Tex-Ramps Scheme – Advancing Research & Innovation in India’s Textile Industry

Why in the News ?

The Union Government has approved the Textiles Focused Research, Assessment, Monitoring, Planning and Start-up (Tex-RAMPS) Scheme aimed at modernising India’s textile sector through innovation, data systems, and start-up support.

Textile Sector: A Key Driver of India’s Economy

• One of India’s oldest and most influential industries with deep cultural roots.
• Contributes over 2% to GDP, 11% to industrial output, and 13% of export earnings.
• Provides employment to more than 45 million people—India’s second-largest employer after agriculture.
• The sector benefits from a fully integrated value chain from fibre to finished product.
• India is a global leader in cotton, jute, silk, polyester, technical textiles, home furnishings, and garments.

Challenges Facing the Textile Sector

• Slow adoption of advanced technologies
• Weak R&D infrastructure
• Lack of an integrated data and analytics system
• Fragmented supply chains
• Competition from China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, which employ high-tech solutions

News Summary

The government has cleared the Tex-RAMPS Scheme with a total outlay of ₹305 crore, to be implemented from 2025-26 to 2030-31.

The initiative seeks to:

• Boost textile research & innovation,
• Strengthen data-driven governance,
• Enhance global competitiveness,
• Improve quality and productivity across the textile value chain.

Aims and Vision of Tex-RAMPS

Tex-RAMPS is designed to correct long-standing structural gaps and prepare India’s textile industry for the future global market.

The scheme intends to:

• Build a national ecosystem for textile innovation
• Promote evidence-based policymaking through strong data systems
• Support sustainability and circular economy strategies
• Encourage high-value start-ups
• Strengthen collaboration between States, academia, industry, and government

Key Components of the Tex-RAMPS Scheme

1. Research & Innovation Development

Focus areas include:

• Smart textiles
• Sustainability & circularity
• Process optimisation
• Frontier technologies

These efforts will deepen India’s integration into high-value global textile chains.

2. Data, Analytics & Diagnostic Systems

• Creation of a real-time nationwide data ecosystem
• Mapping of employment, supply chains, and productivity
• Providing standardised analytics for national and State-level planning
• Enabling evidence-based decision-making

3. Integrated Textiles Statistical System (ITSS)

A key component of the scheme, ITSS will offer:

• Continuous monitoring
• Centralised diagnostics
• Strategic planning capabilities

It will assist State governments and industry associations in aligning with national goals.

4. Capacity Development & Knowledge Ecosystem

Initiatives include:

• Strengthening State planning units
• Sharing best practices across clusters
• Conducting workshops, training, and skill-building sessions
• Creating a strong quality and compliance culture

5. Start-up & Innovation Support

Tex-RAMPS promotes entrepreneurship via:

• Incubators and innovation hubs
• Hackathons and industry–academia collaborations
• Support for early-stage funding
• Development of start-ups in technical textiles, smart fabrics, and sustainable materials

Expected Outcomes of the Tex-RAMPS Scheme

The scheme is projected to deliver:

• Greater global competitiveness of India’s textile and apparel industries
• A robust innovation and research ecosystem
• Improved quality, productivity, and supply chain resilience
• Better, data-driven policy frameworks
• Higher employment and skill development
• Stronger collaboration across States, industry, and academia

Industry leaders believe Tex-RAMPS will “reinforce India’s innovation base, nurture high-potential start-ups, and elevate quality standards across the textile value chain.”