2024 - Platinum Jubilee of Central Silk Board | Commemorative Coin

The 15th commemorative coin of 2024 was released to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Central Silk Board.

The Central Silk Board occupies a pivotal role in nurturing, developing, and promoting India’s sericulture and silk industry, one of the oldest and most culturally significant sectors in the country. Established in 1948 under the Central Silk Board Act, it functions under the Ministry of Textiles and has, for decades, guided the growth of the silk ecosystem through research, innovation, training, and policymaking. India is one of the few countries in the world that produces all five major varieties of silk—mulberry, tasar, eri, muga, and oak tasar—and the Central Silk Board has been instrumental in strengthening this unique advantage.

From its inception, the Board has focused on creating a strong scientific foundation for sericulture. Its network of research institutes and field stations across the country works to evolve high-yielding silkworm breeds, disease-resistant mulberry varieties, improved rearing techniques, and advanced technologies for post-cocoon sectors like reeling, spinning, dyeing, and weaving. These innovations have helped enhance productivity, improve silk quality, and increase the income of farmers and reelers who form the backbone of the sericulture economy. The Board also plays a proactive role in training farmers, women’s groups, entrepreneurs, and artisans, empowering rural communities and generating sustainable livelihoods.

The Central Silk Board’s initiatives extend to promoting sustainable and eco-friendly practices. Sericulture is widely recognized as a climate-resilient, low-investment, high-employment activity that supports some of India’s most vulnerable rural households. By strengthening the cultivation of eri and tasar silks, often undertaken in tribal regions, the Board has contributed significantly to inclusive development. Its efforts in expanding mulberry cultivation, improving plantation quality, and developing region-specific sericulture clusters have further boosted rural economies across states such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.

Marketing, branding, and international collaborations form another important aspect of the Board’s responsibilities. It works to ensure that Indian silk maintains high standards in global markets, while initiatives like the “Silk Mark” certification promote authenticity and protect consumers from counterfeit products. The Board also coordinates with state governments to implement various schemes aimed at strengthening infrastructure, enhancing testing facilities, and supporting small-scale enterprises.

Over the decades, the Central Silk Board has guided the Indian silk industry through phases of modernization, global competition, and technological transformation. Its continuous research, field support, and policy interventions have ensured that sericulture remains an important contributor to rural employment, women’s empowerment, and India’s rich textile heritage. As the nation advances with a renewed focus on natural fibres, sustainable industries, and traditional crafts, the Central Silk Board continues to play a vital role in preserving the legacy of Indian silk while steering its growth for the future.

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