Blockchain enabled transparency and traceability for ethical sourcing and MSME integration in the Indian apparel supply chain

Purpose India’s apparel supply chain is fragmented and decentralized, largely dependent on MSMEs and informal clusters, which creates persistent challenges in traceability, transparency, and ethical sourcing. Counterfeit risks, low digital readiness, and sustainability compliance gaps exacerbate inefficiencies. To address these issues, this study develops a blockchain-integrated framework tailored to India’s garment logistics ecosystem, leveraging IoT-enabled tagging, smart contracts, and layered data management. Methodology: A multi-method research design was adopted, combining conceptual modeling, system architecture benchmarking, pilot implementation across ONDC-linked clusters, and qualitative stakeholder analysis. Findings: Pilot findings demonstrate significant improvements, including a 70% reduction in audit errors, 22% faster order processing, and enhanced inventory tracking, certification reliability, and stakeholder trust. Blockchain’s decentralized ledger enabled tamper-proof provenance, QR-based authentication, and wage validation even in rural, low-bandwidth clusters. Key challenges remain, notably digital literacy, infrastructural deficits, and stakeholder resistance. Originality: The framework proposes mobile-first interfaces, vernacular tools, and policy alignment with ONDC, Digital India, and SDGs to build scalable, transparent apparel supply chains in emerging economies.