India's Textile Sector
Strategic Importance and Policy Framework
The textile and apparel sector is India's second-largest export earner (after IT services) and the second-largest employer (45+ million, including 70% women). India's textile exports were approximately $35 billion in FY2024-25. Key policy instruments include: Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for textile products (Rs 10,683 crore; targeting man-made fibres and technical textiles); the amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS) for mill modernisation; PM MITRA (PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Parks — 7 parks proposed, Rs 4,445 crore outlay); and the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM, Rs 1,480 crore). The sector's competitiveness is acutely sensitive to raw material costs — cotton being the primary input for most of India's 2,500+ spinning mills and downstream weaving/processing units.
- Textile and apparel exports FY2024-25: ~$35 billion
- Employment: 45+ million workers (direct); 70% women in organised segment
- PLI for textiles: Rs 10,683 crore; focus on man-made fibres (MMF) and technical textiles
- PM MITRA: 7 integrated textile parks; Rs 4,445 crore; plug-and-play model
- NTTM: Rs 1,480 crore; R&D + market development for technical textiles
- Cotton's role: Primary input for spinning mills; ~60-65% of India's textile fibre consumption
● Tracked since February 17, 2026 · last seen May 10, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes