The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, highlighting a series of measures aimed at promoting district-specific products, improving market access, encouraging entrepreneurship, and enhancing India’s export potential. The initiative, led by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), has emerged as a key pillar in supporting local industries and traditional crafts across the country.
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, 1,244 products have been identified across 773 districts under the ODOP framework. The selection of these products is carried out by the respective State and Union Territory governments, ensuring that each district’s unique strengths and traditional products are represented.
The details were shared by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
Promoting District-Specific Products
The ODOP initiative seeks to transform locally produced goods into nationally and internationally recognized brands. To achieve this objective, the government has introduced several promotional measures, including facilitating participation in domestic and international exhibitions, conducting capacity-building programmes, and organizing e-commerce onboarding drives for sellers through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) ODOP Bazaar.
These efforts are designed to improve the visibility of district-specific products while creating new business opportunities for artisans, farmers, micro-enterprises, and entrepreneurs.
Financial Support Through PM Ekta Malls
The Centre is also supporting the establishment of PM Ekta Malls (Unity Malls) under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI).
Under the scheme, States and Union Territories with legislatures—including Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, and Puducherry—can receive financial assistance of up to ₹200 crore through a 50-year interest-free loan. These malls are intended to provide dedicated retail spaces for ODOP products, Geographical Indication (GI) products, and local handicrafts, thereby expanding their market reach.
PMFME Scheme Strengthens Food Processing
The Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme has adopted the ODOP approach for the food processing sector.
The scheme offers a 35% credit-linked capital subsidy, with assistance of up to ₹10 lakh for eligible projects. Additional support includes seed capital for Self-Help Group (SHG) members, entrepreneurship development programmes, product-specific training, common infrastructure, incubation centres, and branding and marketing assistance.
For branding and marketing activities, the scheme provides a 50% grant to support common branding, packaging, quality standardisation, and food safety compliance, enabling food-based ODOP products to compete more effectively in domestic and international markets.
Focus on Convergence and Export Promotion
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has also strengthened convergence with other central ministries to improve both production and export linkages.
For backward integration, the ministry is working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare to connect farmer clusters with food processing units. On the export front, convergence committees have been formed with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).
As part of this effort, 24 common ODOP product clusters have been identified with APEDA, while seven fish and marine product clusters have been identified with MPEDA to support branding, export promotion, and market access.
Districts as Export Hubs Initiative
The government is also leveraging the Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative to promote exports from the grassroots level.
Export-potential products and services have been identified in 734 districts through consultations with States and other stakeholders. To facilitate implementation, State Export Promotion Committees (SEPCs) and District Export Promotion Committees (DEPCs) have been established across all 36 States and Union Territories.
Additionally, 249 District Export Action Plans (DEAPs) have been adopted to streamline production, strengthen supply chains, and improve export readiness.
Expanding Digital and Global Market Access
Digital platforms are playing an increasingly important role in promoting ODOP products.
A dedicated ODOP Storefront has been created on the Government e-Marketplace, featuring more than 500 product categories covering over 1,300 products. The ministry also noted that more than 10 States have developed dedicated e-commerce platforms for marketing and selling ODOP products.
Internationally, the government has collaborated with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Indian Missions abroad to organize exhibitions, buyer-seller meets, and promotional events. ODOP Walls have been established at Indian Missions to showcase products from different districts, while **three international retail stores—two in Singapore and one in Kuwait—**currently sell ODOP products.
The government has also included ODOP products as official gifts during bilateral and multilateral meetings, further enhancing their global visibility.
No District-Wise Allocation, but Broad-Based Support
The government clarified that there is no district-specific financial allocation under the ODOP initiative. Instead, States and Union Territories are encouraged to leverage multiple Central and State government schemes covering MSMEs, food processing, agriculture, handicrafts, handloom, exports, and skill development.
While the Centre does not maintain district-wise export data exclusively for ODOP products, it noted that the initiative has significantly improved market access, promoted entrepreneurship, supported employment generation, and strengthened the branding of India’s diverse local products.
Author: Shivam
Shivam Dwivedi is a senior journalist with extensive experience in research-driven journalism, policy communication, and multi-platform storytelling. His areas of interest include international relations, defence, science & technology, education, urban development, agriculture, spirituality, and environmental sustainability. His work focuses on in-depth analysis, public discourse, and impactful narratives across governance and development sectors, with a strong commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Contact: [email protected]
