As Gujarat’s erstwhile Chief Minister, Narendra Modi relentlessly championed the cause of rural industries, but it was his first Mann Ki Baat episode in October 2014, just weeks after assuming national leadership as India’s most popular Prime Minister, that re-ignited the ‘khadi’ spark.

That spark, in the last 11 years, has now turned into a full-blown Khadi revolution. Urging every Indian to buy at least one Khadi product, PM Modi emphasised its role in uplifting poor weavers and promoting self-reliance. In the 20th century, Mahatma Gandhi envisioned Khadi not just as a simple handspun cloth, but as a powerful symbol of economic empowerment and national pride. The Charkha, or spinning wheel, became a tool for rural revival, weaving together threads of dignity, sustainability, and swadeshi.

Fast-forward to the 21st century, when Prime Minister Modi assumed office in 2014, and his Gandhian vision found renewed vigour. Under Modi’s leadership, Khadi has undergone a remarkable transformation — from a fading emblem of the past to a thriving engine of rural development and women’s empowerment. The last 11 years have witnessed what can truly be called the ‘Khadi Revolution’.

This isn’t mere nostalgia; it is a strategic and meticulous rejuvenation aligned with Modi’s flagship initiatives like Vocal for Local, Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India), and Make In India. By embedding Khadi into the broader narrative of sustainable development, the Modi government has turned it into a global, sartorial icon of eco-friendly fashion and rural prosperity. Provisional data from the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) for FY 2024-25 reveals staggering growth: sales have surged by 447% to over Rs 1.71 lakh crore, production by 347% to Rs 1.16 lakh crore, and employment by 50.75% to over 2 crore jobs. As Modi often reminds us in his Mann Ki Baat radio addresses, Khadi is New India’s bridge between tradition and innovation, heritage, and progress.

This personal endorsement was not a one-off; it became a recurring theme, with Modi repeatedly tying Khadi to national campaigns like Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and Viksit Bharat (Developed India). Central to this revolution is the KVIC, the statutory body under the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME). Established in 1957, KVIC has flourished under Modi’s guidance, implementing schemes that blend tradition with technology. Key initiatives include the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). Revamped since 2014, this........

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