National Technical Textiles Mission

National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) highlights the approval of seven startup proposals under the GREAT (Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles) scheme. This initiative is part of the broader Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) component of the NTTM.

Key Points:

1. Purpose of GREAT Initiative: The GREAT scheme aims to foster innovation and support research and entrepreneurship in the field of technical textiles. By providing grants, it encourages startups to develop new technologies and applications in this sector.
2. NTTM Objectives: The National Technical Textiles Mission is designed to promote the growth and advancement of technical textiles in India. This includes improving production capabilities, fostering innovation, and enhancing the overall market for technical textiles.
3. Impact of Funding: The approval of these startup proposals is expected to drive significant advancements in technical textiles, which could lead to the development of new products and technologies. This could potentially benefit a range of industries including healthcare, defense, and agriculture.
4. Focus Areas: Technical textiles are fabrics designed for specific performance and functional characteristics rather than just aesthetics. This includes applications like protective clothing, medical textiles, and smart textiles with embedded technology.

About Technical Textiles

Technical textiles are specialized fabrics designed primarily for their functional and performance attributes rather than for their aesthetic or decorative qualities. Their applications span a wide range, from everyday uses to high-tech applications, significantly impacting various industries.

Applications of Technical Textiles

1. Agriculture: Used for improving productivity through crop protection, soil enhancement, and more.
2. Infrastructure: Applied in road construction, railway tracks, and other civil engineering projects.
3. Sportswear: Enhances performance and comfort in athletic clothing.
4. Health: Includes medical textiles like bandages, surgical gowns, and other health-related applications.
5. Safety and Defense: Encompasses bulletproof jackets, fire-resistant clothing, and gear for high-altitude combat.
6. Space Applications: Used in various components for space exploration and satellite technology.

Significance of Technical Textiles for India

1. Enhanced Productivity:
   • The use of technical textiles in agriculture, such as in horticulture, can increase farm productivity by 2-5 times. For instance, advanced textile materials can help in controlling pests or improving soil conditions.
2. Government Initiatives and Market Growth:
   • Pack-tech Dominance: India has a substantial global market share of 40-45% in Pack-tech, which aligns with government efforts to phase out single-use plastics. This positions India as a key player in sustainable packaging solutions.
   • Market Growth: The Indian technical textiles market is expanding at 8-10% annually. It was the fifth-largest market globally, valued at USD 21.95 billion in 2021-22.
3. Export Potential:
   • India’s exports of technical textile products increased from USD 2.21 billion in 2020-21 to USD 2.85 billion in 2021-22, reflecting a growth rate of 28.4%. This highlights the growing global demand for Indian technical textiles.
4. Other Advantages:
   • Scalability: The technical textiles industry can scale up rapidly, adapting to increasing demands and new applications.
   • Employment Generation: This sector contributes to the high-wage workforce and can generate significant employment opportunities.

Challenges

1. Import Dependence for Machinery:
   • Issue: The majority of machinery required for manufacturing technical textiles is currently imported, as domestic production capabilities are limited.
   • Impact: This reliance on imports affects the cost and scalability of production, making it challenging for Indian manufacturers to compete globally.
2. Lack of Adoption:
   • Issue: Many end users are still unaware of the benefits and applications of technical textiles.
   • Impact: This lack of awareness limits the market potential and slows down the adoption rate of these innovative products.
3. Lack of Standardization and Related Regulations:
   • Issue: The absence of standardized benchmarks and regulations results in the proliferation of sub-standard products.
   • Impact: This undermines quality and consumer trust, making it difficult for high-quality domestic products to compete with cheaper, lower-quality imports.
4. Institutional Buyer Preferences:
   • Issue: Institutional buyers, such as the defense sector, often prefer imports due to the stringent standards required.
   • Impact: This preference for imported goods limits opportunities for domestic manufacturers to secure large-scale contracts.
5. Entrepreneurial Gap:
   • Issue: There is a limited entrepreneurial culture and insufficient skill training specific to technical textiles.
   • Impact: This gap hampers investment and the growth of production capacities within the country.
6. Inadequate R&D Facilities:
   • Issue: The lack of advanced research and development facilities stifles innovation in a rapidly evolving field.
   • Impact: This hinders the development of new products and processes, affecting the industry's competitiveness.

Government Initiatives

1. National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM):
   • Objective: To position India as a global leader in technical textiles.
   • Implementation: FY 2020-21 to 2023-24.
   • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Textiles.
2. Schemes:
   • Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles: Provides incentives to increase domestic production.
   • PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel Parks (MITRA) Scheme: Aims to create world-class infrastructure for the textile industry.
   • Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP): Supports the establishment of textile parks with modern infrastructure.
3. Quality Control Regulations:
   • The Ministry of Textiles has issued Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for various categories of technical textiles, including geo-tech, protective, agro, and meditech textiles.
4. New HSN Codes:
   • Development of new Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN) codes dedicated to technical textiles’ products facilitates better tracking and management.
5. Standards Development:
   • More than 500 Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) standards have been developed for technical textiles to ensure quality and standardization.
6. Mandatory Usage of Technical Textiles:
   • Technical textiles have been identified for mandatory usage across various central ministries and departments to leverage their benefits in different applications.

While the Indian technical textiles industry faces significant challenges such as import dependence, lack of adoption, and insufficient standardization, the government has implemented several initiatives to address these issues. The National Technical Textiles Mission, various schemes, quality control regulations, and standards development are aimed at fostering growth and innovation in the sector. Overcoming these challenges will be crucial for India to fully capitalize on the potential of technical textiles and establish itself as a global leader in this field.