The Government e Marketplace (GeM), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Textiles Committee, under the Ministry of Textiles, have entered into a formal partnership to increase government purchases of recycled and upcycled textile products. The agreement was signed during the Textiles Committee’s 62nd Foundation Day celebrations in Mumbai in September 2026. This move aims to create business opportunities for enterprises working with textile waste, old clothes and fabric scraps.
What the partnership will do
The Textiles Committee will take responsibility for identifying, verifying and certifying producers of recycled and upcycled textile goods. The Committee will also support capacity building, market research and help develop technical standards for these products.
GeM will create separate online categories for recycled and upcycled textiles, help sellers register on the platform, and actively promote these products to government departments and institutions. The partnership will provide training and hands-on support to small recyclers and upcyclers to help them participate in government procurement.
The scheme targets women entrepreneurs, micro and small businesses, local enterprises, artisans and recyclers. It follows a hub-and-spoke model where the Textiles Committee and its offices will work directly with grassroots producers, while GeM handles the online marketplace and government connections.
The initiative is aligned with government priorities including Vocal for Local, Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
What this means for you
If you are a small business or artisan working with textile waste or second-hand clothing, you now have a clearer path to sell your products to government offices, schools, hospitals and other public institutions. The government will help train you and provide certification. If you work in a government department, you will increasingly see recycled and upcycled textile products available for purchase through GeM for uniforms, furnishings, gifting and other uses. This partnership aims to make textile recycling economically viable while reducing waste.