In a moment that marks a significant milestone for grassroots industrial development in India, Punjab State was awarded Gold in the prestigious National One District One Product Awards 2024, announced at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 14 July 2025 by Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry. This accolade recognizes Punjab’s innovative spirit, policy excellence, and district-level empowerment under the transformative One District One Product (ODOP) initiative.
The award is a testament to Punjab’s robust governance, sustainable market orientation, and pioneering support systems that bridge micro-level artisans and global markets.
Table of Contents
🌱 Understanding ODOP: Vision, Origins, and Evolution
The ODOP Initiative was launched in January 2018 by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, later adopted and scaled nationally by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, DPIIT, under the umbrella of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Inspired by Japan’s “One Village, One Product” movement from the 1970s, the Indian One District One Product model seeks to:
- 📍 Promote district-level specialisation.
- 🚀 Boost value addition, branding, and market linkages.
- 🧵 Integrate traditional, cultural, agricultural, and industrial heritage.
In 2019–2020, ODOP gained central momentum as it aligned with the Prime Minister’s Panch Pran commitments (Amrit Kaal: 2022–2047) for making India a developed nation.
By 2024, over 1,200 products from 750+ districts were formally recognized under ODOP, spanning agriculture, food processing, handicrafts, textiles, handlooms, and tribal innovations.
🏆 Punjab’s Golden Moment: Excellence at the ODOP Awards 2024
📣 Key Announcement
Punjab was honored with a Gold Award in the State Category (A) at the One District One Product Awards 2024. The declaration was made by Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, celebrating Punjab’s commitment to localized industrial growth and empowerment.
Shri Sanjeev Arora, Punjab’s Industries, Commerce, and NRI Affairs Minister, emphasized:
“This achievement is not just an honor for Punjab but a reflection of our administrative will, innovative strategies, and the enduring spirit of our districts.”
👥 Punjab’s ODOP Champions
- Award Recipient: Surabhi Malik IAS, Director, Industries & Commerce, Punjab.
- ODOP Strategy Presenter: Kamal Kishor Yadav IAS, Secretary, Industries & Commerce.
Their strategic presentation highlighted Punjab’s achievements across product promotion, investor engagement, export growth, and rural-industrial integration.
📘 Historical Evolution of ODOP in Punjab
Punjab’s adaptation of ODOP gained traction around 2020–2021, parallel to its implementation under:
- ✅ Right to Business Act, 2020 – Eased regulatory processes for entrepreneurs.
- 🌱 Agri Diversification Strategy – Transition from water-intensive crops (like paddy) to regional ODOP-aligned produce.
- 🧮 District Mapping – Identification of products with heritage or volume potential, such as:
- Phulkari embroidery (Patiala)
- Kinnow citrus (Fazilka)
- Amritsari papad (Amritsar)
- Ludhiana hosiery
- Jalandhar sports goods
- Barnala agricultural machinery
- Hoshiarpur wooden handicrafts
These efforts aligned with national guidelines while preserving Punjab’s unique identity across Majha, Malwa, and Doaba belts.
🧩 Pillars of Punjab’s ODOP Strategy
1️⃣ Green Stamp Paper Initiative
A pioneering digital reform streamlining registration and licensing, reducing paper use, and enabling real-time documentation—boosting investor confidence and transparency.
2️⃣ Quick Approvals via Right to Business Act, 2020
Single-window clearance and time-bound approvals make Punjab one of the fastest states in processing business proposals—essential for MSMEs and first-time ODOP exporters.
3️⃣ District-Specific Diversification & Micro-Cluster Development
Using ODOP as a springboard, Punjab promotes agri and non-agri diversification:
| Region | District | ODOP Product Example |
|---|---|---|
| Majha | Amritsar | Papad |
| Malwa | Patiala | Phulkari Embroidery |
| Doaba | Jalandhar | Sports Goods |
| Central PB | Ludhiana | Hosiery & Knitwear |
Many districts have multiple clusters, and some clusters span adjacent districts—enhancing synergies, market scale, and logistics optimization.
🚜 Agricultural Focus & Perishables
Punjab’s ODOP blueprint emphasizes perishable and cereal-based products, supporting:
- 🌾 Mango, Kinnow, Tomato, Potato
- 🥗 Pickle, Petha, Papad, Millet-based products
- 🐟 Fisheries, Poultry, Meat, Animal Feed
This focus enhances value addition, reduces post-harvest losses, and promotes processing excellence.
Allied Agri Products Supported:
- Honey
- Turmeric (Haldi)
- Minor Forest Produce (esp. tribal belts)
- Waste-to-Wealth edible innovations
🎯 Export-Driven Growth
ODOP became a catalyst for first-time exporters by:
- 📦 Providing capital investment incentives.
- 🧮 Focusing marketing & branding efforts strictly on One District One Product products.
- 💻 Listing products on GeM Portal and regional e-commerce platforms.
- 🌏 Participating in trade expos and Indian Missions abroad (Singapore, Milan, Vancouver, etc.).
Punjab’s export data saw significant upticks for hosiery, processed foods, agri-implements, and handicrafts—reflecting both volume and reach.
🛠️ Infrastructure, Training & Skilling
Punjab engaged with premier institutions like:
- 🏫 IIT Ropar
- 🎨 National Institute of Design
- 📱 Punjab Technical University
…to train artisans, entrepreneurs, and industry champions in:
- Quality control
- Digital marketing
- RFID mapping
- AR/VR branding tools
Many districts have adopted common facility centers (CFCs) and experiential showcases, especially through platforms like PM Gati Shakti ODOP Centre at Bharat Mandapam.
📣 Best Practices Presentation at One District One Product product Awards
Punjab’s Best Practices Presentation drew appreciation for:
- 🎯 Product identification methodology: district surveys + cultural heritage mapping.
- 📊 Cluster-level economic planning: integrating One District One Product into Punjab’s industrial policy.
- 🚀 Market linkage innovation: partnerships with aggregators, logistics firms, and e-commerce.
- 🏭 Ease of Doing Business reforms: minimal bureaucracy, maximum facilitation.
💡 Key Outcomes & Impact
✅ Inclusive Industrial Growth
Marginalised groups, micro-entrepreneurs, and women-led units were brought into the fold—creating a bottom-up development model.
📈 Economic Indicators
ODOP-related sectors registered:
- 📌 Increased export volumes
- 📌 Improved employment ratios
- 📌 Greater participation in branding campaigns
Punjab’s industrial dashboard recorded significant One District One Product-linked growth in district-level GVA contributions.
📘 ODOP in Competitive Exams: Why It Matters
Syllabus Touchpoints for Aspirants:
| Subject | Relevance to ODOP |
|---|---|
| Indian Economy | MSME growth, value chain development |
| Governance | Centre–State–District synergy |
| Current Affairs | ODOP Awards, Amrit Kaal Goals |
| Agriculture | Crop diversification, processing & exports |
| Schemes & Acts | ODOP, Ekta Mall, Right to Business Act |
Sample Questions:
- Discuss how Punjab’s One District One Product strategy aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
- Evaluate the role of cluster development in India’s agricultural exports.
- Examine One District One Product’s contribution to ease of doing business in Punjab.
📚 Final Reflection: Punjab as a Model State
Punjab’s success at the One District One Product Awards 2024 is not just ceremonial—it demonstrates how local intelligence, administrative agility, and community pride can create nationally recognized outcomes. As India heads toward becoming the third-largest economy by 2027, Punjab’s One District One Product blueprint will serve as a replicable model for other states.
For aspirants, this narrative is a perfect blend of policy understanding, ground realities, and transformational governance—exactly the lens through which competitive exams view India’s development journey.
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