The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had, in 2020, approved the setting up of a National Technical Textiles Mission at an total outlay of ₹1,480 Crore.

The Government has approved the proposal for creation of National Technical Textiles Mission for a period of 4 years (2020-21 to 2023-24) with an outlay of Rs.1480 crores. The distribution of funds is

(i) For Research Innovation & Development – Rs. 1000 crores

 (ii) For Promotion and Market Development- Rs.50 crore

(iii) For Education, Training and Skilling-  Rs. 400 crore

 (iv) For Export Promotion – Rs.10 crores and balance Rs.20 crores for administrative expenses.

The focus of the Mission is for developing on usage of technical textiles in various flagship missions, programmes of the country including strategic sectors. The use of technical textiles in agriculture, aquaculture, dairy, poultry, etc. Jal Jivan Mission; Swachch Bharat Mission; Ayushman Bharat will bring an overall improvement in cost economy, water and soil conservation, better agricultural productivity and higher income to farmers per acre of land holding in addition to promotion of manufacturing and exports activities in India. The use of geo-textiles in highways, railways and ports will result in robust infrastructure, reduced maintenance cost and higher life cycle of the infrastructure assets.

Promotion of innovation amongst young engineering /technology/ science standards and graduates is proposed to be taken up by the Mission; alongwith creation of innovation and incubation centres and promotion of 'start-up' and Ventures'. The research output will be reposited with a ‘Trust^’ with the Government for easy and assessable proliferation of the knowledge thus gained through research innovation and development activities.

A sub-component of the research will focus on development of bio degradable technical textiles materials, particularly for agro-textiles, geo-textiles and medical textiles. It will also develop suitable equipment for environmentally sustainable disposal of used technical textiles, with emphasis on safe disposal of medical and hygiene wastes

 

Implementation and Governance

The mission will be implemented via a three-tier institutional mechanism which will consist of the following:

Mission Steering Group

The group will be authorized to approve all financial norms with respect to schemes, components and programme of the mission. The group will also be entrusted with the responsibility of approving all scientific and technological research projects under the mission.

Empowered Programme Committee

The committee will be required to approve all projects (except research projects) within the financial limits of various programs as approved by the Mission Steering Group. The committee will also be entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring the implementation of various components of the mission.

Committee on Technical Textiles on Research, Development & Innovation

This committee will be responsible for identification and recommendation of research projects to the Mission Steering Group for approval. These projects will be related to strategic sectors such as space, security, defence, para-military, and atomic energy.