29. Which of the following is/are the most significant implication(s) of obtaining Oeko-Tex certification for Eri Silk in the global textile industry?

29. Which of the following is/are the most significant implication(s) of obtaining Oeko-Tex certification for Eri Silk in the global textile industry?

1. It allows Indian exporters to compete in high-end markets that prioritise chemical-free products.

2. It confirms that Eri Silk meets international safety, environmental, and quality standards, enabling its entry into premium eco-conscious markets.

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Both statements correctly describe the main implications. Oeko-Tex (Standard 100) certification verifies that textiles are free from harmful substances and produced under environmentally responsible conditions. For Eri Silk (already a GI-tagged “vegan/ahimsa” silk from Northeast India), this opens access to premium global markets that demand chemical-free, safe, and eco-conscious products, allowing Indian exporters to compete at the high end.

Proper nouns and sources

• Oeko-Tex / OEKO-TEX (international textile certification system, primarily Standard 100, testing for hundreds of harmful substances; administered by an association of independent institutes, with strong German roots).

• Eri Silk (also called Ahimsa or vegan silk; produced mainly in Assam and other Northeast states from Samia ricini cocoons without killing the moth; GI product of Assam).

• Related: NEHHDC (North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation, under Ministry of DoNER), which obtained the certification.

Where they appeared

• PIB / official government sources: Primary origin. Press releases dated 16 August 2024 (PRID 2046099) announcing that NEHHDC secured Oeko-Tex certification for Eri Silk directly from Germany on Independence Day, and a March 2025 Rajya Sabha reply (PRID 2113212) reiterating the certification’s role in meeting international safety/quality standards and enabling acceptance in high-end markets. These explicitly link the certification to global marketability, chemical-free status, and export potential.

• English newspapers: Covered in The Times of India (August 2024 report on the achievement and its boost to sustainable textiles). Appearances in The Hindu and Indian Express are limited or indirect in available records; the story received more traction in regional/national English dailies and specialised textile outlets than sustained front-page coverage in those two.