India’s textile exports, including handicrafts, recorded a 7% increase from April to December 2024, reinforcing the country’s position as a key player in the global textile market. Minister of State for Textiles, Shri Pabitra Margherita, highlighted that India contributes 4% of global textile and apparel exports, with major destinations including the USA, EU, and UK, which account for 53% of total exports in FY 2023-24.
Government Initiatives Driving Growth
The Indian government has implemented various initiatives to boost textile exports and manufacturing. Key schemes include:
- PM MITRA Parks Scheme – Establishing world-class textile infrastructure.
- PLI Scheme – Focusing on MMF fabric, apparel, and technical textiles.
- National Technical Textiles Mission – Promoting research and development.
- SAMARTH – Capacity-building through skill development programs.
- Silk Samagra-2 – Enhancing the sericulture value chain.
- Handloom and Handicraft Development Programs – Supporting artisans and traditional textile sectors.
Raw Material Security & Trade Agreements
India’s textile industry benefits from a vast raw material base, including cotton, silk, wool, jute, and man-made fibers. To stabilize cotton supply and support farmers, the government sets a Minimum Support Price (MSP) annually. Recent policy measures include:
- Zero customs duty on Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton (effective February 2024).
- 51,000 tonnes of duty-free ELS cotton import under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA).
- 14 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) signed, including recent deals with the UAE, Australia, and the EFTA nations (Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein).
Enhancing Competitiveness & Export Promotion
To strengthen the industry, the government is implementing:
- RoSCTL and RoDTEP schemes – Supporting zero-rated exports.
- Market Access Initiative Scheme – Financial support for trade fairs and buyer-seller meets.
- National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) – Advancing research in biodegradable and sustainable technical textiles.
- Innovation Challenges – Encouraging startups in textile waste recycling and bio-based fibers.
Regulatory Measures for Quality Control
- To protect domestic producers, the government has:
- Imposed a minimum import price of USD 3.50 per kg on low-cost knitted fabrics.
- Revised customs duties on textile imports.
- Implemented quality control orders (QCOs) to curb low-quality, non-standard imports.
With these initiatives, India is poised to strengthen its textile industry, expand global trade partnerships, and drive long-term sectoral growth.
