The Government e Marketplace (GeM), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Textiles Committee (TC), Ministry of Textiles, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the procurement of recycled and upcycled textile products made from pre- and post-consumer textile waste, scrap and second-hand clothes.
The partnership, formalised during the 62nd Foundation Day celebrations of the Textiles Committee in Mumbai, seeks to create new market opportunities for enterprises operating in India’s circular textile economy.
The collaboration aims to establish a “Waste-to-Value-to-Market” ecosystem, enabling textile waste and discarded materials to be converted into quality, value-added products for government procurement. Under the agreement, the Textiles Committee will identify, verify, certify and recognise eligible manufacturers and producers of recycled and upcycled textile products. It will also support stakeholder consultations, capacity building, market research and the formulation of technical specifications for such products.
GeM, meanwhile, will develop dedicated categories for recycled and upcycled textiles, facilitate seller registration and provide online market access to government buyers. Training and handholding will be extended to recyclers and last-mile upcyclers to help them participate in public procurement.
The partnership will follow a hub-and-spoke model, with Textiles Committee offices supporting outreach, mobilisation, capacity building and the development of suitable product specifications and catalogues. The initiative will particularly benefit women-led enterprises, MSMEs, artisans, local businesses and other circular-economy participants.
The event was attended by Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh and Maharashtra Minister of Textiles Shri Sanjay Savkare. The MoU was signed by Additional CEO, GeM, Shri Ajit B. Chavan, and Secretary, Textiles Committee, Shri Kartikay Dhanda, in the presence of senior officials and industry stakeholders. GeM CEO Shri Mihir Kumar said the partnership would connect certification, standardisation and market access, enabling government procurement to generate reliable demand for products made from textile waste. The initiative is expected to promote resource conservation, sustainable livelihoods and responsible consumption while supporting the country’s transition towards a circular and resource-efficient textile economy.
