UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Handloom — weaving India’s heritage into global growth

Q1. With reference to the institution of National Handloom Day, consider the following: 1. It is observed on 7 August, the date on which the Swadeshi Movement was launched in 1905. 2. It was declared by the Government of India in 2015, its first observance being held at Chennai. 3. The India Handloom Brand for premium handwoven products was launched on the first National Handloom Day. 4. The Handloom Mark certification for handwoven products was also introduced on the first National Handloom Day. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It is observed on 7 August, the date on which the Swadeshi Movement was launched in 1905.
  2. It was declared by the Government of India in 2015, its first observance being held at Chennai.
  3. The India Handloom Brand for premium handwoven products was launched on the first National Handloom Day.
  4. The Handloom Mark certification for handwoven products was also introduced on the first National Handloom Day.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q2. The nationwide organisation of National Handloom Day observances, including the week-long exhibitions and promotional programmes that accompany them, is carried out by which one of the following?

  • A. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, which is the sole nodal authority for all cottage industries in India
  • B. The Khadi and Village Industries Commission, which exclusively administers every handloom promotion scheme of the Union Government
  • C. The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles
  • D. The Ministry of Culture, which is entirely responsible for all heritage-craft observances in the country

Q3. Participation of Indian handloom exporters in international fairs, buyer-seller meets and overseas marketing events is facilitated by which one of the following bodies under the Ministry of Textiles?

  • A. Apparel Export Promotion Council, which handles readymade garment trade promotion
  • B. Handloom Export Promotion Council, set up in 1965 for this purpose
  • C. Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council, which covers cotton yarn and fabric trade
  • D. Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India, which runs emporia for crafts

Q4. Under the Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985, the term 'handloom' carries which one of the following meanings?

  • A. A loom operated manually, including hybrid looms in which motive power is used only intermittently with manual intervention
  • B. A loom operated within a household enterprise that engages fewer than ten workers and is registered with a weavers' cooperative
  • C. A loom on which any of the textile articles listed in the schedule of reserved articles is produced
  • D. Any loom other than a powerloom

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the Fourth All India Handloom Census: 1. It pertains to the reference year 2019-20 and is the most recent comprehensive enumeration of the handloom sector. 2. Under it, the number of allied workers enumerated exceeds the number of handloom weavers enumerated. 3. Of the handloom looms enumerated under it, about 90 per cent are located in rural areas. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It pertains to the reference year 2019-20 and is the most recent comprehensive enumeration of the handloom sector.
  2. Under it, the number of allied workers enumerated exceeds the number of handloom weavers enumerated.
  3. Of the handloom looms enumerated under it, about 90 per cent are located in rural areas.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. As per the Fourth All India Handloom Census, approximately how many women workers were engaged in the handloom sector of the country?

  • A. About 8.49 lakh
  • B. About 25.46 lakh
  • C. About 26.74 lakh
  • D. About 12.67 lakh

Q7. Specified textile articles with defined technical specifications are reserved for exclusive production on handlooms, protecting weavers from encroachment by the powerloom sector, under which one of the following?

  • A. The Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985
  • B. The Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1995
  • C. The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
  • D. The Textiles Committee Act, 1963

Q8. As stated in the Government's National Handloom Day 2026 material, how many handloom products stand registered under the Geographical Indications regime in India?

  • A. 106
  • B. 65
  • C. 227
  • D. 86

Q9. Consider the following, each said to be a textile-sector initiative announced in the Union Budget 2026-27: 1. National Fibre Scheme 2. Bhartiya Vastra evam Shilpa Kosh 3. Textile Expansion and Employment Scheme 4. Handloom Mark Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?

  1. National Fibre Scheme
  2. Bhartiya Vastra evam Shilpa Kosh
  3. Textile Expansion and Employment Scheme
  4. Handloom Mark
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q10. Consider the following statements comparing the 2026 National Handloom Day observance with its immediately preceding editions: 1. The 2026 observance was themed 'Celebrating Weavers, Renewing Traditions, Expanding Horizons', whereas the 2024 edition had been themed 'Celebrating Tradition, Innovation and Excellence'. 2. As in the observance held at Bharat Mandapam in the previous year, the Handloom Awards in 2026 were presented by the President of India. 3. The number of Sant Kabir Handloom Awardees honoured in 2026 was greater than the number honoured in the previous year's function. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2026 observance was themed 'Celebrating Weavers, Renewing Traditions, Expanding Horizons', whereas the 2024 edition had been themed 'Celebrating Tradition, Innovation and Excellence'.
  2. As in the observance held at Bharat Mandapam in the previous year, the Handloom Awards in 2026 were presented by the President of India.
  3. The number of Sant Kabir Handloom Awardees honoured in 2026 was greater than the number honoured in the previous year's function.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. The field-level institutions of the Ministry of Textiles that conduct National Handloom Day programmes in weaving centres such as Solapur, and provide design and technical support to weavers, are known as which one of the following?

  • A. Regional offices of the National Handloom Development Corporation Limited
  • B. Regional offices of the Textiles Committee
  • C. Campuses of the National Institute of Fashion Technology
  • D. Weavers' Service Centres

Q12. Consider the following pairs relating to support extended to handloom weavers: 1. Weaver MUDRA Scheme — concessional credit at 6 per cent rate of interest for three years 2. Raw Material Supply Scheme — freight reimbursement on yarn along with price subsidy on specified yarn 3. Mega Cluster Development Programme — central assistance of up to ₹30 crore per cluster over five years 4. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana — life insurance cover of ₹2 lakh for weavers in the age group 18-50 years Which of the above pairs is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. Weaver MUDRA Scheme — concessional credit at 6 per cent rate of interest for three years
  2. Raw Material Supply Scheme — freight reimbursement on yarn along with price subsidy on specified yarn
  3. Mega Cluster Development Programme — central assistance of up to ₹30 crore per cluster over five years
  4. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana — life insurance cover of ₹2 lakh for weavers in the age group 18-50 years
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only