National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy, celebrates the rich, diverse, and practising craft traditions of India. Situated in a large campus at the corner of Pragati Maidan, opposite the majestic Purana Qila, the museum was designed by the renowned architect Charles Correa.
At present the Museum collection consists of over 33,000 specimens in various crafts, acquired over a period of 60 years collected from various states of India
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India laid foundation stone of Deendayal Hastkala Sankul (Trade Centre & Museum) on 7th November 2014 at Badalalpur, Varanasi. Deendayal Hastkala Sankul (Trade Centre & Museum) is a modern and integrated facility developed by Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India to support Handloom and Handicraft sector of Varanasi and nearby areas, by providing platform for trade enhancement, facilitation to both domestic and international buyers and carry forward the rich traditions of Handloom and Handicrafts of Varanasi region.
The complex has been developed over a contiguous land of approx. 7.93 acres, at Bada Lalpur, Varanasi. The project encompasses a constructed area of approx. 43,450 square meter, with subcomponents including Shops, Food Kiosks, Restaurants, Marts / Offices, Bank and ATM, Foreign Currency Exchange Office, Guest Rooms, Dormitories, Stalls / Kiosks, parking facility for more than 500 cars, space for cultural and social functions, Handloom and Handicraft exhibitions, Craft Museum along with Amphitheatre and Souvenir Shop.The Government of India set up TFC to provide necessary help to weavers, artisans and entrepreneurs of Varanasi for boosting their marketing activities.
The Indian Institute of Carpet Technology popularly known as IICT, the only of its kind in Asia, has been set up by Ministry of Textiles to provide much needed support to Textile, Carpet and allied Industries. The Institute is located in Bhadohi, which is 45 Kms away from Holy City Varanasi and 75 Kms from Allahabad.The Institute started functioning from 2001. IICT started its first ever B.Tech. course in Carpet and Textile Technology with approval of AICTE and affiliation to A.K.T. University, Lucknow. Carpet & Textile Technology programme, is a unique degree programme of its kind, with 60 in take seats.
METAL HANDICRAFTS SERVICE CENTRE(MHSC) was established at Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh by the Govt. of India with the support of UNDP & Government of Uttar Pradesh in the year 1983 – 84. MHSC is providing services to the Exporters/ Manufactures/Artisans of Metal Handicrafts
The Bamboo and Cane Development Institute was set up in 1974 to cater to the changing design and technology needs of buyers and to provide support to artisans and craftsmen in these two aspects. The Institute conducts training programmes and workshops and acts as a resource centre. The Centre also facilitates the participation of artisans and craftsmen in trade fairs.
The Centre has been set up with a view to providing an overall support system to the cane and bamboo sector so as to build up sustainable enterprises. One of the objectives of the centre is to act as a nodal agency for technology support facilities for development at the cane and bamboo clusters/hubs. BCDI is involved in the creation of a sustainable supply chain management for the artisans who are involved in basketry and other bamboo product development, as well as the facilitation of the production of green craft.
NECTAR (An Autonomous body under Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India) has entered an MOU to set up of bamboo based joint Technology Development Centre called as "NECTAR-BCDI Incubation cum Innovation & Technology Demonstration Centre (IITDC)" at Agartala, to support use of bamboo for poverty eradication and Sectoral development in NER.
Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) was established under Companies Act in the year 1986-87 and is a non-profit organisation, with an object to promote, support, protect, maintain and increase the export of handicrafts. It is an apex body of handicrafts exporters for promotion of exports of Handicrafts from country and projecting India's image abroad as a reliable supplier of high quality of handicrafts goods & services and ensured various measures keeping in view of of observance of international standards and specification. The Council has created necessary infrastructure as well as marketing and information facilities, which are availed both by the members exporters and importers.
CEPC, a non-profit making organization, was setup in 1982 by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India to promote export of Carpets, all types of Handmade / handmade knotted Carpets, Rugs, Floor Coverings & other allied Products from India. And since then, has been the voice of Indian carpets business community. With working office in the heart of Delhi, Registered Office at NOIDA, UP, and regional office at Bhadohi (U.P.) & Srinagar (J&K). CEPC has more than 2000 members across the country. One of the fascinating aspects of CEPC is the overwhelming variety of handmade carpet products it deals with.