Govt Invests in 12 Projects Under National Technical Textiles Mission

The government approved 12 research projects worth ₹13.3 crore on 12th November, under the National Technical Textiles Mission. This decision was made by the 10th Mission Steering Group, led by Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh.

Approval Details

• The government sanctioned 12 research projects worth ₹13.3 crore.
• These projects were approved by the 10th Mission Steering Group, chaired by Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh.
• The projects focus on strategic areas, including geotextiles, sustainable and smart textiles, and composites.

Research Collaborations

• The approved projects were proposed by prominent research institutions, including IITs, NITs, and the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI).
• With these additions, the total number of approved projects under the mission reaches 168, with a cumulative value of around ₹509 crore.

Focus of the National Technical Textiles Mission

• The mission is a flagship initiative under the Ministry of Textiles aimed at building R&D capacity within the domestic technical textiles sector.
• A particular focus is on the development of high-performance fibers to support the growth of India’s textile industry.

Industry Growth Projections

• India’s textile sector is expected to reach a value of $350 billion by 2030.
• It is anticipated to generate 4.5 to 6 crore jobs as the industry expands.

Minister’s Remarks

• Union Minister Giriraj Singh encouraged industry stakeholders to actively engage in research initiatives.
• He highlighted the target of achieving 50,000 metric tonnes of silk production by 2030.
• The goal is also set to generate employment for 1 crore individuals through increased silk cultivation, which benefits local farmers.

Technical Textiles Market and Export Goals

• The global technical textiles market stands at approximately $300 billion.
• India’s domestic technical textiles market is valued at $25 billion, with $2.6 billion in exports.
• The Ministry of Textiles has set a target to increase technical textile exports to $10 billion by 2030.

Support for Startups

• The ministry has approved 11 startup proposals under the GREAT (Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles) initiative.
• Each selected startup is eligible for support of up to ₹50 lakh to foster innovation within the technical textiles sector.