Parliament Question: Amritsar Textile Cluster

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3830 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2026 AMRITSAR TEXTILE CLUSTER 3830. SHRI GURMEET SINGH MEET HAYER: Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state : (a) the details of specific schemes being implemented to preserve, modernize, and promote the traditional textile industry, including the woollen and shawl-weaving segments in Amritsar, Punjab; (b) the details of the funds allocated and spent for the Amritsar textile cluster during the last ten years scheme and year-wise; and (c) the details of future action plan and infrastructure development strategies formulated by the Government to enhance the global competitiveness of this border-district textile hub? उत्तर ANSWER वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री (श्री पबित्र मार्घरे रटा) THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA) (a) to (c): The Government of India has implemented various schemes for modernization and promotion of the traditional textile industry including the woollen and shawl-weaving segments across the country including Amritsar, Punjab. The major schemes include Scheme for Integrated Textile Park (SITP) for setting up textile parks with state of the art infrastructure in textile hubs; Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme focusing on Man- Made Fibre (MMF) Fabric, MMF Apparel and Technical Textiles to boost large scale manufacturing and enhancing competitiveness; National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) focusing on Research & Innovation in the field of specialty fibres and technical textile, indigenous development of machinery and creating human resources with requisite skills; SAMARTH-Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector with the objective of providing demand driven, placement oriented, skilling program; Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS); Integrated Wool Development Programme (IWDP) for the development of Wool Sector, National Handloom Development Programme; Raw Material Supply Schemes; and National Handicraft Development Programme. In order to protect and promote traditional textiles and handicrafts, the Textiles Committee under Ministry of Textiles is facilitating registration of unique textiles and handicrafts of the country under Geographical Indications Act, 1999. As a part of this, an initiative is undertaken for the protection and promotion of the traditional Amritsar Shawl of Punjab by filing an application for registration under the Geographical Indications of Goods(Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. The initiative is aimed at preserving the traditional craftsmanship, strengthening the identity of Amritsar Shawls, and enhancing their marketability and value. The Ministry through Central Wool Development Board has been implementing "Integrated Wool Development Programme" (IWDP) during the period of 15th Finance Commission with total allocation of Rs 125.99 crore for the development of Wool Sector in all major wool producing States/Union Territories(UTs) with the help of States/UTs Govts. In order to promote ease of doing business in the country to achieve the vision of generating employment and promoting exports through "Make in India", Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS) is implemented across the country including the state of Punjab to provide credit linked Capital Investment Subsidy (CIS) to units for purchase of benchmarked machinery in different segments of Textile Sectors. The scheme aims at augmenting of investment, productivity, quality, employment, exports along with import substitution in the textile industry. Under ATUFS scheme, 70 cases have been settled and 12.9 Cr. Capital investment subsidy has been released to units located in Amritsar, Punjab during the year 2018 to 2024. The details of year-wise subsidy released under ATUFS scheme is as under: (Rs. in Cr) Year Subsidy Released 2018 0.11 Cr 2019 0.03 Cr 2020 2.83 Cr 2021 2.19 Cr 2022 4.70 Cr 2023 1.21 Cr 2024 1.83 Cr Total 12.9 Cr With a view to increasing investments, generating employment opportunities and boosting exports in textile sector, the Ministry is implementing Scheme for Integrated Textile Park (SITP) to provide subsidy for setting up textile parks with world-class, state-of-the-art infrastructure in textile hubs across the country. Under SITP Scheme, 3 Textile parks have been taken up in Punjab with details as below- S. Funds Released Name of the park District No (₹ in crore) 1 Lotus Integrated Tex Park Barnala 40.00 2 Rhythm Textile & Apparel Park Ltd Nawanshehar 36.00 3 Ludhiana Integrated Textile Park Ltd Ludhiana 36.00Samarth (Scheme for Capacity Building in Textiles Sector) of Ministry of Textiles provides demand driven, placement oriented skilling programmes to supplement the efforts of the Indian textile industries in creating jobs in the organized textile and related sectors, covering the entire value chain of textiles, excluding Spinning and Weaving in organized sector, on pan India basis. A total of 4,737 beneficiaries have been trained (passed) in the State of Punjab. Under National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) and Raw Material Supply Schemes (RMSS) in Handloom sector, financial assistance is provided to eligible handloom agencies/workers for raw materials, procurement of upgraded looms & accessories, solar lighting units, construction of workshed, skilling, product diversification & design innovation, technical and common infrastructure, publicity and brand development through India Handloom Brand (IHB), Handloom Mark (HLM) and GI tag, e-commerce facilities, marketing of handloom products in domestic/overseas markets, concessional loans under weavers’ MUDRA scheme and social security etc. The Government is implementing various schemes and initiatives to boost the Indian textile and apparel sector and enhance its competitiveness. The major schemes/initiatives include Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) Scheme; Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme; Export Promotion Mission (EPM), comprising Niryat Protsahan and Niryat Disha; and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE). The Government has also adopted a focused export-promotion and market-diversification strategy covering 40 priority countries. The Sixteen Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) which are in force, including the India–United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA); and the concluded FTAs with the European Union (EU) and New Zealand provide an opportunity for Indian textiles and apparel sector to enhance their exports and undertake market diversification. The Government of India launched RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) on 19 March 2026 under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) to support exporters affected by disruptions arising from the West Asia/Middle East conflict and maritime challenges in the Gulf region. Customs duty on imports of cotton falling under Chapter 5201 has been temporarily exempted from 1 June to 31 October 2026 to augment domestic availability. Further, the Government has approved the Mission for Cotton Productivity for the period 2026–27 to 2030–31 to address key bottlenecks, improve productivity growth, and resolve quality-related concerns in India’s cotton sector. ******