In order to provide Premium Quality Indian Cotton with a distinctive character, Kasturi Cotton India has registered its brand as a trademark.
Under the “Pahchan” project, the Ministry of Textiles’ office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) has mobilised a total of 32.03 lakh craftsmen, of which 20 lakh are women and 9.56 lakh are men.
With an investment of Rs. 4445 cr, the government has authorised the establishment of seven (seven) PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks in greenfield and brownfield locations. These parks will have plug-and-play facilities and top-notch infrastructure, and they will be operational for seven years, until 2027–2028.
On February 23, 2024, the Hon. Prime Minister laid the cornerstone for the 19th NIFT Campus in Varanasi.
Following the successful conclusion of Bharat Tex 2024, a group of 11 Textile Export Promotion Councils (TEPCs) have agreed to organise the second edition, BHARAT TEX 2025, a worldwide textile mega event following a similar format.
The Indian textile and apparel sector is vital to the country’s economic development since it increases exports, generates employment, empowers women, and promotes India’s rich cultural history.
The sector accounts for 8.21% of India’s total exports, 10% of industrial production, and close to 2% of the nation’s GDP. India holds the sixth-largest position in global textile commerce, accounting for 3.91% of global textile exports. The amount of textile and clothing produced in the country is about US$175.7 billion. The sector received US$35.87 billion from exports in 2023–2024.
The textile industry requires a lot of manpower. In all, the industry directly employs more than 45 million people, many of them are women and those living in rural areas. As a result, it ranks second in the nation for creating jobs, after agriculture. Additionally, the industry perfectly aligns with the government’s overarching goals of inclusive growth, women’s empowerment, rural youth employment, Make in India, and Skill India.
The cotton sector
Because of the muted market conditions, the average prices of kapas are hanging near the MSP level in 2024. Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) started MSP buying operations in October 2024 to help cotton growers, and as of 22.12.2024, it had purchased around 42.11 lakh bales for a total value of Rs. 16,215 crore.Globally, cotton production ranks first in terms of overall production. About 7.75 lakh cotton farmers in all cotton-growing states have benefited from CCI’s tremendous assistance of cotton farmers and the aforementioned purchase under MSP activities. The following actions have been done by CCI to support the cotton and textile industries:
- On-the-spot Aadhar authentication (using an OTP or biometric device) is required for farmer registration.
- started an SMS payment program for farmers starting in the 2024–2025 cotton season. Farmers receive notifications on their Aadhaar-linked cellphone number as soon as the bill is created and payment is validated.
- To guarantee that MSP benefits reach actual cotton farmers, 100% of payments are sent directly into their Aadhar-linked bank accounts via the National Automated Clearing House (NACH).
Cotton Branding: Kasturi Cotton India
In order to provide Premium Quality Indian Cotton with a distinctive character, Kasturi Cotton India has registered its brand as a trademark. Additionally, Kasturi Cotton’s traceability will encourage ethical sourcing and provide global brands with supply chain visibility of Indiancotton. Additionally, ELS Cotton now has its own HSN code.
The Ministry of Textiles’ Kasturi Cotton Bharat program is a trailblazing initiative in Indian cotton certification, traceability, and branding. This initiative, collaboration between the Government of India, trade bodies, and industry, was formalized with a budgetary support of Rs. 30 Crore including Rs.15 crores from Trade & Industry Bodies through a MoU signed on 15.12.2022 between CCI on behalf of Govt. of India, Ministry of Textiles and TEXPROCIL.
WOOL SECTOR:
Through the approval of its SFC meeting on June 15, 2021, the Ministry of Textiles has developed a new integrated program, called the Integrated Wool Development Programme (IWDP), for the comprehensive growth of the wool sector. It will be implemented during the 15th Finance Commission period, which is from FY 2021-22 to 2025-26, with a total financial allocation of Rs. 126 Crore. MOT’s Central Sector Scheme for Development of the Wool Sector is known as IWDP. Further, the Guidelines of IWDP has been approved by MoT and appointed Central Wool Development Board, Ministry of Textiles as nodal agency for implementation of this scheme in all major wool producing States.
SILK SECTOR:
The output of raw silk grew from 26,480 MT in 2013–14 to 38,913 MT in 2023–24. The Northeastern States produced 7,670 MT of raw silk in 2023–2024 compared to 4,601 MT in 2013–2014. In 2023–24, 9,675 MT of 3A–4A grade import substitution Bivoltine raw silk were produced, up from 2,559 MT in 2013–14. Silk’s overall production ranks second in the world. The percentage of international-grade silk produced by ARM rose from 25% to 35%. The production of raw silk per acre grew from 95.93 kg in 2013–14 to 110 kg in 2023–24. From 78.50 lakh in 2013–14 to 94.80 lakh in 2023–24, the estimated number of jobs created rose.
HANDLOOM AREA:
According to the Handloom Census 2019–20, almost 72% of the 35.22 lakh handloom workers nationwide are women. Under the Small Cluster Development Program (SCDP), 51 clusters with 12001 beneficiaries received assistance totalling Rs. 46.44 crore. For 133 marketing events, assistance of Rs. 17.55 crore was made available. Loans under the MUDRA Scheme have been given to 4818 recipients. 34,240 recipients signed up for Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Both Pradhan Mantri and Jyoti Bima Yojana The Suraksha Bima Yojana. A total of 203.778 lakh kg of yarn were delivered under the Raw Material Supply Scheme’s Transport and Price Subsidies.The ecommerce site indiahandmade.com will soft launch on April 22, 2023, with around 1000 goods and 556 vendors. As of May 12, 2024, 1,722 merchants and 9,453 goods had been posted.
Sector of Handicrafts
Through 67 Handicraft Service Centres (HSCs) divided into 6 Regional offices, the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) is carrying out the following two programs to promote and grow the handicraft industry.
1.A budget of Rs. 837 Cr has been allocated for the National Handicraft Development Programme (NHDP) for the fiscal years 2021–2022–2025–2026.
2.A budget of Rs. 142.50 Cr has been allocated for the Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) for the fiscal years 2021–2022–2025–2026.
- An important part of the nation’s economy is the handicrafts industry. It preserves our rich cultural legacy by giving jobs to a large number of craft workers in rural and semi-urban areas.
- Under the “Pahchan” project, the Ministry of Textiles’ office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) has mobilised a total of 32.03 lakh craftsmen, of which 20 lakh are women and 9.56 lakh are men.
- 2325 events, comprising 786 domestic and international marketing events, 674 skilling events, and other various interventions benefiting 66775 craftsmen, have been approved under the NHDP plan for FY 2023–2024.
PM MITRA:
- With an investment of Rs. 4445 cr, the government has authorised the establishment of seven (seven) PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks in greenfield and brownfield locations. These parks will have plug-and-play facilities and top-notch infrastructure, and they will be operational for seven years, until 2027–2028. Seven locations have been selected by the government to establish PM MITRA Parks: Tamil Nadu (Virudhnagar), Telangana (Warangal), Gujarat (Navsari), Karnataka (Kalaburagi), Madhya Pradesh (Dhar), Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow), and Maharashtra (Amravati).
- Investment Memorandums of Understanding have been inked thus far, with an estimated investment potential of about Rs. 18,500 crore. 100% of the land was purchased and given to SPV. The chosen States/SPVs have begun work to construct infrastructure, including as roads, power, and water, up to the park entrance, following the government’s approval of the locations. PM MITRA sites in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana are eligible for environmental clearance. In September 2024, the Honourable Prime Minister lay the cornerstone for PM MITRA Park Amravati, Maharashtra.
NIFT:
On February 23, 2024, the Hon. Prime Minister laid the cornerstone for the 19th NIFT Campus in Varanasi. As the first NIFT campus to provide a UG course in fashion interiors, the Varanasi campus began operations on July 29, 2024, originally offering three UG programs. On September 5, 2024, the Hon. Minister of Textiles officially opened India’s first trend insights and forecasting lab, called VisionjNXT.
NTTM, or the National Technical Textiles Mission:
- The National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) was established with a budget of Rs. 1480 crore to promote technical textiles in the nation between 2020–21 and 2025–26. “Research Innovation & Development,” “Promotion and Market Development,” “Education, Training, and Skilling,” and “Export Promotion” are the four main pillars of NTTM. The mission’s main goal is to increase the use of technological textiles in the nation’s flagship initiatives and programs, notably in crucial areas. As of right now, 168 projects totalling over Rs. 509 crores have been authorised under the technical textiles and speciality fibres category.
- The Ministry has issued 68 Quality Control Orders (QCOs) in a variety of segments, including 20 Geo-tech, 12 Protective Textiles items, 20 Agro Textiles items, 6 Medical Textiles items, 09 Ropes & Cordages items, and 01 Indutech textiles items, to guarantee quality for both domestic consumption and imports. To date, more than 600 BIS standards have been created for technical textiles, including more than 200 standards since the NTTM’s founding.
- The responsibility for promoting technical textiles has been delegated to the Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC), which is currently known as MATEXIL.
- After consulting with line ministries, the NTTM produced General Guidelines for Enabling Academic Institutes in Technical Textiles for Private & Public Institutes. According to the same rules, 38 such projects totalling Rs. 191 crores have been authorised for the improvement of lab facilities and faculty training aimed at creating an eco-system in technical textiles. Under the General Guidelines for Grant for Internship Support in Technical Textiles (GIST)incentive upto INR 20,000 per student per month is given to bachelors and master students as interns through empanelled companies. 16 businesses and TRAs have been approved to provide internships.
Trade Promotion for Textiles (TTP):
Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL): To increase the competitiveness of these industries, the government authorised the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) Scheme on March 7, 2019, which would refund all embedded State and Central taxes and levies on exports of apparel, garments, and made-ups. Additionally, the Union Cabinet has approved the extension of RoSCTL on exports of apparel/garments (Chapters 61 and 62) and made-ups (Chapter 63) until March 31, 2026, in an effort to make textile goods more affordable. Additionally, textiles and other items protected by Remissions of Duties and Taxes on Exported items (RoDTEP) are not covered by the RoSCTL.
Sarah:
- The government has developed the Samarth Scheme under a wide skilling policy framework with the aim of offering opportunities for sustainable living in order to improve the skills of the workers in the textile sector.
- The Hon’ble Minister of Textiles approved the SFC’s recommendations at its meeting on September 30, 2024, and the plan was extended for FY 2024–2025 to FY 2025–2026 with an expenditure of Rs. 495 Cr. to train three lakh people.
- In addition to providing skilling and skill-upgradation in the traditional textile sectors, the scheme seeks to provide demand-driven and placement-oriented National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) compliant skilling programs to support and encourage industry efforts to create jobs in the organised textile sector and related sectors, encompassing the entire textile value chain with the exception of spinning and weaving.
- Implementing Partners (IPs), which include Textile Industry/Industry Associations, State Government agencies, and Sectoral Organisations of the Ministry of Textiles, carry out the scheme’s skilling program. Implementing partners are engaged in entry-level and upskilling training programs under Scheme 191. As of December 30, 2024, 2.79 lakh of the more than 3.54 lakh beneficiaries who received training under Samarth have been placed.
BharatTex
With the assistance of this Ministry, the consortium of Textiles Export Promotion Councils successfully organised the first-ever Global Textile Expo, Bharat Tex 2024, from February 26 to 29 of 2024. The Indian Global event successfully demonstrated to the world the formidable strength of the Indian Textiles Sector and highlighted the latest advancements, innovations, and trends in the Textiles and Fashion Industry. It created a platform for networking opportunities and fostering valuable business collaborations between Indian and international business houses as well as amongst Indian players of different segments of Textile value chain. After successful completion of Bharat Tex The second edition, BHARAT TEX 2025, will be held from February 14–17, 2025, at ITPO (Bharat Mandapam), PragatiMaidan, and India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida. It will follow a similar format and be organised by a group of 11 Textile Export Promotion Councils (TEPCs) with support from the Ministry of Textiles. Bharat Tex will be promoted as a textile industry mega event and added to the worldwide events calendar.
The following are important projects for the government’s first 100 days of establishment in 2024:
Handloom and Handicrafts: the 10th National Handloom Day is celebrated; the Bunkar&KarigarUtthan Program is launched to help 3,627 weavers and artisans in 100 clusters improve their skills; and projects like Craft Tourism Villages and Common Facility Centres for artisans in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and J&K are developed.
Silk Sector: The Central Silk Board’s Platinum Jubilee festivities and the Gujarati launch of the Eri Silk Project highlight developments in silk manufacturing and sericulture.
Jute Sector: Modernisation and environmental sustainability are promoted by a new pricing strategy for jute sacking bags that benefits farmers and labourers.
Technical Textiles: VisioNxt, India’s first AI-based fashion trend forecasting system, the International Conference on Technical Textiles, and the launch of 11 Startups under NTTM.
Infrastructure Development: To establish India as a worldwide textile powerhouse, PM MITRA Park was established in Maharashtra.
Mega Events: Bharat Tex 2025 curtain-raiser, a worldwide textile show aimed at luring customers and investors from around the world.