Context: Recently,the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the setting up of a National Technical Textiles Mission at a total outlay of Rs1,480 crores.

Significance of the Mission

• The Mission will focus on usage of technical textiles in various flagship missions, including in strategic sectors.
• It aims to position the country as a global leader in technical textiles and increase the use of technical textiles in the domestic market.
• The Mission will aim at taking domestic market size to $40 billion to $50 billion by 2024.
• A Mission Directorate will be operational in the Ministry of Textiles.
• The use of technical textiles in agriculture, aquaculture, dairy, poultry, etc. Jal Jivan Mission; Swachch Bharat Mission; Ayushman Bharat will bring an overall improvement in cost economy, water and soil conservation, better agricultural productivity and higher income to farmers per acre of land holding in addition to promotion of manufacturing and exports activities in India.
• The use of geo-textiles in highways, railways and ports will result in robust infrastructure, reduced maintenance cost and higher life cycle of the infrastructure assets.
• Promotion of innovation amongst young engineers will be taken up by the Mission; along with creation of incubation centres and promotion of ‘start-up’ and Ventures’.
• Objective:To position India as a global leader in technical textiles and increase the use of technical textiles in the domestic market.
• Implementation :For 4 years from 2020-21 to 2023-24

Component-l (Research, Innovation and Development)

• Will focus on research and development at both, fiber 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 development of indigenous machinery and process equipment.
• Will have an outlay of Rs1,000 crores.

Component-II (Promotion and Market Development)

• Will be for promotion and development of market for technical textiles.
• Will aim at average growth rate of 15-20% per annum taking the level of domestic market size to 40-50 Billion USD by the year 2024.

Component–III (Export Promotion)

• Will focus on export promotion so that technical textile exports from the country reach from the Rs14,000 crore now to Rs20,000 crores by 2021-2022.
• Ensure 10% average growth every year till the Mission ends.
• An export promotion council for technical textiles will be set up.

Component-IV (Education, Training, Skill Development)

• 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.