Textiles Ministry unveils DLTT plan to build export-led districts

District-centric strategy targets global competitiveness and inclusion.

The Ministry of Textiles has announced the launch of the District-Led Textiles Transformation (DLTT) initiative, a strategic programme aimed at driving inclusive and sustainable growth across India’s textile sector. The initiative was unveiled during the National Textile Ministers’ Conference held in Guwahati and marks a shift towards a sector-specific, district-level development model.

Under DLTT, the Ministry plans to transform 100 high-potential districts into Global Export Champions, while simultaneously upgrading 100 Aspirational Districts into self-reliant textile hubs. To identify and classify districts, the Ministry undertook a comprehensive, data-driven assessment based on three key parameters: export performance, the strength of the MSME ecosystem, and workforce presence. Based on this evaluation, districts have been grouped into Champion Districts and Aspirational Districts, each with a differentiated implementation roadmap.

Champion Districts will focus on scaling operations and enhancing sophistication by addressing advanced bottlenecks. Planned interventions include the upgradation of Common Facility Centres into Mega CFCs, adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, and facilitation of direct export market linkages to improve global competitiveness.

Aspirational Districts, on the other hand, will concentrate on building foundational capabilities and formalising the workforce. Measures include basic skilling and certification programmes, creation of raw material banks, and promotion of micro-enterprises through Self-Help Groups and cooperatives to strengthen grassroots participation.

The DLTT framework also places strong emphasis on Purvodaya convergence, with special focus on eastern and north-eastern regions. These zones have been prioritised for tribal belt development, improved connectivity, and Geographical Indication (GI) tagging to position distinctive cultural handicrafts in premium global markets.

Through coordinated convergence of government resources and partnerships with industry and academia, the initiative seeks to strengthen textile clusters and systematically scale successful district-level models nationwide.