Parliament Question: Global Trade Development

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1502 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2026 GLOBAL TRADE DEVELOPMENT

1502. SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री

be pleased to state :

(a) the details of measures taken to strengthen the global competitiveness and export preparedness of India's textile and apparel sector;

(b) the details of measures taken by the Government to address the impact of recent global trade developments, including tariff measures and geopolitical disruptions, on India's textile exports;

(c) the details of initiatives undertaken, including support under the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) Scheme and market diversification efforts, to mitigate such challenges and enhance export competitiveness; and

(d) the details of strategy adopted to strengthen supply chain resilience, expand India's share in global textile trade and support textile exporters, particularly in MSMEs? उत्तर ANSWER वस्त्र राज्य मत्रं ी(श्री पबित्र मार्घरे रटा) THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)

(a) to (d): India’s exports of textiles and apparel, including handicrafts, stood at ₹3,25,339 crore in 2025–26, registering a growth of 1.8 per cent over ₹3,19,573.2 crore in 2024–25 with export growth recorded in over 100 countries.

The Government has implemented several schemes and undertaken various initiatives to strengthen the global competitiveness and export preparedness of the Textile and Apparel sector.

This inter-alia includes the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel Parks Scheme, the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Textiles, the National Technical Textiles Mission, SAMARTH - Scheme for Capacity Building in the Textile Sector, and the launch of various components including Market Access Support and interest subvention under the Export Promotion Mission etc. In addition, several measures have recently been undertaken to support the Textile and Apparel exports and address emerging global challenges. These include the extension of Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products Scheme up to 30 September 2026; the temporary exemption from customs duty on import of Cotton falling under Customs Tariff Heading 5201 from 1 June to 31 October 2026; the temporary exemption from customs duties on key inputs in the man- made fibre (MMF) value chain, including Purified Terephthalic Acid and Mono-Ethylene Glycol ;

rationalisation of GST rates for correcting of the inverted duty structure in the MMF value chain; andthe launch of the Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) initiative to support exporters affected by disruptions arising from the evolving geopolitical situation in West Asia and its continuing impact on maritime logistics across the Gulf and adjoining regions.

The Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) Scheme, operational since March 2019, provides for the rebate of embedded State and Central taxes and levies on the export of garments and made-ups, with a view to enhancing the competitiveness of these sectors. The Scheme has been extended for a further period of six months, up to 30 September 2026, to ensure policy predictability and stability for exporters in these sectors.

The Government has also adopted a focused export-promotion and market-diversification strategy covering 40 priority countries. Sixteen Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), including the India– United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), are already in force. In addition, the FTA negotiations with the European Union have been successfully concluded, while India has signed an FTA with New Zealand. These agreements provide an opportunity for Indian textiles and apparel sector to enhance their exports and undertake market diversification.

To further enhance textile sector competitiveness and export preparedness, the Ministry of Textiles has established six Textile Export Facilitation Centres (TEFCs), launched India Immersive Experience Programme through National Institute of Fashion Technology to showcase India's textiles, handicrafts, culture and design ecosystem to international institutions of designs/fashions.

The Ministry of Textiles successfully concluded the Textiles Summit in June 2026 which brought together representatives from State Governments/ UTs, industry, and academia to foster collaborative dialogue on the growth of the textile sector and unlock the potential of districts. The products of textiles & handicraft were exported from more than 500 districts in 2025-26. The district led focused approach with 100 champion & 100 aspirational Textiles Districts has been adopted to facilitate better improved planning and implementation support. The third edition of Bharat Tex, a global mega textiles event was held from 14th-17th July,2026 to showcase India's entire textile value chain, foster global business partnerships, and position India as a leading global sourcing and manufacturing hub for textiles and apparel.

Collectively, these measures have helped diversify export markets, strengthen supply-chain resilience, improve market access including through e-commerce and enhance the competitiveness of Indian exporters, particularly Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

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