Handicrafts and Textiles — Key Changes

Entry	Year	Description	Impact
73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments	1992	These amendments institutionalized Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) respectively. The Eleventh Schedule (Article 243G) lists 29 subjects for PRIs, including 'Khadi, village and cottage industries'. This empowers local self-governments to plan and implement schemes for the development of these traditional sectors at the grassroots level.	Decentralized governance for handicrafts and handlooms, enabling local needs-based planning, resource allocation, and direct support to artisans in rural areas. It fosters community participation in craft development.
Designs (Amendment) Rules	2014, 2021	These amendments to the Designs Act, 2000, aimed to simplify the design registration process, reduce fees for small entities and natural persons, and streamline procedures. The 2021 amendment further rationalized fee structures and introduced provisions for electronic filing and processing.	Made it easier and more affordable for individual artisans and small craft enterprises to protect their unique designs, encouraging innovation and safeguarding their intellectual property rights against imitation. This is crucial for the economic viability of creative crafts.