A New Era for Technical Textiles in India
India’s technical textiles industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation, powered by strong policy backing, growing investments, and expanding global relevance. At the heart of this shift is the Indian Technical Textile Association (ITTA), the apex body representing the entire technical textiles value chain in India. Under the leadership of Mr. Avinash Misar, ITTA has significantly deepened its engagement with the government, industry, and academia to accelerate the growth and global competitiveness of the sector.
NTTM and ITTA – Catalysts for Growth
The launch of the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) in 2020 with an outlay of ₹1,480 crore has been a game-changer for the sector. Of the ₹517 crore allocated so far, ₹393.39 crore has already been utilized across research and development, market promotion, skill development, and export enhancement. A total of 168 research projects worth ₹509 crore have been approved under the mission, supporting cutting-edge innovations in specialty fibres, biodegradable textiles, and application-based technologies in geotech, meditech, agrotech, sportech, and more.
ITTA has played a central role in facilitating this transformation by aligning itself closely with NTTM. Its experts serve on key committees like the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee (IMSC), Empowered Programme Committee (EPC), and Technical Advisory-cum-Monitoring Committee (TAMC), helping steer policy direction and technical evaluations.
Structuring the Industry – From Codes to Standards
One of ITTA’s early milestones was organising the fragmented technical textiles segment into a structured industry. This included streamlining HSN codes to identify technical textile products under distinct categories rather than ambiguous classifications. The association was instrumental in pushing for Quality Control Orders (QCOs), standards via BIS committees, and the development of India-specific certifications and conformity assessment frameworks. Today, ITTA is a member of ten BIS sectional committees and has nominated several domain experts to support standardization.
Expanding Reach and State-Level Collaborations
ITTA has emerged as a proactive policy advocacy body not only at the central level but also across states. It has signed MoUs with state governments including Maharashtra, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh, guiding them in creating state-level textile policies with specific focus on technical textiles. ITTA supports policy planning, cluster development, and investment promotion through awareness programs, conclaves, and partnerships with industry bodies and consulting firms such as KPMG.
The association’s cluster development programs in Panipat, Bhadohi (UP), and Ludhiana are tailored to local industrial strengths—sports textiles, agrotech, and home textiles. These programs are designed to create critical mass and build sustainable ecosystems around high-growth technical textile segments.
Defending the Industry and Advocating Growth
ITTA has been a strong voice against policies that hamper industry growth, especially when it comes to the import of specialty fibres like IDY (Industrial Draw Yarn) and high-GPD polyester fibres not yet produced in India. Mr. Misar has actively advocated with the Ministry of Textiles to avoid disruptive QCOs that stifle imports without adequate domestic alternatives. In his words, “Don’t stifle the industry. Impose a duty if required, but don’t choke it through poorly timed regulations.”
ITTA was also instrumental in representing industry concerns around import duties on glass fibres and ensuring critical components could still be sourced until local capacity catches up.
Government Support and Growing Momentum
The policy ecosystem today is more robust than ever, with central and state governments offering capital subsidies ranging from 25% to 40%, support under the PLI scheme, and additional incentives through PM MITRA Parks. ITTA supports investor outreach by providing technical and commercial data to potential entrants and has created vibrant knowledge-sharing networks through its digital platforms and WhatsApp groups.
The technical textiles industry is currently estimated at $23 billion, with a projected CAGR of 10-12%. “No other textile segment offers this kind of consistent growth trajectory,” says Mr. Misar, reinforcing the strategic importance of this industry to India’s economic development.
Focus Areas and Global Alignment
ITTA is actively promoting import substitution and Atmanirbhar Bharat in segments like carbon fibres, aramid fibres, composites, and coated fabrics—many of which are being supported by NTTM grants. Over 60 R&D projects in these segments have received financial support and are being executed in collaboration with IITs, CSIR labs, and TRAs.
ITTA is also facilitating international partnerships. It has developed strong connections with Taiwan Technical Textiles Association (TTTA), Textile Institute (UK), ACIMIT (Italy), SAMA (India), and EDANA (Belgium). While export promotion is handled by Meditexil, ITTA ensures the technical backing and policy alignment necessary for global competitiveness.
ITTA’s presence is strong at global trade shows and industry events, where its representatives regularly participate as speakers, panellists, and co-exhibitors alongside Indian government delegations.
ITTA’s Technical Leadership and Inclusive Governance
The association’s strength lies in its technically sound leadership and inclusive structure. It maintains a diverse Board of Directors representing all 13 segments of technical textiles—from agrotech and meditech to sportech, geotech, composites, and hygiene. ITTA’s executive team, including Dr. Anup Rakshit (Executive Director) and Mr. Anil Kumar Vasupillai (Policy Advocacy, Delhi Office), ensures constant engagement with BIS, NTTM, COEs, and the Ministry of Textiles.
ITTA is also deeply engaged with industry platforms like CITI, FICCI, and CII, co-hosting conclaves and policy events across the country. This collaborative approach ensures that industry voices are heard at the highest level of policy-making.
From Advocacy to Action – ITTA Leads the Way
In less than two decades, ITTA has grown from a nascent advocacy body into India’s foremost institution for technical textiles, shaping policy, building ecosystems, and guiding innovation. With a robust government-industry-academia partnership, strong global alliances, and a clear strategic focus, ITTA is powering India’s ambition to become a global powerhouse in technical textiles.
Whether it’s carbon fibres for defence, biodegradable agro-textiles for farmers, or high-performance geotextiles for infrastructure, ITTA is ensuring that India doesn’t just participate in the global technical textile movement—it leads it.