PM opens Arvind’s ₹150-crore garment plant in Varanasi, its first in UP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a garment factory of Arvind Limited, an Ahmedabad-based textile company, at Khochwan in Mirzamurad, Varanasi, on 25 October. Built for about ₹150 crore, it is Arvind’s first manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh, and most of its jobs are meant for local women. Read it for U.P.’s textile push, PM MITRA parks and why garments create so many jobs.
- Company
- Arvind Limited (Ahmedabad)
- Place
- Khochwan, Mirzamurad, Varanasi
- Investment
- About ₹150 crore
- Jobs
- Over 1,000, mainly women (company)
The Varanasi garment plant: what happened?
A shirt passes through many hands before you wear it: cutting, stitching, checking, packing. That is why a garment factory creates far more jobs than most factories of the same size. Varanasi, already famous for its Banarasi saree, has now got a large modern garment unit.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Arvind Limited’s garment manufacturing facility at Khochwan, Mirzamurad, in Varanasi on 25 October 2026, with Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath present.
- Built with an investment of about ₹150 crore, it is Arvind’s first manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh.
- The company says it will employ over 1,000 people, predominantly women, and make knitwear using automated sewing technology.
- Reports say it will make items such as sportswear and undergarments for major global brands.
- The Prime Minister spoke with women workers at the unit and later watched the finale of the Indian Air Force’s air show at Namo Ghat.
Why do garments and textiles matter so much for jobs?
The textile and garment industry turns fibre (like cotton) into yarn, fabric and finally clothes. The last step, garment making, is labour-intensive, which means it needs many workers for each unit of output. It is also one of the biggest employers of women in factories.
To grow this sector, the Centre runs the PM MITRA scheme (PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel parks), which sets up seven large textile parks; one is in Uttar Pradesh, in the Lucknow-Hardoi region. There is also a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for man-made fibre garments and technical textiles.
U.P. runs the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, launched in 2018, which picks a special product for each district. For Varanasi, it is the Banarasi silk saree, so a modern garment unit adds a new layer to the district’s textile base.
Textile support at a glance
| Scheme | Level | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| PM MITRA parks | Centre | Seven integrated textile parks; one in U.P. (Lucknow-Hardoi) |
| PLI for textiles | Centre | Incentives for man-made fibre garments and technical textiles |
| ODOP | U.P. | One special product per district; Varanasi: Banarasi silk saree |
Which policies apply?
- PM MITRA scheme: integrated textile parks from fibre to fashion.
- Production Linked Incentive scheme for textiles.
- One District One Product (ODOP), Uttar Pradesh, 2018.
- Industries are a State subject (Entry 24, State List), so States compete for factories through their own policies.
Why does the Varanasi garment plant matter?
| Angle | What to note |
|---|---|
| Women’s jobs | Garment units hire many women, raising female work participation. |
| Purvanchal | Investment in eastern U.P. helps balance growth with the western districts. |
| Exports | Making for global brands links Varanasi to world markets. |
| Make in India | Labour-intensive manufacturing absorbs workers leaving farming. |
What are the problems with the Varanasi garment plant?
- Competition from Bangladesh and Vietnam in garment exports.
- Workers need training; skills take time to build.
- Low wages and working conditions in garments need watching.
- One unit is small against the scale of job needs in Purvanchal.
What should be done next on the Varanasi garment plant?
- Link the unit with local skill centres and ITIs.
- Ensure safe transport and childcare so more women can work.
- Attract suppliers to build a garment cluster around Varanasi.
- Use PM MITRA and ODOP together to grow the textile chain.
What can Prelims ask on the Varanasi garment plant?
- PM MITRA: seven textile parks; U.P.’s is in Lucknow-Hardoi.
- ODOP (U.P., 2018): Varanasi’s product is the Banarasi silk saree.
- Garments are labour-intensive; textiles are a large employer of women.
- PLI for textiles covers man-made fibre apparel and technical textiles.
- Varanasi is the Prime Minister’s Lok Sabha constituency.
How to write about the Varanasi garment plant in Mains
Practice question (10 marks, 150 words): Labour-intensive manufacturing such as garments can address unemployment in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Discuss with reference to recent investments in Varanasi.
- Intro: Arvind’s ₹150-crore unit, its first in U.P.
- Why garments: jobs per rupee, women’s work.
- Policy support: PM MITRA, PLI, ODOP.
- Challenges: competition, skills, working conditions.
- Conclusion: clusters, not single units, create lasting jobs.
Ready lines for your answer
- The plant is expected “to generate employment for over 1,000 people, predominantly women” (Arvind Limited).
- Labour-intensive garment clusters, backed by PM MITRA and ODOP, can absorb workers and raise women's participation in eastern U.P.
Quotable data pointAbout ₹150 crore investment; over 1,000 jobs, mainly for women; Arvind's first unit in U.P.
Exam angle
Prelims: PM MITRA, PLI for textiles. · Mains GS-III: labour-intensive manufacturing, women's employment.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
Under Uttar Pradesh's One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, the product for Varanasi is:
Answer (b) & explanation
Varanasi's ODOP is the Banarasi silk saree; chikankari is Lucknow's, glassware Firozabad's and brassware Moradabad's.
Consider the following statements about the PM MITRA scheme:
1. It aims to set up integrated textile parks.
2. One PM MITRA park is located in Uttar Pradesh.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer (c) & explanation
PM MITRA sets up seven integrated textile parks; one is in the Lucknow-Hardoi region of U.P.
Questions students ask about this
Where is Arvind's new garment plant in U.P.?
At Khochwan in Mirzamurad, Varanasi; it was inaugurated by PM Modi on 25 October 2026.
How much has been invested in the Varanasi garment unit?
About ₹150 crore; it is Arvind Limited's first manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh.
What is the PM MITRA scheme?
A central scheme to build seven large integrated textile parks; one is in Uttar Pradesh in the Lucknow-Hardoi region.
What is Varanasi's ODOP product?
The Banarasi silk saree, under U.P.'s One District One Product scheme.