Context

Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the setting up of a National Technical Textiles Mission.

About

• Aims:
  • to position the country as a global leader in technical textilesand increase the use of technical textiles in the domestic market.
  • taking domestic market size to $40 billion to $50 billion by 2024.
• A Mission Directorate will be operational in the Ministry of Textiles.
• It will be implemented for four years starting from 2020-202.
• It will have four components:
• First component:

• • It will focus on research, development and innovation with an outlay of Rs 1,000 crores.
  • The research will be at both fibre level and application-based in geo, agro, medical, sports and mobile textiles and development of bio-degradable technical textiles.
  • Research activities will also focus on the development of indigenous machinery and process equipment.

• Second component:
  • It will be for the promotion and development of the market for technical textiles.
• Third component:
  • It will focus on export promotion so that technical textile exports from the country reach from the Rs 14,000 crores to Rs 20,000 crores by 2021-2022 and ensure 10% average growth every year till the Mission ends.
  • An export promotion council for technical textiles will be set up.
• Fourth component:
  • It will focus on education, training and skill development.
  • The Mission will promote technical education at higher engineering and technology levels related to technical textiles and its application areas.

Data on the Indian Technical Textiles Segment:

• It is estimated at $16 billion which is approximately 6% of the $250 billion global technical textiles market.
• The penetration level of technical textiles in India varies between 5% and 10% against the level of 30% to 70% in developed countries.