How is India’s textile sector evolving into a job creation powerhouse?
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Synopsis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscores the remarkable evolution of India's textile sector, highlighting its pivotal role in job creation and economic growth. This article delves into the sector's resurgence, driven by domestic demand and government initiatives, and its potential to generate millions of jobs.
Key Takeaways
- India's textile sector is evolving into a major job creator.
- Government initiatives like PM MITRA Parks are crucial for growth.
- Domestic demand is driving the textile market's resurgence.
- Per capita textile consumption is projected to double by 2030.
- Textile exports have rebounded significantly in the post-Covid era.
New Delhi, Jan 20 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday emphasized the transformation of India’s textile industry from a traditional sector to a robust job-generating and people-oriented growth engine, reflecting the essence of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
PM Modi referenced an article by Union Minister Giriraj Singh, which highlights the significance of the Centre's Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes and new Free Trade Agreements that are paving the way for the upcoming employment surge.
The revival of India’s textile sector is driven by strong domestic demand and increasing consumption. With a population exceeding 140 crore, India stands as one of the world’s most resilient textile markets. The domestic textile market has expanded from approximately Rs 8.4 lakh crore to an estimated Rs 13 lakh crore in just five years, as noted by the minister.
He also mentioned that consumption patterns support this growth, with per capita textile consumption nearly doubling over the last decade, increasing from about Rs 3,000 in 2014-15 to over Rs 6,000 by 2024-25, and is expected to reach Rs 12,000 by 2030.
Exports have paralleled this demand-driven growth. Textile and apparel exports surged from Rs 2.49 lakh crore in 2019-20, the year of the Covid outbreak, to nearly Rs 3.5 lakh crore by 2024-25, indicating a growth rate of around 28 percent during the post-Covid phase. This significant recovery highlights India’s ability to rapidly scale manufacturing as global demand rebounds and, importantly, to translate export growth into employment opportunities throughout the textile value chain, the Minister added.
The minister also underscored the significance of the PM MITRA Park scheme. The Government anticipates investments amounting to Rs 18,500 crore to flow into the textiles sector based on the proposals received under this initiative, which aims to enhance production, employment, and exports.
To develop an integrated large-scale and modern industrial infrastructure facility for the entire textile industry value chain, the Government has approved the establishment of seven PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks across greenfield and brownfield sites, with a budget of Rs 4,445 crore for the period from 2021-22 to 2027-28.
The Government has identified seven locations: Tamil Nadu (Virudhnagar), Telangana (Warangal), Gujarat (Navsari), Karnataka (Kalaburagi), Madhya Pradesh (Dhar), Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow), and Maharashtra (Amravati) for the establishment of the PM MITRA Parks.
Upon completion, it is projected that each PM MITRA Park will draw in around Rs 10,000 crore in investments and create approximately 3 lakh job opportunities (both direct and indirect).
Point of View
It's evident that India's textile sector is not just a legacy industry but a key driver of employment and economic growth. The government's proactive approach through initiatives like the PM MITRA Parks is commendable and showcases a commitment to fostering a self-reliant economy.
NationPress
21/01/2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the PM MITRA Park scheme?
The PM MITRA Park scheme is pivotal as it aims to boost production, enhance employment opportunities, and increase exports in the textile sector, with significant investments anticipated.
How much has the domestic textile market grown recently?
The domestic textile market has expanded from about Rs 8.4 lakh crore to an estimated Rs 13 lakh crore in just five years.
What are the expected employment opportunities from PM MITRA Parks?
Each PM MITRA Park is expected to generate around 3 lakh employment opportunities, both direct and indirect.
How have textile exports changed during the post-Covid period?
Textile and apparel exports have increased from Rs 2.49 lakh crore in 2019-20 to nearly Rs 3.5 lakh crore in 2024-25, marking a significant growth.
What is Aatmanirbhar Bharat?
Aatmanirbhar Bharat is an initiative aimed at making India self-reliant through increased domestic production and reduced dependency on imports.
