Guidelines for technical textiles degree programme in UG & PG issued

Guidelines to update existing conventional degree programmes with new papers of Technical Textiles issued by the government and internships support for Technical Textile announced.

The Ministry of Textiles has given clearance to two guidelines, namely, ‘General Guidelines for Enabling of Academic Institutes in Technical Textiles- for Private & Public Institutes’ and ‘General Guidelines for Grant for Internship Support in Technical Textiles (GIST)’, under the Flagship Programme of National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM). The clearance was given during a Meeting of the Empowered Programme Committee (EPC), informed Rachna Shah, Secretary Textiles.

The ‘General Guidelines for Enabling of Academic Institutes in Technical Textiles- For Private  & Public Institutes’ will enable new technical textiles degree programme (UG & PG) and updating of existing conventional degree programmes with new papers of Technical Textiles. The Ministry of Textiles intends to develop eco-system in technical textiles not only in textile field but other disciplines of Engineering like civil, mechanical, electronics etc., agriculture institutes, medical colleges, fashion institutes.

The guidelines cover the funding of upgradation/enhancement of laboratory equipment, training of lab personnel and specialised training of faculty members of the relevant department/specialisation in the university/institute, with respect to the undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) degree programmes. This will cover public funded institutions and also private institutions having NIRF ranking. The assistance for introducing full course in technical textiles and be upto Rs 20 crore PG course and upto Rs 10 crore at UG level. At UG level introducing one mandatory subject and few electives, grant upto Rs 7.5 crore may be given.

The guidelines will put emphasis on creating an effective and world-class knowledge ecosystem to make India a world leader in the field of technical textiles in the next decade. India will take a huge leap in the cutting-edge research, production, and innovative applications related to Technical Textiles, driven by the set of highly educated and competent professionals.

The online applications may be submitted on the dedicated online education application portal from the date of opening of portal (January 10, 2023) till March 2.

The implementation of General Guidelines for Grant for Internship Support in Technical Textiles (GIST) shall be conducted in two phases, (i) Empanelment of the eligible Companies, (ii) Internship Program, wherein the grant of upto Rs 20,000 per student (B.Tech students in 2nd/3rd/4th year of the relevant departments/ specialisations of eligible private/ public institutes) per month shall be provided to the empaneled companies, subject to the maximum period of 2 months of funding support for internship period. The eligible agencies will be textile industries with turn over more than Rs 10 crore, Textile Research associations under Ministry and textile machinery manufactures. The empanelled industries/ institutions can give training to engineering institutes of concerned discipline in Public funded institutions and also to Private institutions with NIRF ranking upto 200.

This move will support in creating quality manpower, especially industry-trained engineers and professionals, and highly skilled workmen both for manufacturing and application areas of technical textiles along with fostering academia – industry linkages in the field of technical textiles.

Prof (Dr) P V Kadole,  Director, DKTE Textile & Engineering Institute, Ichalkaranji, applauded the government’s move and commented, “These initiatives by the Ministry of Textiles GoI for providing grants to Academic Institutes in Technical Textiles will certainly boost the research, incubation and internship culture amongst UG and PG students in the textile fraternity. For Academic and Research institutes, the grants will make them use this in cutting-edge research, production, proto-typing and innovative applications related to technical textiles, to be driven by highly educated professionals, faculty members and research associates. All these initiatives will support in the creation of quality skilled manpower required by industry and professionals in the field of manufacturing and application areas of technical textiles. This move will strengthen institute – industry interaction and linkages in the field of technical textiles.”

Talking about the progress of NTTM, the Secretary informed that 74 research proposals worth Rs 232 crore in different application areas of technical textiles including geotech, agrotech, specialty fibres, protech, etc. have been approved to premier institutions like IITs/ NITs/ Textile Research Associations (TRAs) with industry partners in most of them.

She added that as technical textiles are to perform some specific functions, ensuring quality is paramount and to achieve this, the Quality Control Orders (QCOs) are under consideration of 107technical textiles items. QCOs for 19 Geo-tech, 12 Pro-tech, 22 Agro-tech and 6 Medi-tech are under consideration. 48 items of Medi-tech are already covered under CDSCO regulation.

More than 500 BIS Standards have been developed on technical textiles and BIS is working on developing 40 more such standards as per requirement of industry.SRTEPC has been assigned the role of the Export Promotion Council for promotion of Technical Textiles.

Shah emphasised that 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 organisations like DRDO, CSIR have also been approached for inviting research proposals. Guidelines for promoting start-ups in technical textiles are under formulation.

She said 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.