- Development Council for Textile Industry held its first meeting on 6 October 2026
- Meeting was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, chaired by Neelam Shami Rao
- Council will set up Working Groups or Sub Committees on priority themes
- Five focus areas: production, R&D, exports, raw materials, and investment and skilling
- Recommendations will inform the Ministry of Textiles' policy and programme interventions
The Development Council for Textile Industry (DCTI) held its first meeting in New Delhi on 6 October 2026. The apex advisory body discussed a roadmap for a competitive, integrated textile value chain.
The meeting at Vigyan Bhawan was chaired by Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles. Senior officers of the Ministry attended, along with representatives of industry associations, export promotion councils, research associations, State Governments and sector experts.
Focus areas
Rao said textiles and apparel remain among the largest employment generators and export earners in the country. She called for a coordinated approach covering the whole value chain, from production and innovation to global market access.
The Council discussed five areas:
- Production and productivity: capacity, modernisation, scale and cost competitiveness across fibre, yarn, fabric, processing and apparel.
- Research and development: stronger industry-research links, new-age fibres, technical textiles and faster commercialisation of research.
- Exports and market access: product and market diversification, use of trade agreements, and problems with quality, compliance and logistics.
- Raw materials: stable, competitive supply of cotton, man-made fibres, yarn, dyes and chemicals.
- Investment, skilling and sustainability: ease of doing business, support for MSMEs, workforce skilling and circular practices.
Industry and government views
Members gave sector-specific suggestions on each theme. They also welcomed the institutional interface between industry and the Government that the Council provides.
Next steps
The Council agreed to form Working Groups or Sub Committees on priority themes. It will meet at regular intervals to review progress.
Its recommendations will guide the Ministry’s policy and programme interventions. The aims include higher domestic production, faster use of research in industry, sustained export growth and greater investment and employment.
Rao thanked members for their inputs. She reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to a collaborative, industry-facing approach.
