PLI Scheme Boosts India's Textile Industry with ₹8,118 Crore Investment and 33,400 Jobs

When the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for textiles was announced, many wondered if it would ever move beyond the paperwork. The numbers that have now emerged suggest the answer is a resounding “yes”. As of 31 March 2026, the scheme has funneled ₹ 8,117.64 crore into the sector and sparked the creation of 33,427 new jobs.

Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita, answering a written question in the Lok Sabha, disclosed that 170 companies have been green‑lighted under the PLI. These firms span everything from traditional yarn manufacturers to high‑tech apparel exporters, indicating that the incentive is reaching a broad swath of the industry.

Exports tell another encouraging story. Textile and apparel shipments – which also bundle handicrafts – climbed 1.8 % year‑on‑year, reaching ₹ 3,25,339 crore in FY 2025‑26, up from ₹ 3,19,573.2 crore the previous year. The growth was not confined to a handful of markets; the goods found buyers in more than 100 destinations, despite global headwinds like rising input costs and the lingering effects of geopolitical tensions.

State‑wise, Madhya Pradesh continued to dominate, posting ₹ 11,751.7 crore in exports, while Bihar showed a modest but notable jump to ₹ 409 crore, up from ₹ 375.6 crore a year earlier. These figures underscore how the PLI is helping both established hubs and emerging players.

The PLI’s impact is amplified by a suite of complementary programmes. The PM MITRA Parks Scheme, the National Technical Textiles Mission, the SAMARTH skill‑development drive, Silk Samagra‑2, and various handloom and handicraft development initiatives all work in tandem, creating an ecosystem that nurtures everything from raw material production to finished‑goods export.

Adding a fresh layer of support, the government rolled out RELIEF (Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) on 19 March 2026 under the Export Promotion Mission. This new framework is designed to shield exporters from disruptions stemming from West‑Asia conflicts and maritime bottlenecks in the Gulf.

All signs point to a textile sector that’s not just surviving but beginning to thrive, thanks to targeted incentives, skill‑building, and a clear export‑oriented vision. If the momentum holds, the next few years could see even higher investment, more jobs and a stronger footprint for Indian textiles on the global stage.