Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Tuesday, 26 May 2026 credited twelve years of BJP-led governance for transforming India's textile sector, saying the industry has achieved significant global success through sound thinking and good policy. The minister posted on X with four images, framing the sector's progress as a symbol of 'New India's' rising strength and prosperity.

In his post, Singh wrote: 'भारतीय टेक्सटाइल क्षेत्र आज विकास और आत्मनिर्भरता के रास्ते पर तेजी से आगे बढ़ रहा है' ['The Indian textile sector is today rapidly advancing on the path of growth and self-reliance']. He added that over the past twelve years, the sector has 'achieved great success across the world' with the help of the right thinking and good policies. The post was tagged with #12YearsOfProgress, #ModiGovt and #Glorious12Years.

Context

The post marks what the BJP is commemorating as twelve years of the Narendra Modi-led government, which first came to power in May 2014. Singh's framing positions the textile sector as a flagship example of the administration's economic record, invoking the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) vision that has underpinned manufacturing policy since 2014. The minister, a Lok Sabha MP from Begusarai, Bihar, has been a vocal advocate for domestic industry revival.

Policy Backdrop

Two major interventions anchor the government's textile narrative. The Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS), launched in 2016, was designed to modernise textile processing units and sharpen their global competitiveness. Subsequently, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles, notified in 2021, targeted fresh investment in man-made fibre and technical apparel manufacturing, sectors where India had historically lagged behind competitors such as China, Bangladesh and Vietnam.

Both schemes sit within the broader Make in India framework, which treats textiles as a strategic, labour-intensive sector capable of generating mass employment and improving the country's trade balance. The Ministry of Textiles has consistently aligned its programmes with the Atmanirbhar Bharat goal of reducing import dependence while scaling domestic value addition and technology adoption.

Stakeholders and Impact

India's textile and apparel industry is one of the country's largest employers, supporting millions of workers across spinning mills, garment factories, handloom clusters and export houses. Textile exporters and garment manufacturers have been the primary beneficiaries of the PLI and ATUFS incentives, while handloom weavers have been addressed through separate welfare and branding schemes under the same ministry. The sector is also a significant contributor to merchandise export earnings.

Singh's remarks are likely to resonate with industry bodies that have long lobbied for policy continuity, though stakeholders in the handloom and power-loom segments have at times called for faster disbursal of scheme benefits and streamlined compliance requirements.

What's Next

The government's ability to sustain this momentum will be tested by implementation progress on the PLI Scheme for Textiles and the contours of textile-related allocations in upcoming Union Budgets. Global headwinds — including shifting trade patterns and competition from low-cost manufacturing hubs — mean that policy consistency and faster on-ground execution will be critical. Any fresh export strategy document or scheme expansion announced in the near term will be closely watched by industry and investors alike.