A Western Zone States’ consultation on textile sector initiatives announced in the Union Budget 2026–27 was held in Mumbai. The meeting brought together government officials, state representatives, and industry stakeholders to discuss implementation strategies and sectoral priorities.
A Western Zone States’ consultation meeting on key textile sector initiatives announced in the Union Budget 2026–27 was held in Mumbai under the chairpersonship of Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. The meeting was attended by senior officials including Shri Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary; Smt. Padmini Singla, Joint Secretary, Fibre; Smt. Vrunda Manohar Desai, Textile Commissioner, Mumbai; and Shri Akhilesh Kumar, Deputy Director General.
The consultation included representatives from State Governments, industry associations, and stakeholders from across the textile value chain. The discussions focused on strengthening and implementing schemes announced in the Union Budget 2026–27.
Key areas of discussion included programmes related to skilling and capacity building, fibre development, sustainability, cluster expansion, infrastructure development, and support for traditional sectors such as handloom and handicrafts.
Among the initiatives reviewed was Samarth 2.0, which aims to provide large-scale skilling, reskilling, and upskilling across the textile value chain. The scheme targets training of 15 lakh individuals over five years to align workforce capabilities with industry and technological requirements.
The National Fibre Scheme (2026–2031) was also discussed, with a focus on strengthening the raw material base across natural fibres, man-made fibres, and new-age fibres. The scheme aims to support domestic production and reduce import dependence.
The Tex Eco Initiative – Mission for Sustainable Textiles was reviewed as part of efforts to promote circularity, cleaner production, and sustainability across the textile value chain, including support for MSMEs in meeting environmental standards.
The Textile Expansion and Employment (TEEM) Scheme was discussed in the context of modernising textile clusters, improving productivity, and generating employment across weaving, processing, and garmenting segments.
The expansion of Mega Textile Parks in Challenge Mode was also considered, with the objective of developing integrated textile manufacturing ecosystems.
In addition, the National Handloom and Handicraft Programme (NHHP) and the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Initiative were discussed, focusing on strengthening traditional sectors, enhancing skills, improving market access, and promoting handmade products.
Addressing participants, the Secretary (Textiles) emphasised the role of cooperative federalism and stakeholder engagement in designing and implementing schemes suited to the needs of states and industry. She stated that these initiatives aim to enhance competitiveness, support sustainable growth, generate employment, and position India as a global textile hub.
Shri Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, presented highlights of the Union Budget 2026–27 related to the integrated programme for textiles, including the National Fibre Scheme and the Textile Expansion and Employment Scheme. He also highlighted the role of State Governments and industry stakeholders in implementation. Information regarding the upcoming Bharat Tex Initiative, scheduled from 14th to 17th July 2026 in Delhi, was shared, with a request for participation from states and industry stakeholders.
Participants from Western Zone states and industry representatives provided inputs on improving the schemes and ensuring effective execution at the ground level.
The consultation is part of a series of regional meetings being conducted by the Ministry of Textiles to gather feedback from states and stakeholders before finalising the implementation framework for textile sector initiatives announced in the Union Budget 2026–27.