Textile industry in India

The Textile industry in India traditionally, after agriculture,is the only industry that has generated huge employment for both skilled and unskilled labor in textiles. The textile industry continues to be the second largest employment generating sector in India. It offers direct employment to over 35 million in the country.[1] The share of textiles in total exports was 11.04% during April–July 2010, as per the Ministry of Textiles. During 2009-2010, Indian textiles industry was pegged at US$55 billion, 64% of which services domestic demand.[1] In 2010, there were 2,500 textile weaving factories and 4,135 textile finishing factories in all of India.[2]

History


The archaeological surveys and studies have found that the people of Harrapan civilization[3] knew weaving and the spinning of cotton four thousand years ago. Reference to weaving and spinning materials is found in the Vedic Literature also.

There was textile trade in India during the early centuries. A block printed and resist-dyed fabrics, whose origin is from Gujarat is found in tombs of Fostat, Egypt.[3] This proves that Indian export of cotton textiles to the Egypt or the Nile Civilization in medieval times were to a large extent. Large quantity of north Indian silk were traded through the silk route in China[4] to the western countries. The Indian silk were often exchanged with the western countries for their spices in the barter system. During the late 17th and 18th century there were large export of the Indian cotton to the western countries to meet the need of the European industries during industrial revolution. Consequently there was development of nationalist movement like the famous Swadeshi movement which was headed by the Aurobindo Ghosh.

There was also export of Indian silk, Muslin cloth of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa to other countries by the East Indian company. Bhilwara is known as textile city.

Production in decentralised sector

India is the second largest producer of fibre in the world and the major fibre produced is cotton. Other fibres produced in India include silk, jute, wool, and man-made fibers. 60% of the Indian textile Industry is cotton based.
The strong domestic demand and the revival of the Economic markets by 2009 has led to huge growth of the Indian textile industry. In December 2010, the domestic cotton price was up by 50% as compared to the December 2009 prices. The causes behind high cotton price are due to the floods in Pakistan and China.India projected a high production of textile (325 lakh bales for 2010 -11).[5] There has been increase in India's share of global textile trading to seven percent in five years.[5] The rising prices are the major concern of the domestic producers of the country.

Indian Textile Policy

Government of India passed the National Textile Policy in 2000

Textile Organization

The Indian Textile industries is mainly dominated by some government, semi government and private institutions.
The major functions of the ministry of Textile are:

The advisory boards include:

The major export promoting councils include:

The major PSU or Public Sector Undertaking are:

Other autonomous bodies in this industry are:

The textile Research Associations are:

Organized sector

According to Kearney’s ‘Retail Apparel Index’ India ranked as the fourth most promising market for apparel retailers in 2009.[7]

There is large scope of improvement in the textile industry of India as there is a huge increase in personal disposable income among the Indians after the 1991 liberalisation. There is also a large growth of the organised sector in the Indian textile industries.The foreign brands along with the collaboration of the Indian companies established business in India. Some of these are Puma, Armani, Benetton, Esprit, Levi Strauss, Hugo Boss, Liz Claiborne, Crocs etc.

The major Indian Industries include Bombay Dyeing,Mayur,Modern Woolens,Sangam India,BSL,Fabindia, Grasim Industries, JCT Limited, Lakshmi Machine Works, Lakshmi Mills and Mysore Silk Factory.

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "A BRIEF REPORT TEXTILE INDUSTRY IN INDIA January, 2010" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "Wearing Apparel Manufacturing Report". AnythingResearch.in.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Indian Textile".
  4. ↑ "History of Textile".
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Back to growth Trajectory,, texriles. "SURVEY OF INDIAN INDUSTRIES". Hindu.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Indian Textiles Industry" (PDF).
  7. ↑ "Emerging Markets Offer Growth Opportunities for Apparel Retailers Battling Declines in Domestic Consumer Spending".