India’s technical textiles industry continues to strengthen its global position, recording a net trade surplus of ₹3,420.20 crore during FY 2025-26, supported by the Government’s sustained policy initiatives under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles.
According to information shared by Minister of State for Textiles Shri Pabitra Margherita in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, India’s technical textiles exports stood at ₹29,217.60 crore, while imports were valued at ₹25,797.40 crore, resulting in a healthy trade surplus that reflects the growing competitiveness of the domestic industry.
National Technical Textiles Mission Driving Growth
Launched in 2020, the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) aims to accelerate the growth of India’s technical textiles ecosystem by promoting research, innovation, commercialization, market development, and awareness across the sector.
Under Component-II (Promotion and Market Development) of the mission, the Ministry of Textiles has organized or participated in 47 national and international conferences, helping expand industry engagement, encourage knowledge exchange, and promote the adoption of technical textiles across various sectors.
The mission focuses on strengthening indigenous development and commercialization of high-value technical textile products across key segments, including:
- Agro Textiles
- Geotextiles
- Medical Textiles
- Industrial Textiles
- Protective Textiles
- Sportech
- Other specialized technical textile applications
Expanding Domestic Demand
To boost domestic consumption, the Ministry has been actively creating awareness through workshops, exhibitions, conferences, and skill development programmes. Various user ministries, state governments, and departments have also been encouraged to adopt technical textile products in suitable applications, helping generate sustained domestic demand.
The government believes that wider adoption of technical textiles in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, industrial safety, and other strategic sectors will further strengthen India’s manufacturing capabilities.
PLI Scheme Supporting High-Value Manufacturing
The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles continues to play a vital role in strengthening India’s Man-Made Fibre (MMF) and Technical Textiles value chain.
The scheme aims to:
- Promote investments in high-value technical textiles
- Enhance manufacturing capacity
- Accelerate technology adoption
- Improve global competitiveness
- Increase exports from India
By addressing structural gaps in the MMF and technical textiles ecosystem, the PLI scheme is expected to support large-scale manufacturing while positioning India as a global sourcing hub for advanced textile products.
Positive Outlook for the Sector
The Ministry of Textiles stated that the combined impact of the National Technical Textiles Mission, the PLI Scheme, market development initiatives, and policy support is expected to significantly accelerate the growth of India’s technical textiles industry while increasing its share in global trade.
With rising demand across healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, mobility, defence, sports, and industrial applications, India’s technical textiles sector is emerging as one of the country’s fastest-growing manufacturing segments.