Weaving a Viksit Bharat: India's Textile Ecosystem and the Pathway to USD 100 Billion Exports
Dr Sameer Sood, Director, NIFT Gandhinagar
Abstract
India's textile and clothing industry plays a significant role in the nation's social, cultural, and economic structure. The textile industry is in a unique position to serve as both a growth engine and a tool of inclusive development as India moves closer to its national goal of becoming a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047. With a workforce of more than 45 million people and a whole value chain that extends from fibre production to finished clothing, the industry has enormous potential to boost employment, exports, sustainability, and regional development. In line with sustainability and innovation imperatives, this paper offers a strategic roadmap to reach USD 100 billion in textile and apparel exports, analyses global competitiveness, assesses policy interventions, and provides a thorough analysis of India's textile ecosystem. In India's economic, social, and cultural framework, the textile and apparel industry plays a crucial role. The industry is anticipated to make a substantial contribution through job creation, export growth, sustainability leadership, and technology-driven transformation as India moves closer to its national goal of becoming a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047. This study examines how India's textile industry is changing in response to recent shifts in international trade, particularly the US lowering its tariffs on Indian clothing and textiles from previously high levels to about 18%. India's export competitiveness in the US market has significantly increased as a result of this change. Newly signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the UK and the EU offer diversified and privileged market access. The study makes the case, using secondary data and policy analysis, that India can increase its textile and apparel exports from the current USD 37–38 billion to USD 100 billion by 2030–2035 through a balanced strategy that makes use of improved US market conditions, increases exports to the EU and the UK, and boosts domestic consumption. According to the paper, India's 2047 development vision places the textile industry at the forefront of inclusive, sustainable, and design-led growth.
Keywords: Textile and Apparel Industry; Viksit Bharat 2047; US Tariffs; Free Trade Agreements; Export Growth; Sustainability; Design Education, Viksit Bharat, PM MITRA, PLI Scheme
