The Union Textiles Ministry plans to support 150 startups creating technical textiles, including materials like Kevlar and Spandex. The government will Fund 150 Startups with ₹50 Lakh each. Importantly, the ministry won’t ask for a share of the profits from the businesses that receive this funding.
This initiative is part of a larger effort under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), which has set aside ₹375 crore for the fiscal year 2025 to support the development of advanced textiles in India. This funding aims to boost innovation and growth in the technical textiles sector. Technical textiles like Kevlar, Spandex, Nomex, and Twaron are used in various industries, including aerospace, defense, automobiles, healthcare, construction, and agriculture.
Government to Fund 150 Startups with ₹50 Lakh Boosts Support for Technical Textiles
The government supports startups in technical textiles to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in India. The textiles ministry has also eased the rules on taking a share of the profits, known as ‘royalty,’ from these startups. This change will help startups grow more easily.
India is the fifth largest market for technical textiles in the world. In 2021-22, it was valued at $21.95 billion, with $19.49 billion from production and $2.46 billion from imports. Over the past five years, the market has grown by 8-10% annually, and the government aims to boost this growth to 15-20% in the next five years.
Globally, the technical textiles market was worth $212 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $274 billion by 2027, growing at an annual rate of 5.2%. This growth is driven by increasing industry demand and the rapid development of new products.
Government Initiatives for Technical Textiles Startups
The National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) was launched in 2020 to make India a global leader in technical textiles by encouraging research, innovation, and usage in various sectors. The government has also introduced other initiatives, such as a production-linked incentive (PLI) for textiles, the PM MITRA Parks scheme, quality control regulations, and over 500 standards to support technical textiles.
Startups wanting to receive funding must deposit 10% of the total fund amount in advance. For example, to get ₹50 lakh, a startup must first deposit ₹5 lakh of its own money, which won’t be deducted from the ₹50 lakh grant. Currently, 10 startups are set to be approved next week, with more to be selected in the coming months.
New Developments and Quality Controls in Technical Textiles
The textiles ministry is working on creating fabric-based artificial teeth to make dental implants more affordable. This plan uses polyester dental resins instead of expensive materials like ceramic and polymer. Institutions like AIIMS and IITs are doing research. Countries like Germany and the US already use fabric-based teeth to reduce costs. Gaurav Duraisamy, director of Tailor & Circus, a startup making innerwear from eucalyptus fibers, said the ministry’s initiative will help startups realize their ideas. He plans to participate in the scheme.
The government is also planning new quality control orders for textiles, including technical and protective textiles, to prevent substandard imports from China. Technical textiles include PPE kits and masks, while protective textiles cover safety gear for firefighters and construction workers.
Currently, products like bedsheets, pillow covers, shoe covers, napkins, baby diapers, orchard protection covers, fencing nets, and insect nets are under quality control orders (QCOs). The government aims to include over 2,000 products under QCOs in the coming years.
India’s Growing Textile Exports and Quality Control Measures
India is the third-largest exporter of textiles and apparel globally and ranks among the top five exporters in several textile categories. Exports are expected to reach $65 billion by FY 2026.
This move comes as India negotiates free trade agreements (FTAs) with several countries, which will reduce import duties on manufactured goods. This requires India to guard against imports of substandard products. Queries sent to the textiles ministry and the Startup Association of India were not answered by press time.
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