PRESIDENT OF INDIA GRACES 12TH NATIONAL HANDLOOM DAY CELEBRATIONS AND PRESENTS THE SANT KABIR HANDLOOM AWARDS AND NATIONAL HANDLOOM AWARDS 2025

On August 8 2026, President Droupadi Murmu presided over the 12th National Handloom Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan, presented the Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and the National Handloom Awards 2025, and released four commemorative stamps. She highlighted handloom’s role in employment (over 35 lakh workers, including 25 lakh women), women’s empowerment, and cultural heritage, and linked the sector to the Swadeshi movement (observed as National Handloom Day since 2015). The President emphasized integrating modern technology, digital solutions and e‑commerce to boost market access and sustain growth, and noted government measures such as Design Resource Centres and Weavers’ Service Centres to support youth entrepreneurs, designers and startups.