PIB Summary- 16th September, 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Technical Textiles

Context

Recently Union Minister for Textiles said that Annual exports of technical textiles will cross $10 billion by 2030.

About Technical Textiles

• The Technical Textiles are defined as Textile material and products manufactured primarily for their Technical performance and functional properties rather than aesthetic and decorative characteristics.
• The Technical textiles include textiles for automotive applications, medical textiles (e.g., implants), geotextiles (reinforcement of embankments), agrotextiles (textiles for crop protection), and protective clothing (e.g., heat and radiation protection for fire fighter clothing, molten metal protection for welders, stab protection and bulletproof vests, and spacesuits).

Significance and Potential Applications of Technical Textiles

• The Technical Textiles are being used globally for last several decades. These materials have provided innovative projects.
• Even while Technical Textiles have been extensively used in developed as well as many developing countries, India has yet to capitalize the technical, economical and environmental benefits on large scale.
• The Various parts of India are subjected to floods and environmental degradation. In some of the terrains, the flood management and control can rely on Technical Textiles tubes, containers and bags.
• The Technical Textiles have been found to perform better than concrete as water protection component because of permeability, flexibility and ease of underwater placement.

About National Technical Textiles Mission

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the establishment of a National Technical Textiles Mission to help India position itself as a “global leader“ in technical textiles.
• The Cabinet has approved a total outlay of Rs 1,480 crore for the project, which will be implemented over four years (2020-2024) and aims to promote research, export and skill development in this sector.
• An Export Promotion Council for Technical Textiles will be set up for export promotion of technical textiles and ensuring 10% average growth in exports per year upto 2023-24.

Objectives:

• The main aim is to get India the highest position in Technical Textiles at a global level
• This mission also aims at improving the penetration level of the technical textiles in the country. It must also be noted that the penetration level of technical textiles is low in India at 5-10%, against 30-70% in advanced countries. 
• The authorities aim at increasing the global market for Indian technical textiles
• To simplify the objectives of the mission, it has been divided into four component as well
• The Mission will focus on the usage of technical textiles in various flagship missions, programmes of the country including strategic sectors.

VisioNxt Initiative

Context

Recently, the union Minister of Textiles launched the ‘VisioNxt Fashion Forecasting Initiative’ of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).

Overview of the VisioNxt Initiative:

• Launched in 2018, VisioNxt was established at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Delhi and Chennai, under the patronage of India’s Ministry of Textiles.
• The project is now centralized in Chennai, dedicated to providing trend insights specifically for the Indian fashion and retail sectors.

Services and Mission:

• Educational and Consultancy Offerings: VisioNxt provides a range of services including consultancy, academic courses, and workshops aimed at trend analysis.
• Core Mission: The initiative aims to map, identify, and analyze regional trends that capture India’s cultural and socio-economic diversity, producing detailed trend reports and forecasts.
• Technology Integration: Utilizes both Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emotional Intelligence (EI) to enhance its trend forecasting capabilities.

Significance and Impact:

• Strategic Importance: Marks India’s proactive stance in the global forecasting arena, reducing reliance on international trend agencies and promoting local insights.
• Support to Local Industries: Offers support to local weavers, manufacturers, and fashion designers by providing resources in both Hindi and English through the VisioNxt portal.
• Innovation in Fashion Forecasting: Introduces ‘Paridhi’ as its inaugural comprehensive fashion trend forecast, alongside the development of ‘DeepVision’, a predictive model tailored to analyze and interpret fashion trends specific to India.