National Technical Textile Mission

Why in news?

• The textiles ministry cleared 20 strategic projects worth Rs 30 crore in the areas of speciality fibres and geo-textiles under the National Technical Textiles Mission.

What are technical textiles?

• Technical textiles are textiles materials and products manufactured primarily for technical performance and functional properties rather than aesthetic characteristics.
• Technical Textiles products are divided into 12 broad categories (Agrotech, Buildtech, Clothtech, Geotech, Hometech, Indutech, Mobiltech, Meditech, Protech, Sportstech, Oekotech, Packtech) depending upon their application areas.

About National Technical Textile Mission:

• The mission focus on developing on usage of technical textiles in various flagship missions programmes of the country including strategic sectors.
• The Mission has a four-year implementation period from FY 2020-21 to 2023-24.

Four components of the mission:

• Component -l (Research, Innovation and Development)
  • This component will promote:
    • (i) Fundamental research at fibre level aiming at path breaking technological products in Carbon Fibre, Aramid Fibre, Nylon Fibre, and Composites
    • (ii) Application based research in geo-textiles, agro-textiles, medical textiles, mobile textiles and sports textiles and development of bio­degradable technical textiles.
• Component -II (Promotion and Market Development)
  • India shares nearly 6% of world market size of technical textiles. However, the annual average growth of the segment is 12%, as compared to 4% world average growth.
  • Penetration level of technical textiles is low in India at 5-10%, against 30-70% in advanced countries.
  • National Technical Textile Mission aims at improving penetration level of technical textiles in the country.
  • The Mission will aim at average growth rate of 15-20% per annum taking the level of domestic market size to 40-50 Billion USD by the year 2024.
• Component - III (Export Promotion)
  • The component aims at export promotion of technical textiles and ensuring 10% average growth in exports per year up to 2023-24.
  • An Export Promotion Council for Technical Textiles will be set up for effective coordination and promotion activities in the segment.
• Component- IV (Education, Training, Skill Development)
  • The Mission will promote technical education at higher engineering and technology levels related to technical textiles and its application areas covering engineering, medical, agriculture, aquaculture and dairy segments.
  • Skill development will be promoted and adequate pool of highly skilled manpower resources will be created for meeting the need of relatively sophisticated technical textiles manufacturing units.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Which of the following are the objectives of National Technical Textile Mission?

1. Development of bio­degradable technical textiles

2. Promotion of technical education at higher engineering and technology levels related to technical textiles

3. Export promotion of technical textiles

Select the correct answer using code given below

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

Answer