Swadeshi Movement and Self -Reliant India

• 09 Aug 2025

For Prelims:  Swadeshi Movement, National Handloom Day, Partition of Bengal, Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, Make in India 

For Mains: Significance and impact of the Swadeshi Movement in India’s freedom struggle, Relevance of Swadeshi ideals in India’s economic policies, Make in India 

Source: PIB 

Why in News?

Every year on 7^th August, India celebrates National Handloom Day, which marks the launch of the Swadeshi Movement  on this day in 1905.  

• The movement promoted indigenous industries, with a special focus on handloom weaving, as a means of economic resistance to British colonial rule.

National Handloom Day 

• The day was officially declared by the Government of India in 2015 to honour the handloom community and their contribution.  
• It highlights handlooms as a pillar of rural economy, women’s empowerment, and sustainable, eco-friendly production. 
• National Handloom Day Theme 2025: “Weaving Innovation into Tradition.” 

What was the Swadeshi Movement? 

• Origins of the Swadeshi Movement: 
  • Partition of Bengal: The Partition of Bengal (1905) into Muslim-majority East Bengal and Hindu-majority West Bengal was seen as a British tactic to create religious and political divisions, weakening nationalist unity. 
  • Lord Curzon’s Policies: Lord Curzon’s repressive policies, like reforms in Calcutta Corporation and the Indian Universities Act (1904), fueled middle-class anger and discontent. 
  • Calcutta Townhall meeting: The August 1905 Calcutta Townhall meeting formally launched the Swadeshi Movement, urging people to boycott British goods especially the 'Manchester –made-cloth' and the. 'Liverpool-salt', and support Indian-made products. 
• Key Methods of the Swadeshi Movement:  
  • Boycott of British Goods: Encouraged the Indian masses to boycott British goods and promote Swadeshi (domestic) products to promote economic self-reliance by supporting local industries and crafts.  
  • National Education: The boycott of British schools led to the founding of national schools focused on Indian values. 
    • The 1905 Carlyle Circular threatened to withdraw scholarships from protesting students, causing many to leave British institutions. 
    • In 1906, the National Council of Education was formed, resulting in the later establishment of the Bengal National College and the Bengal Technical Institute. 
  • Formation of Samitis: Various volunteer organizations, known as samitis, were formed to propagate the Swadeshi message.  
    • The Swadesh Bandhab Samiti, led by Ashwini Kumar Dutta in Barisal, became a powerful tool for mass mobilization. 
  • Use Traditional Popular Festivals and Melas: Festivals like Ganapati and Shivaji were used to spread Swadeshi messages across India, including Bengal. 
    • Rabindranath Tagore used Raksha Bandhan as a symbol of unity to oppose the 1905 Bengal partition. 
  • Emphasis on Self-Reliance: The movement promoted ‘Atma Shakti’ (self-strength), linking national dignity with social reforms like fighting caste oppression, early marriage, dowry, and alcohol abuse. 
• Phases of Swadeshi Movement: 
  • Moderate Phase:The movement began with moderates using petitions and meetings but shifted to radical methods after these efforts failed. 
    • Leaders like Surendranath Banerjee supported the movement as a means to promote self-reliance. 
  • Radical Phase: Leaders like Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Bal Gangadhar Tilak, part of the Lal-Bal-Pal triumvirate, pushed for direct confrontation with the British.  
    • They expanded the movement into a call for Swaraj (self-rule) advocating boycott of British goods, institutions, and services, and supported both passive resistance and armed struggle. 
• Impact: 
  • Indian National Congress (INC): It condemned Bengal’s partition and supported the Swadeshi Movement. In the 1906 Calcutta session, under Dadabhai Naoroji, INC declared Swaraj as its goal. 
    • The Moderate-Extremist dispute over the movement’s pace and methods led to a party split at the 1907 Surat session. 
  • Social: Rabindranath Tagore wrote ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’, which later became Bangladesh’s national anthem and united Bengalis against Bengal’s partition. 
    • Artists like Abanindranath Tagore and Nandalal Bose enriched Indian art and cultural pride. 
    • The movement aimed for Swaraj through boycott and passive resistance, needing mass awakening and participation. Support came mainly from the educated middle class, aristocrats, and merchants, while many peasants and workers remained less involved. 
    • Women played a vital role by boycotting British goods and promoting local crafts. 
  • Impact on British rule: India witnessed a significant decline in foreign imports from 1905 to 1908. It pressured the British to introduce Morley-Minto Reforms (1909) which aimed to address growing Indian demands for greater representation. 
    • The Swadeshi Movement boosted Indian industries like handloom and textiles, leading to new enterprises such as Bengal Chemicals and Lakshmi Cotton Mills.  
    • Politically, it shifted focus from petitions to demanding Swaraj, fueling revolutionary activism.  
    • It also strengthened nationalism by promoting pride, unity, and self-reliance against colonial rule. 
• Annulment of Participation of Bengal: In 1911 Lord Hardinge annulled the Partition of Bengal primarily to stop the rising tide of revolutionary terrorism and unrest in the region. 

What is the Contemporary Relevance of the Swadeshi Movement in India?  

• Atmanirbhar Bharat: The Swadeshi Movement’s ideals are revived through  the Self-reliant India (Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan) mission which aims to promote Indian goods globally and achieve self-reliance.  
  • Launched during the pandemic with a Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus (~10% of GDP), it focuses on themes like ‘local for global’ and ‘vocal for local.’  
  • Key goals include making India a global supply chain hub, boosting private sector trust, supporting Indian manufacturers, and expanding exports in agriculture, textiles, clothing, jewelry, pharma and defence. 
• Make in India Initiative: It  promotes India as a global manufacturing hub, encouraging local and foreign companies to produce domestically, echoing the Swadeshi Movement’s focus on self-sufficiency and local industry. 
  • Make in India improved ease of doing business, boosting FDI from USD 45 billion in 2015 to USD 81.04 billion in FY 2024-25.  
  • Exports hit USD 437 billion in 2024, with pharmaceuticals supplying 60% of the world’s vaccines.  
  • Defense exports grew, and India rose to 39th in the 2024 Global Innovation Index. 
  • 'Made in Bihar' boots have been incorporated into the Russian Army’s equipment. 
  • The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes aim to enhance domestic manufacturing and boost exports by covering 14 key sectors. 
• Revival of Khadi and Cottage Industries: Khadi movement, a socio-cultural narrative, was launched by Gandhiji promoted the use of Swadeshi products and urged boycotting foreign goods, remains relevant today, with KVIC (Khadi and Village Industries Commission) achieving significant growth in turnover. 
  • Over the past 11 years (2013–2025), KVIC production rose by 347% and sales by 447%. Employment grew by 49.23%, providing jobs to 1.94 crore individuals.  
• Economic Nationalism and Protectionism: Rooted in the Swadeshi Movement, prioritizes domestic industries through import substitution, trade tariffs, and incentives for Indian companies.  
  • These policies aim to reduce dependency on global supply chains, especially in critical sectors like defense, healthcare, and energy. 

Role of Handloom Sector in India’s Economy 

• Economic Significance: The handloom sector is the largest cottage industry in India, employing over 35 lakh workers, many of whom are women.  
  • 72% of handloom weavers are women, providing them with economic independence. 
• Sustainable Living: Handloom products are eco-friendly, support rural livelihoods, and empower women, all while preserving India’s cultural heritage. 
• Export: India is the world’s largest producer of handwoven fabric, accounting for 95% of global handloom output.  
  • India’s major handloom exports include mats, carpets, rugs, bedsheets, cushion covers, and silk scarves.  
  • India exported handloom cotton yarn, fabrics, and made-ups worth about USD 10.94 billion in FY23. In FY24, exports went to over 20 countries, with the US as the largest importer, followed by the UAE, Spain, the UK, France, and Italy. 

India’s Initiatives Related to Handloom 

• National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP): Promotes sustainable growth by providing raw materials, design support, technology upgrades, marketing assistance, and infrastructure like Urban Haats. 
• Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS): Ensures quality yarn at subsidized rates, reimburses freight charges, and offers a 15% yarn subsidy to help handloom weavers compete with power-looms. 
• Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY): Offers low-interest loans  to weavers. 
• Workshed Scheme: Provides dedicated workspace near the weaver’s home for the entire family. Each unit costs Rs 1.2 lakh. Marginalized weavers get 100% financial aid and others receive 75%. 
• Protecting Traditional Designs: Under the Geographical Indication (GI) Act, 1999, a total of 104 handloom products have been registered for GI. 
• GeM: Around 1.8 lakh weavers onboarded on Government e-Marketplace (GeM). 
• Welfare Measures: Social security is provided via Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and converged Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY)

Drishti Mains Question:

What is the contemporary relevance of the Swadeshi Movement’s ideas in India’s current economic strategies?

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs) 

Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements : (2023)

Statement-I: 7th August is declared as the National Handloom Day. 

Statement-II: It was in 1905 that the Swadeshi Movement was launched on the same day. 

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect. 

(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct. 

Ans: (a) 

Q. With reference to the Swadeshi Movement, consider the following statements: (2019)

1. It contributed to the revival of the indigenous artisan crafts and industries.  
2. The National Council of Education was established as a part of the Swadeshi Movement.  

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only  

(b) 2 only  

(c) Both 1 and 2  

(d) Neither 1 nor 2  

Ans: (c)

---

Mains

Q. Evaluate the policies of Lord Curzon and their long term implications on the national movement. (2020)