Ministry Of Textiles Launches Handloom Hackathon 2026
The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles, has launched Handloom Hackathon 2026 – “Weaving Innovation”, a national innovation challenge aimed at driving technology-led solutions for India’s handloom sector as part of the National Handloom Day 2026 celebrations.
The hackathon seeks to bring together students, weavers, designers, startups, researchers, entrepreneurs and technology professionals to develop innovative and scalable solutions for the handloom industry.
Participants are invited to propose ideas across key themes, including product and design innovation, sustainability and circularity, digital technologies, branding, market access, supply chain efficiency, productivity enhancement, business development and social impact.
The Grand Finale will be held on August 1, 2026, at the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi, where shortlisted teams will present their solutions before a jury comprising experts from academia, industry and the handloom sector.
Selected innovations may be considered for mentoring, incubation and further development in collaboration with partner institutions, supporting the modernisation and long-term competitiveness of India’s handloom industry.
Online registrations are open until 20 July 2026, with submissions invited from participants across the country. The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration between the handloom ecosystem and India’s growing innovation and startup landscape while promoting sustainable growth in the sector.
