India’s Ministry of Textiles has launched an indigenous wool certification scheme, introducing the Bharat Wool Mark and Pashmina Mark, to bolster domestic wool’s credibility and traceability in global markets.
The labels, which carry QR codes, will allow buyers to verify product authenticity and are explicitly aimed at tackling counterfeit trade where synthetics are sold as wool or pashmina.
Developed by the Textiles Committee, the scheme is positioned as a lower‑cost alternative to international benchmarks such as Woolmark, with certification priced at 10,000 rupees ($106) for five years to make it accessible to SMEs.
Ludhiana has been named as one of six pilot clusters, alongside hubs such as Surat and Varanasi, as India links the programme to its 2030 textile export ambitions.
Officials say the move will strengthen the wool value chain through standardisation, branding and digital traceability, with parallel work under way on “new‑age” sustainable fibres such as banana and lotus.
