L J Ravi 
Seri-Stakeholders meet by Shri Giriraj Singh ji, Hon’ble Minister of Textile, Government of India to commemorate Platinum Jubilee of Central Silk Board
Venue Dr Babu Rajendra Prasad International Convention Centre, UAS, GKVK
Campus Bengaluru on September 21, 2024.
By: P. Sivakumar IFS, Member Secretary, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, Bengaluru
Bengaluru: Central Silk Board is completing 75 years of dedicated service to the millions of the sericulture stakeholders across India and proudly celebrating its Platinum Jubilee on 20th September 2024 It was in 1948, when Government of India accepted the recommendations of the “Silk Panel” and enacted the Central Silk Board Act on 20 September 1948 & subsequently, the Central Silk Board was set-up by an Act of Partament (LXI) of 1948 for shaping the Sericulture Industry on 9th April 1949 under the Chairmanship of Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee, the then Minister for Industries & Supplies, Govt. of India with its head quarter at Delhi and later moved to Bombay in 1953. In 1981, the Central Silk Board’s headquarters finally moved to Bangalore, recognizing Karnataka’s leading role in sericulture.
Composition of Central Silk Board
Central Silk Board comprises 39 members appointed as per the powers and provisions conferred by Sub-Section 3 of Section 4 of the CSB Act 1948, for a period of 3 years. The Board Members include 6 Members of the Parliament (4 Lok Sabha and 2 Rajya Sabha) under Section 4(3)(c) of the Act.
Role of CSB towards promotion of Silk Industry
The mandated activities of CSB are Research and Development, maintenance of four her silkworm seed production network, leadership role in commercial silkworm seed production, standardizing and instilling quality parameters in the various production processes and advising the Government on all matters concerning sericulture and silk industry. These mandated activities of Central Silk Board are currently being carried out by the 159 units of CSB located in different States across India including 9 Main Research Institutes.
Glorious 75 years and unfolding saga of progress and tradition of Indian Silk
To celebrate its glorious journey of 7.5 decades, Platinum Jubilee events are being organized across India in all 159 units of Central Silk Board, major two events are being conducted in Mysore on 20th September at Bengaluru on 21 September where Union Minister of Textiles, Hon’ ble Shri Giriraj Singh ji will be present among stakeholders. During these decades of dedicated service we had made significant contributions to the growth of the silk industry of the country. Major milestones achieved during this period are as follows –
India is the only country in the world producing four types of silk commercially- Mulberry, Tasar, Eri & Muga.
India’s global share of silk production has grown from 6% in 1949-50 to 42% in 2023-24.
Raw silk yarn production has grown from 1242 MT in 1949-50 to 38913 MT in 2023-24.
➤ Silk Export has increased from Rs. 0.41 Crore in 1949-50 to Rs. 2028 Crore in 2023-24.
The mulberry plantation increased from 0.57 lakh hectare in 1949-50 to 2.63 lakh hectare in 2023-24.
Raw silk productivity, which was 15 Kg/ha in 1949-50, increased to 110 Kg/ha in 2023-24.
In 1949-50, to produce 01 Kg of silk yarn, 17 Kg of cocoon were required: however, in 2023-24, one Kg of silk is being produced from 07 Kg of cocoons only due to continuing R&D interventions at grass root level.
Import substitute Bivoltine Raw Silk production increased to 9675 MT in 2023-24 as compared to 475 MT in 1995-96.
Vanya (Wild) silk production has reached 9021 MT in 2023-24, from 261 MT in 1951-52
72 patents granted. 22 new patents filed, 38 active technologies commercialized, 08 trademarks, 51 Silkworm hybrids, 20 mulberry varieties developed for overall development of sericulture industry.
Employment generation has reached 9.5 million.
