Silk Mark
Silk Mark is a certification mark owned and promoted by the Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI), a society established to ensure the authenticity and purity of silk products by guaranteeing that items bearing the label—such as raw silk, silk yarns, fabrics, garments, sarees, made-ups, and carpets—are made from 100% pure natural silk.[1] Launched on June 17, 2004, by the Central Silk Board under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, SMOI was registered as a society under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act 1960 on January 19, 2004, with its headquarters in Bengaluru and ten regional chapters across major silk-producing clusters in the country.[2] The organization's primary objectives include promoting fair trade practices in the silk industry, protecting consumers and stakeholders from adulterated products, and enhancing the global promotion of Indian silks through quality assurance.[2] The certification process involves rigorous testing of silk products by qualified laboratories or authorized centers to verify their purity, followed by the attachment of the Silk Mark label featuring a hologram and a unique serial number that consumers can authenticate online for verification.[3] This initiative builds trust in the Indian silk market, which draws from a rich heritage including ancient traditions like the 4,000-year-old production of Tussar silk, a non-mulberry variety, positioning India as one of the world's leading silk producers.[1] As of November 2025, SMOI has 6,688 authorized users, providing technical assistance, training, and opportunities for participation in trade expos to bolster the industry's credibility and market value.[1]History and Establishment
Origins and Launch
In the 1990s and early 2000s, the Indian silk industry grappled with pervasive issues of adulteration, where synthetic fibers such as viscose rayon—often marketed as "art silk"—were frequently substituted for or blended with pure natural silk, eroding consumer confidence and undermining the livelihoods of genuine sericulture producers.[4][5] This deception not only flooded markets with inferior products but also hampered the sector's growth, as buyers grew wary of purchasing silk without verifiable assurance of its authenticity.[6] To counter these challenges, the Central Silk Board (CSB), a statutory body under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, conceptualized and launched the Silk Mark scheme on June 19, 2004, in Bangalore.[4][7] The initiative, sponsored by the CSB and executed through the newly formed Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI), was formally inaugurated by the then Union Minister of Textiles, Shankersinh Vaghela, marking a pivotal step toward standardizing quality in the industry.[8][7] Under the leadership of CSB's executive director at the time, the scheme was designed as a voluntary certification program to certify products as 100% pure silk through rigorous testing.[2] The primary objectives of Silk Mark were to foster trust in pure silk by distinguishing it from adulterated alternatives, thereby safeguarding consumers and protecting the interests of authentic producers and weavers.[4][6] Additionally, it aimed to bolster the export potential of Indian silk by enhancing its global reputation for quality and authenticity, addressing long-standing barriers posed by market mistrust.[5] This launch represented a proactive governmental effort to revitalize the sector amid growing competition from synthetic textiles.[7]Development and Milestones
The Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI) was established on January 19, 2004, as a registered society under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960, functioning as an autonomous body under the Central Silk Board (CSB) of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, to oversee the implementation and operations of the Silk Mark certification scheme.[2][9][10] This formation addressed growing concerns over silk adulteration, enabling centralized management of quality assurance, label distribution, and promotional activities for pure silk products across India.[7] Following its launch on June 19, 2004, SMOI rapidly scaled its operations through membership enrollment and label sales. By the end of the 2005-06 fiscal year, the organization had registered 229 members and sold 8.12 lakh Silk Mark labels to 174 authorized users, while participating in 68 exhibitions and workshops to raise awareness.[9] In 2006-07, these efforts intensified, with 148 new members enrolled and over 9 lakh labels distributed to 151 users, alongside 16 roadshows and participation in 61 events, marking early growth in consumer outreach and industry adoption.[9] By 2009, cumulative label sales reached 60 lakh, reflecting significant expansion in certified silk products and a target to double membership to 1,000 by 2011.[5] Key advancements included the integration of digital verification mechanisms, with consumers able to authenticate Silk Mark labels via unique serial numbers on the SMOI website, enhancing traceability and combating counterfeiting from the scheme's early years onward.[3] By the mid-2010s, this digital infrastructure supported broader adoption, as evidenced by steady increases in label sales—reaching 24.86 lakh in the 2020-21 fiscal year and 30.42 lakh in 2021-22—demonstrating robust growth in certified output.[11] Policy support bolstered this progress, aligned with CSB's promotional initiatives under the Integrated Scheme for Research and Training. Expansion into international promotion began with global outreach goals embedded in the scheme's objectives, including participation in expos to elevate Indian silk's profile abroad.[9] By 2020, SMOI had established a network of over 5,500 members nationwide and, as of 2025, over 6,600 authorized users, while continuing to organize national expos to build credibility.[6][1] Recent developments include enhanced partnerships for quality promotion, such as training programs with state directorates for online verification under related schemes, and the announcement of the Silk Mark Expo 2025 in Bengaluru from December 4 to 9, underscoring ongoing efforts to integrate with modern retail channels and sustain industry growth.[1][12]Organizational Structure
Governing Body
The Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI) operates under the oversight of the Central Silk Board (CSB), a statutory body established in 1948 under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, which acts as its parent organization responsible for promoting sericulture and silk industry development.[13][2] SMOI's administrative framework is led by a Board of Directors that includes permanent official members such as the Chairperson appointed by the Government of India, the Vice Chairperson who is the ex-officio Member Secretary of the CSB, a representative from the Joint Secretary (Silk) or Director (Silk) of the Ministry of Textiles, the CEO/Secretary appointed by the Committee of Administration, a CSB nominee of Director rank or above, and the ex-officio Chairperson or Executive Director of the International Sericultural Export Promotion Council (ISEPC).[14] This composition ensures representation from government entities, while special members from state apex cooperatives, corporations, government departments, and societies involved in silk and textiles provide input from industry associations and producers; corporate members, including firms, weavers, and individuals in the silk business, further incorporate stakeholder perspectives.[14] Headquartered in Bengaluru, India, SMOI maintains a network of ten regional chapters strategically located in key silk-producing areas to facilitate certification and promotional activities.[2] These include offices in major states such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Assam, aligning with prominent silk clusters like those in Mysore, Kanchipuram, and Sualkuchi.[15][16] SMOI's operations are funded primarily through government grants allocated by the Central Silk Board and the Ministry of Textiles, with additional revenue generated from one-time membership registration fees paid by corporate members (₹11,800), handloom and powerloom silk weavers (₹1,180), and special members (₹7,670) as determined by the Committee of Administration.[17][18]Membership Categories
The Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI) categorizes its membership into three primary types to accommodate various stakeholders in the silk value chain, ensuring accessibility for small-scale producers while supporting larger entities. Weaver Members target individual handloom and powerloom weavers and artisans, who face minimal fees and a simplified registration process tailored to their scale. Special Members encompass cooperatives, societies, and similar collective entities, bridging individual efforts with organized groups. Corporate Members include manufacturers, retailers, exporters, and boutiques, which incur higher fees reflecting their broader operations.[18] Eligibility for all categories requires proof of involvement in silk production or trade, such as Aadhaar or PAN cards for individuals, GST certificates for businesses, Weaver ID cards for weavers, and society registration certificates for collectives, along with a signed agreement committing to pure silk standards and compliance with SMOI guidelines. This ensures members adhere to the certification's integrity without delving into production specifics. Digital signatures and relevant documentation streamline the process, promoting inclusivity across India's silk clusters.[18] Membership fees are structured as one-time registration charges, inclusive of 18% GST, varying by category to reflect operational scope:| Category | Membership Fee | Registration Fee | GST | Grand Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weaver Members | ₹500 | ₹500 | ₹180 | ₹1,180 |
| Special Members | ₹5,000 | ₹1,500 | ₹1,170 | ₹7,670 |
| Corporate Members | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹1,800 | ₹11,800 |