India targets $40­bn in technical textiles

India targets $40­bn in technical textiles

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: Msc

Context: 

• India’s market for technical textiles is targeted to touch $40 billion by 2030 from the current $23 billion.

 Some Facts:

• The export of technical-textile products was expected to touch $10 billion from the current $2.5 billion in seven years.
• The National Technical Textile Mission, unveiled three years ago, has been extended till 2026.
• The government allocated ₹1,000 crore under the Mission for research and development and so far, 126 projects, with a total value of ₹371 crore, have been approved.
• A portal for start-ups in technical textiles segment to submit applications for support under the Mission would be unveiled soon.

What are Technical Textiles?

• Technical textiles are functional fabrics that have applications across various industries including automobiles, civil engineering and construction, agriculture, healthcare, industrial safety, personal protection etc.
• Technical Textile products derive their demand from the development and industrialization in a country.
• Based on usage, there are 12 technical textile segments: Agrotech, Meditech, Buildtech, Mobiltech, Clothtech, Oekotech, Geotech, Packtech, Hometech, Protech, Indutech and Sportech.
• For example, ‘mobiltech’ refers to products in vehicles such as seat belts and airbags, airplane seats; geotech, which is incidentally the fastest growing sub-segment, used to hold back soil, etc.

What do we know about the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM)?

• It was approved in 2020 by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) with total outlay of Rs.1480 Crore.
• The implementation period is four years, from FY 2020-21 to FY 2023-24.

Aim:

• The aim of the mission is to position India as a global leader in Technical Textiles by taking the domestic market size from USD 40 billion to USD 50 billion by 2024.
• It also supports the ‘Make in India’ Initiative promoting domestic manufacturing of related machinery and equipment.

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 fiber level and application-based in geo, agro, medical, sports and mobile textiles and the development of biodegradable 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.
• The penetration level of technical textiles is low in India varying between 5-10% against the level of 30-70% in developed countries.
• The Mission will aim at an average growth rate of 15-20% per annum by 2024.
• Third component: It will focus on export promotion so that technical textile exports from the country reach from 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.