In July 2026, The National Jute Board, under the Ministry of Textiles, developed jute-viscose blended apparel for Indian athletes to be worn at the Commonwealth Games, to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2. The Commonwealth Games 2026 will bring athletes together from 72 countries. India will be represented by a contingent of 124 members, comprising 78 males and 46 female athletes.
It will be the first time that jute-based apparel will be showcased at an international multi-sport event. The official kit unveiling and send-off ceremony was held in New Delhi on July 7. It was attended by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse, and Indian Olympic Association President P. T. Usha and members of the IOA Executive Council.
The main aim of showcasing jute-based apparel for the players is to highlight the potential of 100% biodegradable jute-viscose blended fabric as a sustainable and innovative textile solution. Another major factor in using jute-blended apparel for Indian players this year is to highlight the craftsmanship of Indian manufacturers and the contribution of jute farmers. The National Jute Board facilitated the development of the jute-viscose blended fabric with the support of Gloster Jute Mills, Kolkata. The National Jute Board worked closely with the Indian Olympic Association to promote the use of jute-based apparel for the Indian contingent.
The sustainable apparel for the players was designed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi, using the specially developed jute-viscose blended fabric. The initiative is also linked to the National Jute Board’s Jute Diversification Programme, which seeks to expand jute beyond conventional packaging into apparel, lifestyle, and other value-added applications. For India, the Glasgow Games will now carry a textile message as well as a sporting one: natural fibres can move into contemporary apparel when design, industry, and sports bodies work together.
India, proudly the largest jute producer globally, is also called the “golden fibre” in the world. In the textile and industry sector, jute and mesta crops together are known as raw jute, as their uses are almost the same. Previously, raw jute was accounted as a source of raw material by the packaging industry. But now, it is considered a versatile raw material for diverse applications such as textile industries, paper industries, building, and also automotive industries. It is also used as a soil saver, and as decorative and furnishing materials, etc.
Raw jute is a biodegradable and annually renewable source; it is considered an environmentally friendly crop, and it also helps in the maintenance of the environment and ecological balance. The production of jute and mesta in India is estimated to be 80.65 lakh bales and 3.90 lakh bales, respectively. The jute cultivation in India is mainly centered in eastern and northeastern India, while that of mesta cultivation is spread throughout the country. The stats state that the jute industry provides direct employment to over 4 lakh workers in organized mills and in diversified units, including the tertiary sector and allied activities, and supports the livelihood of 40 lakh farm families. Also, many people are associated with the trade of jute in the country.
As per the Office of the Jute Commissioner, there are 116 composite jute mills. West Bengal has the highest number of jute mills (86). The Jute Corporation of India (JCI) was established in 1971. It is the official agency of the Ministry of Textiles responsible for implementing the MSP policy for jute producers and serves as a stabilising agency in the raw jute market. JCI also undertakes commercial operations, procuring jute at prices above the MSP on commercial consideration to generate profits. The schemes for promotion of the jute sector are primarily implemented by the National Jute Board, a statutory board created for the development and promotion of the sector.
Launch of Jute-ICARE aims to increase the income of jute farmers by at least 50% by using certified seeds, modern agronomic practices in jute cultivation, and also with the use of microbial consortium to upgrade the quality of jute. The state government has also been meticulously involved in the promotion of Jute Geo-Textiles and Agro-Textiles of the northeast region, with departments such as the Ministry of Road Transport and the Ministry of Water Resources. A software platform, ‘JUTE-SMART’ (Jute Sacking Supply Management and Requisition Tool), has been set up for the procurement of jute sacking from November 1, 2016.
31 July 2026
30 July 2026
30 July 2026
30 July 2026