Economics of Indian Craft Report Launch
18th May 2026 | New Delhi, India
The Institute for Human Development (IHD), and the Crafts Council of India (CCI), launched the report Economics of Indian Craft: Estimating Employment and Value Added in the Handicraft and Handloom Sector at a special event held in New Delhi on 18th May 2026 at IIC.
The report was formally launched by Shri Giriraj Singh, Union Minister of Textiles, Government of India, and Professor S. Mahendra Dev, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), alongside policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and stakeholders from the craft and textile sectors.
This work is the outcome of a dedicated field survey across five states using an estimation framework that seeks to generate credible, comparable evidence on the handmade sector’s size and contribution as well as to offer a tested, replicable methodology/toolkit for future exercises at state and national levels. By detailing sampling, estimation and reconciliation steps, it is hoped that the study would support wider adoption and periodic updates so that the handmade economy, frequently proclaimed as the second largest source of Indian livelihood after agriculture yet without reliable data to back such a claim, can be fully integrated within national systems of accounting.
This is a momentous outcome following years of hard work by those involved. APCA congratulates everyone for this valuable contribution to the whole sector.
Related Links:
Economics of Indian Craft Report
Executive Summary in English
Post-event press release