AMHSSC Unveils 2026 Roadmap Focused on AI, MSME Clusters, and Advanced Skills

The Apparel Made-Ups & Home Furnishing Sector Skill Council (AMHSSC) has outlined a strategic roadmap for 2026 aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of India’s apparel and garment manufacturing sector. While reaffirming the Sewing Machine Operator role as the foundation of the industry’s workforce, the council has prioritised Industry 4.0 adoption, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), MSME cluster-based skill development, and leadership-level training to align workforce capabilities with evolving global manufacturing standards.

A key component of the roadmap is the establishment of new Centres of Excellence (CoEs) across India. These centres will integrate AI-enabled learning, productivity tools, and advanced manufacturing practices into skill training programmes, moving beyond basic tailoring skills to improve productivity and global employability in one of the country’s most labour-intensive industries.

Technology and Leadership at the Core of Skill Development

Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman, AMHSSC, said the roadmap reflects the need for India’s textile and apparel sector to adapt to global benchmarks.

“The future of the textile and apparel sector lies in technology-driven skills, sustainability, and strong leadership across the value chain. This roadmap is designed to prepare the workforce for both domestic growth and global competitiveness,” he said.

Shri Ashish Srivastava, CEO, AMHSSC, added that the 2026 strategy is focused on building a technology-enabled talent pipeline aligned with future industry requirements.

“By embedding AI and sustainability into our core curriculum, we are preparing talent for the factories of tomorrow. Our emphasis on MSME clusters and leadership roles ensures skill development reaches every level of the industry and supports India’s ambition to become a global skill hub,” he said.

Cluster-Based MSME Development and Sustainability Focus

The second pillar of the roadmap centres on MSME and cluster-driven training delivery. By localising skill development, AMHSSC aims to support small and medium enterprises—key contributors to textile and apparel exports—by improving productivity, scalability, and access to specialised skills.

In a notable shift, the council will also introduce aspirational supervisory and leadership-level job roles, signalling a move from entry-level vocational training toward structured career pathways. Sustainability will be embedded as a mandatory component across all training programmes, aligning workforce capabilities with global compliance, traceability, and green manufacturing requirements.

2025 Performance and Industry Engagement

The roadmap builds on AMHSSC’s performance in 2025, during which the council certified 1.69 lakh candidates. Certifications under the PM Vishwakarma (PMVK) scheme accounted for 83,817 candidates, followed by 73,024 certifications under non-PMKVY initiatives and 12,272 candidates under PMKVY during 2025–26.

Industry participation under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) also remained strong, with 201 apparel and textile establishments registered and 4,414 apprenticeship contracts executed, indicating increasing industry confidence in structured skill development frameworks.