancing the production of quality bivoltine raw silk, ensuring improved productivity, sustainability and competitiveness at both national and international levels. Source : Central Silk Board Geographical Indications of Indian silk Baluchari Saree - West Bengal Salem Silk - Tamil Nadu Arani Silk - Tamil Nadu Molakalmuru Sarees - Karnataka Ilkal Sarees - Karnataka Muga Silk - Assam Orissa Ikat - Odisha Kancheepuram Silk - Tamil nadu Mysore Silk - Karnataka Chanderi Fabric - Madya Pradesh Policy initiatives taken for the development of silk industry Sericulture is the functional area under the Ministry of Textiles. Some of the recent policy initiatives taken by the Ministry to promote sericulture are as follows. Under Silk Samagra-2, comprehensive field interventions, covering plantation development, silkworm rearing support, reeling and weaving infrastructure, by-product utilization and enterprise development are taken up. Focused welfare and livelihood enhancement were ensured through SCSP, TSP, and NET programmes. Convergence initiatives with MGNREGA, RKVY, and other State schemes are also mobilized to strengthen the resource base for sericulture expansion. Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI), the quality assurance arm of the Central Silk Board, promotes consumer confidence in pure silk through its nationally recognized Silk Mark certification. Source : Ministry of Textiles, Government of India