Ministry issues guidelines for technical textiles in UG, PG degree programmes

NEW DELHI: Ministry of textiles has issued guidelines to update existing conventional degree programmes with new papers of technical textiles under programme of national technical textiles mission (NTTM).

The ministry has given clearance to two guidelines- ‘general guidelines for enabling of academic institutes in technical textiles- for private and public institutes’ and ‘general guidelines for grant for internship support in technical textiles (GIST)’. The guidelines were cleared during a meeting of the empowered programme committee said secretary of textiles, Rachna Shah, during a press interaction today.

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The general guidelines for enabling of academic institutes in technical textiles for private and public institutes will enable a new technical textiles degree for under graduate and post graduate programmes along with updating existing courses with new papers of technical textiles. The ministry of textiles aims to develop an eco-system for technical textiles with not only in textile field but other disciplines of engineering, agriculture institutes, medical colleges and fashion institutes.

The new guidelines cover funding and upgradation of laboratory equipment, training of lab personnel and specialised training of faculty members in the universities and institutes. This will also include public funded and private institutions in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking.

The financial assistance for introducing a full course in technical textiles can be up to Rs 20 crore for PG courses and Rs 10 crore at UG level. At UG level, the ministry will be introducing one mandatory subject and few electives, fir this, a grant up to Rs 7.5 crore may be given.

"The online applications may be submitted on the dedicated online education application portal under nttm.texmin.gov.in only, from the date of opening of portal (10 ^th January 2023) till 2 ^nd March 2023 (17.00 hrs)," said a statement.

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Meanwhile, the general guidelines for grant for internship support in technical textiles will be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 will be empanelment of eligible companies and phase 2 will be the internship programme where a grant of up to Rs 20.000 per per student shall be provided to the empaneled companies, subject to the maximum period of 2 months of funding support for internship period. The empaneled industries and institutions can give training to engineering institutes in concerned discipline in public funded institutions and private institutions with NIRF ranking upto 200.

Minister @PiyushGoyal held a meeting with the Steering Group under the National Technical Textiles Mission.

Discussed ways to enhance research in the field of technical textiles to further improve the efficiency of the Mission & strengthen India’s Technical Textile sector. pic.twitter.com/HopN6dRjf7

— Piyush Goyal Office (@PiyushGoyalOffc) November 1, 2022

While speaking at the meeting, secretary of textiles, Rachna Shah, said: "The Ministry has also issued guidelines for inviting research proposals for indigenous development of Technical Textiles machinery/Tools/Equipment& Instruments, which allows participation from private industries also. Premier research organizations like DRDO, CSIR have also been approached for inviting research proposals. Guidelines for promoting Start-ups in technical textiles are under formulation."

She also added that a demonstration centre for agrotech at Navsari Agricultural University is also being set up to show the advantages of using Agro-textiles. This is in line with Prime Minister’s vision of doubling farmers’ income. Various promotional activities in India and abroad have also been planned through conferences, exhibitions, knowledge tours, buyer-seller meets, etc.