India’s textile and apparel sector continued its steady export growth in FY 2025–26, with exports, including handicrafts, reaching ₹3,25,339 crore, marking a 1.8% increase over ₹3,19,573.2 crore recorded in FY 2024–25. The growth was supported by rising exports to more than 100 countries, according to information shared by the Ministry of Textiles in the Rajya Sabha.
The Government of India has implemented a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening the global competitiveness and export preparedness of the textile and apparel industry. These include flagship programmes such as the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks Scheme, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles, National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), and SAMARTH – Scheme for Capacity Building in the Textile Sector.
Additional export support measures include the launch of components under the Export Promotion Mission, such as Market Access Support and interest subvention, to help Indian exporters expand into international markets.
To address evolving global trade challenges, the government has extended the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme until 30 September 2026. Temporary customs duty exemptions have also been introduced on cotton imports between 1 June and 31 October 2026, along with duty relief on key man-made fibre (MMF) raw materials such as Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) and Mono-Ethylene Glycol (MEG). The government has also rationalized GST rates to correct the inverted duty structure in the MMF value chain.
Recognizing disruptions in global maritime logistics due to geopolitical developments in West Asia, the government has introduced the Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) initiative to support affected exporters and strengthen supply chain resilience.
The Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) Scheme, which benefits garment and made-up exporters, has also been extended until 30 September 2026, providing policy stability and improving export competitiveness.
India continues to strengthen its global trade partnerships through an aggressive market diversification strategy covering 40 priority countries. The country currently has 16 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in force, including the India–United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). In addition, negotiations for the India-European Union FTA have been concluded successfully, while India has also signed a Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand, creating new opportunities for textile exports.
To further enhance export readiness, the Ministry of Textiles has established six Textile Export Facilitation Centres (TEFCs), including one at Ichalkaranji, Maharashtra, to assist exporters. The Ministry has also launched the India Immersive Experience Programme through the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), showcasing India’s textile heritage, handicrafts, and design ecosystem to international institutions.
The recently concluded Textiles Summit 2026 brought together representatives from industry, academia, and state governments to promote district-level textile development. During FY26, textile and handicraft products were exported from more than 500 districts, supported by the government’s 100 Champion and 100 Aspirational Textile Districts initiative.
The third edition of Bharat Tex 2026, held from 14–17 July 2026, further reinforced India’s position as a global sourcing and manufacturing hub by showcasing the country’s complete textile value chain and facilitating international business partnerships.
The information was provided by Minister of State for Textiles Shri Pabitra Margherita in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
