The initiatives iSNR (Indian Sustainable Natural Rubber) and INR Konnect were unveiled on the occasion of the of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Rubber Act, 1947. 

• The Act of 1947 provided for the establishment of the Rubber Board (works under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry) to ensure overall development of the rubber industry in the country.

About Initiatives

• iSNR (Indian Sustainable Natural Rubber): Aims at aligning Indian rubber production with the stringent European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) standards.
  • A key feature of iSNR is its traceability certification (guarantees the rubber’s origin and certifies its) 
• INR Konnect (web-based platform): Designed to connect growers of untapped rubber holdings with interested adopters to maximise plantation productivity.

Status of India’s Rubber Sector  

• Position: India is the third largest producer and fourth largest consumer of natural rubber.
  • Thailand is world leading Rubber producer followed by Indonesia. 
• Top Producing State: Kerala produces over 90% of India's natural rubber
  • It is also produced in the state such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Tripura, Assam, and Meghalaya.
• Key challenges faced: 20-25% of India’s rubber plantations remains untapped, Climatic variations (e.g. torrential rains, concerns on EUDR implementation, etc.