July 15, 2025

Current Affairs

India’s Technical Textile Sector: A Sunrise Opportunity

Context: India’s Textile Sector is witnessing a transformation with Technical Textiles emerging as a key growth area, amid stagnation in traditional manufacturing.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: About India’s Textile Sector and Technical textiles.

Mains: Technical textiles - Significance, Challenges, Way Forward.

Overview of India’s Textile Sector

Textiles contribute around 2% to India’s GDP and make up 3.9% of global exports making India the 6th largest textile exporter in the world.
The sector directly employs 45 million people and indirectly supports over 100 million (Ministry of Textiles 2023-24). Expected to reach $350 billion by 2030 and create 3.5 crore new jobs.
Despite its scale, the share of manufacture of textiles and cotton ginning in India's Gross Value Added (GVA) has been stagnant between 2013 and 2024. The sector recorded a negative growth (-1% CAGR) in this period.

While the traditional sub-segments of the textile sector are facing glitches over the years, the rise of technical textiles has opened a key opportunity.

Technical Textiles

Technical textiles are defined as textile materials and products used primarily for their technical performance and functional properties rather than their aesthetic or decorative characteristics.
They are used for various applications ranging from automobiles to space.

The demand for technical textiles is increasing particularly for applications such as :

Packtech (biodegradable jute sacks)
Hometech (blinds, fire-resistant curtains)
Meditech (non-woven absorbent pads)
Sportstech (wearable technology for sports and fitness applications)
Indutech (conveyer belts)

Further, the 3D non-woven textiles have expanded the industry’s reach into automotive, aerospace and protective gear manufacturing.

Overview of Technical Textile Sector:

The Indian technical textile industry is experiencing strong growth of 10-12% CAGR, the market is projected to grow from $29 billion in 2024 to $309 billion by 2047.
India has become a net exporter of technical textiles recording a growth of 5.3% CAGR from $1.99 billion in 2019 to $2.59 billion in 2024.
The penetration rate is expected to increase from 13-20% in 2026 to 40-60% by 2047.

Government Initiatives to boost Technical Textile Sector:

The government has introduced a range of policies, including the:

National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) was launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Textiles to boost technical textiles in India. It aims to make India a global leader in Technical Textiles with a budget of Rs. 1480 crore till 2025-26.
Grant for Internship Support for Technical Textiles (GIST 2.0): Launched under NTTM, GIST 2.0 bridges the gap between industry and academia by offering hands-on learning opportunities in technical textiles and fosters local innovation.
GREAT Scheme (Grant for Research & Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles Scheme): Launched in 2023 to provide funding to help translate prototypes into technologies and products for commercialisation.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme focuses on enhancing the scale of production.
The PM MITRA scheme has sanctioned seven integrated textile parks to improve infrastructure, supply chains and production efficiency.
The government is reducing duties on new types of textiles machinery and correcting inverted duty structures to boost exports.
Over the next five years, the government aims to accelerate its market growth at 10-15%. The government is also focussing on creating jobs and skilling.

Challenges in Growth of Technical Textiles in India:

The majority of the machinery used to manufacture technical textiles is imported from outside.
Limited skill training in technical textiles.
The existing textile engineering curriculum is outdated with minimal focus on technical or functional fabrics.
Lack of awareness - Technical textiles are not yet part of the mainstream textile culture in India.

Way Forward

Update Curriculum: Revamp the existing curriculum of textile engineering courses to make them more industry oriented, updated, and practical, allowing students to make choices in their specific areas.
Industry Integration: Involve industry professionals in curriculum design and provide on-the-job training or internships.
Global Collaboration: Partner with international universities for advanced course development and exposure to best practices.

With better awareness, sufficient infrastructure, improved domestic machinery production and skilling, India has the potential to become a global leader in technical textiles.

QR code-based Aadhaar Verification App

Context: UIDAI is set to launch a QR code-based App to enable Aadhaar updates from home with enhanced verification and data control.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key Features of QR code-based Aadhaar App.

Key Features of the New App

The QR based app will allow individuals to update their Aadhaar details from their homes.
Except for biometric updates like fingerprints or iris scans, most changes, including name, address, and mobile number will soon be possible online, using the App equipped with advanced verification protocols.
Authenticated government databases such as PAN, passport, driving licence, and PDS and MNREGA registries will be used to cross-verify user-submitted information.
The App enables secure QR code-based Aadhaar sharing offering users control over when and how their data is shared. E.g., while checking in at a hotel, the customers can share a full or masked version of their e-Aadhaar through secure, mobile-to-mobile channels, only with explicit consent.
The proposed App is expected to go live by the end of 2025.

Why is the QR-based Aadhaar App introduced ?

The QR-based Aadhaar app has been introduced to solve the following existing challenges in the Aadhaar update and usage ecosystem.

Digital Exclusion of Vulnerable Groups: 1 in 3 users struggled to update Aadhaar, and 20% failed to do so. 30% of homeless people and 27% of third-gender individuals lacked Aadhaar. Barriers include lack of documentation and gender misclassification, leading to denial of services and exclusion from welfare schemes.
Privacy and Consent Risks: Centralised linking of Aadhaar to multiple services raises data misuse and surveillance concerns.
Low Awareness and Low Digital Literacy: Aadhaar’s digital features continue to be underutilised. Many users, particularly in rural areas, rely on physical photocopies rather than e-Aadhaar.

Significance of QR-based Aadhaar App:

Empowers users to control their identity, dictate access, and minimise data exposure.
Can reduce paperwork and also help prevent the use of forged documents.

The government is also strengthening regulations on privacy, consent, and the responsible use of Aadhaar-linked personal data by amending the Aadhaar Act to align it with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023 with the aim to:

Provide users greater control over their data by emphasising data minimisation.
Provide the right to erasure - Users can request deletion of Aadhaar-linked data.
Prevent Aadhaar data reuse beyond the original purpose without fresh consent.