Giriraj Singh spotlights Moradabad's shell-brass craft on global stage
Synopsis
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh praised Moradabad's distinctive shell-and-brass handicrafts on 10 November 2026, calling the craft a unique marker of Indian artisanship and noting growing international recognition for the city's skilled artisans.
Key Takeaways
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh highlighted Moradabad's shell-and-brass handicrafts on 10 November 2026 .
Moradabad , Uttar Pradesh , is known as Peetal Nagri (City of Brass) and is one of India's major handicraft export hubs.
The minister noted rising global demand for these products, linking it to international recognition of Indian artisanal skill and cultural heritage.
The Ministry of Textiles oversees handicraft promotion through the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) , focusing on market access and design upgradation.
Public ministerial spotlighting of craft clusters often signals policy attention — including potential participation in international buyer-seller meets or design-development schemes.
A city famous for its metal artistry is once again in the national conversation. Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, drew attention to Moradabad's distinctive fusion of seashell and brass in its handicrafts, calling it a singular expression of Indian craftsmanship and creativity winning international recognition.
Posting on X, the minister wrote in Hindi: 'मुरादाबाद के हस्तशिल्प में सीप और पीतल का सुंदर मेल भारतीय कारीगरी और रचनात्मकता की अनूठी पहचान है।' — 'The beautiful blend of shell and brass in Moradabad's handicrafts is a unique identity of Indian artisanship and creativity.' He added that rising global demand for these products is carrying India's rich art, cultural heritage, and the remarkable skill of its artisans to an international audience.
Moradabad: 'Peetal Nagri' and its centuries-old craft identity
Moradabad, a city in Uttar Pradesh, has long carried the title Peetal Nagri — the City of Brass. Its craftsmen have worked in brassware and metal handicrafts for generations, turning the city into one of India's most significant handicraft export hubs. The marriage of brass with organic materials like seashell adds a textural and aesthetic dimension that sets Moradabad's output apart in global home-décor and gifting markets.
Textiles Ministry's role in promoting handicraft exports
As Union Minister of Textiles, Giriraj Singh oversees policy for handlooms and handicrafts development, including the work of the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) — the nodal body for market access, design upgradation, and artisan welfare. The ministry regularly facilitates participation in international buyer-seller meets and craft fairs to widen the export footprint of clusters like Moradabad. The minister's post signals continued government intent to amplify these clusters' global visibility.
India's handicraft sector is a major employer of skilled artisans, particularly in states like Uttar Pradesh, and export promotion from established clusters feeds directly into artisan livelihoods. When a minister with portfolio authority amplifies a craft cluster publicly, it often precedes or accompanies concrete promotional activity — from participation in overseas trade events to design-development schemes at the cluster level.
For Moradabad's craftsmen, the acknowledgement from their sector's nodal minister is more than symbolic: it keeps the cluster in the policy frame at a time when global home-décor demand continues to diversify.
Point of View
Keeping artisan-welfare and export-growth themes in the public eye simultaneously. For the Textiles Ministry, showcasing Moradabad — a proven export engine — also signals that cluster-based promotion remains a live policy priority. The emphasis on global demand ties neatly into the broader 'Make in India' and handicraft export push, framing cultural heritage not as a nostalgia exercise but as an active economic lever. Watch for follow-on announcements around international trade participation or scheme extensions for the Moradabad cluster.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Moradabad called Peetal Nagri?
Moradabad is called Peetal Nagri — City of Brass — because of its centuries-old tradition of brassware and metal handicraft manufacturing, which has made it one of India's most important handicraft export centres.
What did Giriraj Singh say about Moradabad handicrafts?
On 10 November 2026 , Giriraj Singh said the unique combination of shell and brass in Moradabad's handicrafts is a defining identity of Indian craftsmanship, and that rising global demand is earning international recognition for the city's artisans and India's cultural heritage.
Which ministry is responsible for handicraft export promotion in India?
The Ministry of Textiles , headed by Union Minister Giriraj Singh , is responsible for handicraft promotion in India, primarily through the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) , which works on market access and artisan development.
What makes Moradabad handicrafts unique in global markets?
Moradabad handicrafts stand out in global home-décor and gifting markets for their fusion of brass metalwork with organic materials like seashell, combining traditional Indian artisanship with aesthetically versatile products suited to international buyers.
How does the government support handicraft clusters like Moradabad?
The government supports clusters like Moradabad through the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) , facilitating participation in international buyer-seller meets, design upgradation programmes, and market-access initiatives to boost exports and artisan livelihoods.
