Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted the rapid transformation of India’s textile sector into a major engine of employment generation and inclusive economic growth.
The Prime Minister shared an article authored by Union Minister for Textiles Giriraj Singh, which outlines the sector’s evolution from a traditional industry into a modern driver of investment, exports and job creation.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister stated that the article details how India’s textile sector has emerged as a people-centric growth engine aligned with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He noted that initiatives such as the PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks, production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes and new free trade agreements are expected to drive the next phase of employment generation in the sector.
In the article, Singh said India’s textile resurgence is being supported by strong domestic demand and rising consumption. With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, India has become one of the world’s most resilient textile markets. He noted that the domestic textile market has expanded from around Rs. 8.4 lakh crore (US $ 92.4 billion) to an estimated Rs. 13 lakh crore (US $ 143 billion) over the past five years.
Consumption trends were cited as further evidence of this momentum. According to the minister, per capita textile consumption has nearly doubled over the past decade, rising from about Rs. 3,000 (US $ 32.76) in 2014–15 to more than Rs. 6,000 (US $ 65.52) in 2024–25, and is projected to increase to Rs. 12,000 (US $ 131.05) by 2030.
Export performance has also reflected demand-led growth. Textile and apparel exports increased from Rs. 2.49 lakh crore (US $ 27.39 billion) in 2019–20, when the Covid-19 pandemic began, to nearly Rs. 3.5 lakh crore (US $ 38.50 billion) in 2024–25, marking growth of around 28% in the post-pandemic period. Singh said this recovery demonstrates India’s ability to scale manufacturing rapidly as global demand improves and translate export growth into employment across the textile value chain.
The article places particular emphasis on the PM MITRA Parks scheme, under which the government expects investment commitments of Rs. 18,500 crore (US $ 2.04 billion) based on proposals received. The initiative aims to strengthen production capacity, boost exports and generate large-scale employment.
Once operational, the PM MITRA Parks are expected to attract significant investment and create an estimated three lakh direct and indirect jobs, contributing to the long-term competitiveness of India’s textile and apparel industry.
