Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, 29 April highlighted the critical role of technical textiles in transforming India's footwear industry, endorsing an article by Union Minister Giriraj Singh that argues the integration is already underway — and needs to be formally recognised and scaled. Modi noted the piece offers "a simple but powerful insight that technical textiles in footwear are not merely an emerging concept but are already deeply embedded in the industry."

What the Minister's Article Argues

Union Minister Giriraj Singh contends that technical textiles are rapidly emerging as critical enablers of India's footwear sector, driving innovation, improving performance standards, and strengthening exports. He stressed that the immediate task is to "recognise, organise, and scale" this integration by bringing the footwear sector more explicitly within the technical textiles ecosystem.

Singh drew on his visit to manufacturing units in Agra, where he observed that several units were already using materials that improved comfort, durability, and flexibility — yet did not describe them as technical textiles. "They simply saw them as better inputs that met evolving consumer needs," he noted.

India's Footwear Sector: Scale Without Share

Despite being the world's second-largest footwear producer, India holds only a marginal share in global footwear exports — a gap Singh attributes not to a lack of capacity but to the absence of a deliberate shift towards materials design and performance. "Few sectors capture this opportunity as clearly as footwear. It is one of the most universal products in daily life," he said.

At a footwear association meeting in New Delhi, industry stakeholders highlighted shifting consumer expectations: lighter shoes, better cushioning, improved breathability, and longer durability. These, Singh noted, are no longer premium features but standard requirements — precisely the space where technical textiles deliver.

The Policy Opportunity

It was during that industry discussion that the Textiles Department flagged a critical point: the footwear sector is already using technical textiles extensively, even without formally recognising it. Singh argued that formalising this recognition could unlock new policy support, export incentives, and structured investment in the segment.

"We must unlock the footwear sector's hidden potential and scale it globally through structured growth, where technical textiles will play a big role," Singh said, adding that India's manufacturing base and skilled workforce — combined with innovation and sustainability — would "propel the nation to the forefront of the global value chain."

Broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat Context

Singh framed the push within the Aatmanirbhar Bharat framework, arguing that self-reliance is not merely about production volume but about leadership in global value chains. Bringing the footwear sector formally into the technical textiles ecosystem, he said, can drive innovation, increase exports, and create high-quality employment across the country. This comes amid a broader government push to expand India's technical textiles market, which spans sectors from agriculture to defence and healthcare.

How quickly the industry formalises this integration — and whether dedicated policy frameworks follow — will determine whether India can convert its manufacturing scale into genuine export leadership in global footwear markets.