The Ministry of Textiles conducted a Northern Zone Stakeholder Consultation on the Union Budget 2026–27 in New Delhi on 07 April 2026. The meeting brought together more than 200 participants from government bodies, industry, academia, and textile sectors. The consultation focused on discussions around key schemes and their implementation.
The Ministry of Textiles organised a Northern Zone Stakeholder Consultation on the Union Budget 2026–27 in New Delhi on 07 April 2026. The consultation included participation from over 200 stakeholders, comprising representatives from State Governments, industry bodies, entrepreneurs, academia, textile research associations, Export Promotion Councils, and award-winning weavers and artisans.
The consultation is part of the Ministry’s ongoing process to review and discuss schemes and initiatives announced in the Union Budget 2026–27. It aimed to enable structured discussions on implementation approaches, identify operational issues, and outline a coordinated roadmap for execution.
Breakout sessions were conducted to facilitate focused discussions on specific schemes. The sessions covered key areas including the Integrated Programme for the Textile Sector, incorporating the Textile Expansion and Employment (TEEM) Scheme, Tex-Eco Initiative, and Mega Textile Parks; the National Fibre Mission; SAMARTH 2.0; and the National Handloom and Handicraft Programme (NHHP) along with the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Initiative (MGGSI).
Setting the context, Shri Asit Gopal, Special Secretary and Financial Adviser, Ministry of Textiles, highlighted the importance of continued engagement with States and stakeholders to ensure that proposed schemes address practical challenges and field-level requirements. He noted that coordination and alignment across institutions will play a key role in achieving the objectives of the Budget initiatives.
The consultation aligns with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision articulated during the Post-Budget Webinar, where he described the Union Budget as a strong framework for accelerating India’s journey towards “Viksit Bharat.” He emphasised the need to “Build More, Produce More, Connect More and Export More,” underscoring the importance of strengthening domestic manufacturing and expanding global market presence.
Dr. M. Beena, Development Commissioner (Handlooms), urged stakeholders to share field-level challenges and practical inputs related to scheme implementation. She noted that such consultations support alignment between policy design and execution, particularly within the handloom sector.
Smt. Amrit Raj, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), highlighted the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of taking “gaon to global,” with emphasis on quality across the value chain. She underlined the need to strengthen quality in production, design, finishing, and supply chain processes to improve global competitiveness.
In her concluding remarks, Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, stated that India’s textile industry is expected to reach USD 350 billion by 2030, with exports projected to expand. She emphasised the need to support innovation, improve convergence across schemes, and strengthen the overall ecosystem to enhance cost competitiveness and sustainable growth.
She also highlighted that the proposed schemes aim to support manufacturing, employment generation, and export competitiveness, while promoting innovation across value chains and strengthening the positioning of “India Handmade” in global markets.
She further noted the importance of maintaining quality, sustainability, and innovation to enhance the credibility of Indian textiles. She added that inputs received during the consultation would be reviewed and considered in the design and implementation of upcoming schemes.
The consultation concluded with stakeholders expressing commitment towards collaborative efforts to strengthen the textile sector, support livelihoods, generate employment, and expand the presence of Indian textiles and traditional crafts globally.