The Indian government has approved 11 R&D projects worth Rs 103 crore to boost the country's technical textiles sector. This move aims to accelerate the development of indigenous technical textiles products, making India self-reliant in this strategic field.

Union Minister for Textiles, Commerce and Industry, and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Piyush Goyal, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and industry in this endeavour. He chaired the 8th Meeting of the Mission Steering Group (MSG) of the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) where the project approvals were announced.

One of the key projects focuses on developing high-strength carbon fiber for strategic applications. This will reduce India's dependence on imports and strengthen its defence capabilities. The other projects cover a diverse range of areas within technical textiles. These projects will be led by renowned institutions and research bodies like CSIR-NAL, ATIRA, NITRA, IIT Delhi, ICT Mumbai, NIT-Jalandhar, and Colorjet India.

The technical textiles industry has immense potential to contribute to India's economic growth and strategic autonomy. It is used in various sectors like defense, healthcare, automobiles, construction, and infrastructure. By supporting the development of this sector, the government is paving the way for a more self-reliant and technologically advanced India.