The Indian government is gearing up to implement new quality control orders (QCOs) targeting a wide range of textile products, including technical, protective, and build-tech textiles. The move comes in response to concerns about the proliferation of cheap Chinese textiles flooding the market and aims to elevate India’s reputation in global manufacturing and supply chains by enforcing stringent quality standards.
Working closely with industry stakeholders and export promotion councils, the government plans to utilise QCOs as a tool to not only enhance product quality but also incentivize global manufacturers to set up production facilities in India. While the initiative excludes export items from its purview, more than 2,000 textile products are slated to fall under the ambit of these quality control measures.
Specifically, the QCOs will encompass a diverse array of textile items ranging from basic household essentials like bedsheets and napkins to specialised products such as PPE kits, masks, safety gear for firefighters and construction workers, and materials used for construction applications like slope stabilisation and load-bearing.
To bolster the textile ecosystem in India, the government has outlined key focus areas including skill development, infrastructure enhancement, and fostering innovation through schemes like PM MITRA parks, production-linked incentives, and the Technical Textiles Mission. These initiatives are geared towards transforming India into a hub for high-quality textile manufacturing.
Stakeholders involved in the consultations anticipate the rollout of new QCOs targeting protective, agro, and build-tech textiles in the near future. The impending measures underscore India’s commitment to promoting superior quality products and reducing reliance on substandard imports.
Despite a slight dip in textile exports in recent months, India remains a significant player in the global textile market, ranking as the world’s third-largest exporter of textiles and apparel. To double textile exports to $65 billion by FY26, India is actively engaged in negotiations for free trade agreements (FTAs) with various countries as part of its strategy to fortify its position in the international textile trade landscape.
