Parliament Question: National Technical Textiles Mission

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2775 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2026 NATIONAL TECHNICAL TEXTILES MISSION

2775. DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:

SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE:

SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:

SMT. BHARTI PARDHI:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री

be pleased to state :

(a) whether the Government has sanctioned 20 new research projects for the development of "Smart Textiles" and especially designed biodegradable fibres in February 2026;

(b) whether the National Technical Textiles Mission has successfully replaced the import of high- strength carbon fibres used in the Indian aerospace industry;

(c) whether the Government has launched a dedicated "Start-up Scheme for Technical Textiles"

(GREAT) to provide grants of up to 50 lakh for young innovators;

(d) whether the Government in collaboration with different departments to mandate the use of indigenous Geotextiles in all new hill-road constructions;

(e) whether the Government has emerged successfully as a net exporter of Technical Textiles in the current financial year for the first time; and

(f) if so, the details thereof? उत्तर ANSWER वस्त्र मंत्री (श्री गिरििाज ग िंह) MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)

(a): A total of 16 new research projects focusing on areas such as, indigenous development of advanced technical textile products, high-performance fibres, smart and functional textiles, protective gear, textile machinery, and composite systems for infrastructure and industrial applications etc. have been approved under National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) in February, 2026.

(b): One of the key objectives of Component-I of NTTM is to support fundamental research for the development of specialty fibres such as carbon fibre, aramid fibre, nylon fibre and Ultra High Molecular Weight Poly Ethylene (UHMWPE), etc. Under this component, a project for indigenous development of intermediate modulus grade carbon fibre has been approved to CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL).

(c): Under NTTM, a dedicated intervention titled “Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT)” has been implemented with an objective to support start-up ecosystem of Technical Textiles in the country by assisting young innovators, scientists/technologists, and start-up ventures in the field of Technical Textiles to translate their ideas into commercial technologies/products. Under the GREAT guidelines, a maximum support of Rs. 50 lakh is provided to each approved start-up. A total of 31 Start-ups have been approved under NTTM at a cost of Rs. 15.40 crore.(d): The Ministry of Textiles is promoting the mandatory use of indigenous geotextiles in infrastructure development, including road construction in hilly and difficult terrains, through coordinated efforts among various Ministries / Departments such as the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, the Ministry of Jal Shakti, etc. The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and the Ministry of Jal Shakti have issued guidelines and codal provisions encouraging the use of various geosynthetic products such as Geocell, Geocomposites, Geogrid, etc. in highway construction and maintenance.

(e) & (f): As per Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) trade data, during the current financial year (till December 2025), total export of technical textiles from the country stands at Rs. 21,970 crore as against the import of Rs. 18,953 crore. The details of export and import of Technical Textiles in the last three financial years and current financial year as per the DGCIS data are

given below:

F.Y. Exports (INR Cr) Imports (INR Cr) Trade Balance (INR Cr) 2022-23 23,050 21,809 +1,241 2023-24 24,724 21,132 +3,592 2024-25 28,392 22,865 +5,527 2025-26 (April - December 2025) 21,970 18,953 +3,017

Source: DGCIS, Ministry of Commerce. ****