India can be a global leader in technical textiles.
With nearly 2 per cent of the contribution to the country’s GDP, India is the sixth largest exporter of textiles globally and holds 3.9 per cent share in world textile exports. The sector provides direct employment to over 45 million people and indirect jobs to over 100 million people (Ministry of Textile 2023-24). Estimated to touch $350 billion by 2030, the Indian textile industry is expected to create 3.5 crore jobs.
However, the National Accounts Statistics 2023-24 shows that the share of manufacture of textiles and cotton ginning in the country’s GVA has been almost stagnant during 2013-18 and 2018-24, reflecting a CAGR of (-) 1 per cent. While the traditional sub-segments of the textile sector are facing glitches over the years, the new niche segments (technical textiles) are carving new paths. Further, the ongoing political un-rest in Bangladesh has opened up both risks and opportunities in sustainable textiles, organic cotton, and eco-friendly manufacturing in India. While traditional textiles remains vital, the rise of technical textiles has opened a key opportunity.
Advanced tech
Technical textiles is an advanced technology used for various applications ranging from automobiles to space applications. The demand for sustainable textiles is increasing particularly for applications such as packtech (biodegradable jute sacks), indutech (conveyer belts, etc.), hometech (blinds, fire-resistant curtains, etc.), meditech (non-woven absorbent pads) and sportstech (wearable technology for sports and fitness applications). Further, the 3D non-woven textiles have expanded the industry’s reach into automotive, aerospace and protective gear manufacturing.
While the Indian technical textile industry is experiencing strong growth of 10-12 per cent (CAGR), the market is projected to grow from $29 billion in 2024 to $309 billion by 2047. The country has also become a net exporter of technical textiles recording a growth of 5.3 per cent CAGR from $1.99 billion in 2019 to $2.59 billion in 2024. The penetration rate is expected to increase from 13-20 per cent in 2026 to 40-60 percent by 2047.
The government has introduced a range of policies, including the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, to give a boost to this sunrise sector. While the NTTM focusses on research and innovation, market growth, exports, PLI focuses on enhancing scale of production. The PM MITRA scheme has sanctioned seven integrated textile parks to improve infrastructure, supply chains and production efficiency. The government is reducing duties on new types of textiles machinery and correcting inverted duty structure to boost exports. Lastly, the government is focussing on creating jobs and skilling.
Over the next five years, the government aims to accelerate its market growth at 10-15 per cent. The NTTM plans to create 50,000 jobs.
This sector needs new range of skills starting from training in automation and digital technologies in manufacturing processes to a focus on sustainable practices.
However, the need of the hour is to strengthen the existing curriculum of textile engineering courses and making them more industry oriented, updated and practical, allowing students to make choices in their specific expert areas. The curriculum designing stages should involve active participation from industry professionals and offer industry internships or on-the job training to expose students to latest technologies and processes. These courses may be developed in collaboration with international universities that run more comprehensive technical textile engineering courses.
With better awareness, sufficient infrastructure, improved domestic machinery production and skilling, India has the potential to become a global leader in technical textiles.
Jain is Fellow, and Bhandari is Professor, at NCAER. The views are personal.
