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.

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.