President Murmu Calls for Sustainable Fashion at NIFT Convocation

01 August 2026: President Droupadi Murmu addressed the NIFT combined convocation 2026 for 18 campuses in New Delhi on 31 August 2026, asking graduates to build globally competitive, eco-friendly products while staying rooted in Indian craft. Her message linked fashion education with artisan incomes, waste reduction and India’s development goals for 2047.

NIFT combined convocation 2026: what did the President say ?

The Rashtrapati Bhavan statement records four connected themes: global ambition, cultural identity, environmental responsibility and fair economic participation. Murmu asked students to create world-class products and brands without losing touch with India’s craft traditions or the communities that sustain them. The ceremony covered graduates from 18 campuses. That number describes the convocation, not NIFT’s full network.

For students entering design, management and production roles, the instruction was practical. They should pair a global outlook with knowledge of local materials, production methods and cultural context. NIFT’s recent Kalpa 27/28 fashion forecast, for example, applies Indian cultural research to global fashion planning rather than treating the two as competing ideas.

Why were artisans central to the speech ?

Murmu described textiles and apparel as a source of livelihood for millions and said better support could help younger generations remain in traditional crafts with confidence. She referred to NIFT’s Craft Cluster Initiative, through which students and faculty work with craft communities on documentation, product development, design and market-focused projects.

Skills alone don’t secure a livelihood; artisans also need access to buyers and fairer routes to market. Screen Print India’s report on the India Handmade marketplace explains one route for connecting handloom weavers and handicraft makers directly with customers. The President asked NIFT graduates to help artisans raise productivity and income while protecting the identity of their work.

What did Murmu say about sustainable fashion ?

Her advice covered choices designers can make early in product development. She called for eco-friendly products, greater use of locally available raw materials and new uses for production remnants instead of discarding them as waste.

Murmu also welcomed the place given to sustainability and social responsibility in NIFT’s strategic plan. She expressed confidence that the institute would spread circular-economy practices, but the official release did not claim that NIFT had already achieved this across all campuses.

Industry exposure will shape how graduates put those ideas into practice. A recent NIFT colour-management partnership shows how technical training can connect design decisions with production quality. Student projects at the NIFT Daman graduation show also covered apparel fabrics, handicraft development and sustainable textiles.

A role in Viksit Bharat 2047

The President placed the graduating class within India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 goal. She asked young professionals to help build a society in which every citizen can take part in the country’s progress.

For fashion graduates, that turns a national goal into a clear test: can their products compete internationally while creating better outcomes for local makers, using materials carefully and preserving the character of Indian craft? Murmu’s address made those outcomes part of professional success, not side projects.

FAQs

When and where was the combined NIFT convocation held ?

President Droupadi Murmu attended the combined convocation for 18 NIFT campuses in New Delhi on 31 August 2026.

What sustainability steps did the President recommend ?

She asked graduates to make eco-friendly products, use locally available raw materials where suitable, turn remnants into useful products and support wider use of circular-economy practices.