India is known worldwide for its production of textiles in general, and cotton in particular, both being major industries for the country. Indian textile industry is the mother of all industries and is among the world‟s top producers of yarns and fabrics.Textile industry is one of the largest and oldest industry in India. Chinese first started using water driven mechanical devices for spinning in 12th century and Industrial revolution in Britain had its beginning in the textile industry.
The textile industry plays a crucial role in the Indian economy. It accounts for over 14 percent of industrial production and is closely linked with the agricultural and rural economy. It is the single largest employer in Industrial Sector .
Historical background
India is known for its textile products from the days when use of mordant dyes and printing blocks was in practice around 3000BC. The variety of fibres found in India, weaving patterns and its organic dyes has fascinated customers from all over the world for centuries.
Since BC 1500 to AD 150, country was famous for its handiwork on cotton fabrics. The muslin of Dhaka, Calicos of Calicut and embroidered cotton work of Surat and Vadodara were famous in the world for their fine quality, design and pattern. But the handmade cloth of India could not compete with the machine made cloth of UK. The Industrial Revolution had brought in new methods of fabrication and invented textile machines and techniques of spinning and weaving. The English inventions revolutionized textile manufacturing by way of producing cheap cloth and in large quantities.
Structure of textile industry
The textile sector in India is one of the world largest. The production of textiles is structured across the organized mill sector and unorganized decentralized sector. The organized mill sector consists of spinning mills or composite mills. Composite mills are those where all the activities, i.e., spinning, weaving and processing are performed in the same building. Weaving is done in unorganised decentralized sector and consists of powerloom, handloom and hosiery units. Apart from this, readymade garments, khadi and carpet manufacturing units are also included in the decentralized sector (Balaji, 2008). In general, the textile industry is classified into three segments: Cotton Textiles, Synthetic Textiles and others like Wool, Jute, and Silk etc.
All segments of the textile industry have their own significance but cotton textiles lead with 73% share. Even, the consumption of cotton fibre/yarn in relation to other fibres/yarn in India is 54: 46 thus making it predominately a cotton based industry. While the global consumption of fibres/yarn is 40:60 in favour of non-cotton fibres/yarn.
The structure of cotton textile industry ranges from hand spinning and hand weaving to most sophisticated automatic spindles and looms. The textile value chain extends from raw material (fibres) to finished products (clothing and made-ups) with spinning, weaving, knitting and processing coming in between as intermediate processes.
Importance of textile industry in Indian economy
The Indian textile industry has a significant presence in the economic life of our country. It is the second largest textile industry in the world after China. The textile industry contributes about 14% to the country’s industrial output and about 17% to export earnings. After agriculture, this industry is the second largest employer in India employing 45 million people. Besides, another 60 million people are engaged in allied activities.
The name “white gold” given to cotton has emphasised its significance in Indian economy since a long time. It is the backbone of Indian economy being the employer of millions of rural workforce and has resulted in the expansion of manufacturing activities.
India is the largest producer of Jute, the 2nd largest producer of Silk, the 3rdlargest producer of Cotton and Cellulosic Fibre/Yarn and 5th largest producer of Synthetic Fibres/Yarn. Textile Industry contributes around 4% of GDP, 9% of excise collections, and has 11 % share in the country‟s export. India is the largest exporter of yarn in the international market and has a share of 25% in world cotton yarn export market.
challenges of cotton textile industry in india
Although cotton textile is one of the most important industries of India, it suffers from many problems. Some of the burning problems are briefly described as under:
Indian cotton textile industry suffered a lot as a result of partition because most of the long staple cotton growing areas went to Pakistan. Although much headway has been made to improve the production of raw cotton, its supply has always fallen short of the demand. Consequently, much of the long staple cotton requirements are met by resorting to imports.
Obsolete Machinery
Most of the textile mills are old with obsolete machinery. This results in low productivity and inferior quality. In the developed countries, the textile machinery installed even 10-15 years ago has become outdated and obsolete, whereas in India about 60-75 per cent machinery is 25-30 years old.
Only 18-20 per cent of the looms in India are automatic whereas Percentage of such looms ranges from cent per cent in Hong Kong and the USA., 99 per cent in Canada, 92 per cent in Sweden, 83 per cent in Norway, 76 per cent in Denmark, 70 per cent in Australia, 60 per cent in Pakistan and 45 per cent in China.
Erratic Power Supply
Power supply to most cotton textile mills is erratic and inadequate which adversely affects the production.
Low Productivity of Labour
Labour productivity in India is extremely low as compared to some of the advanced countries. On an Average a worker in India handles about 2 looms as compared to 30 looms in Japan and 60 looms in the USA. If the productivity of an American worker is taken as 100, the corresponding figure is 51 for U.K. 33 for Japan and only 13 for India.
Strikes
Labour strikes are common in the industrial sector but cotton textile industry suffers a lot due to frequent strikes by a labour force. The long drawn strike in 1980 dealt a severe below to the organised sector. It took almost 23 years for the Government to realise this and introduce legislation for encouraging the organised sector.
Stiff Competition
Indian cotton mill industry has to face stiff competition from powerloom and handloom sector, synthetic fibres and from products of other countries.
Sick Mills
The above factors acting singly or in association with one another have resulted in many sick mills. As many as 177 mills have been declared as sick mills. The National Textile Corporation set up in 1975 has been striving to avoid sick mills and has taken over the administration of 125 sick mills. What is alarming is 483 mills have already been closed.
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The cotton textile industry in India is one of the oldest and largest in the world. It has a long and rich history, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The industry has played a major role in the Economic Development of India, and it continues to be a vital part of the country’s economy.
The cotton textile industry in India is made up of a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises. The industry is concentrated in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. The industry employs millions of people, and it is a major Source Of Income for many families in India.
The cotton textile industry in India is facing a number of challenges, including competition from low-cost producers in other countries, rising costs of raw materials, and environmental regulations. However, the industry is also making progress in addressing these challenges. For example, the industry is investing in new technologies to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The industry is also working to improve its environmental performance.
The cotton textile industry in India is an important part of the country’s economy. The industry provides EMPLOYMENT for millions of people, and it is a major source of income for many families. The industry is facing a number of challenges, but it is also making progress in addressing these challenges. The future of the cotton textile industry in India is bright, and it is expected to continue to play a major role in the country’s economic development.
History of the cotton textile industry in India
The cotton textile industry in India has a long and rich history. The first cotton textiles were produced in India in the Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished from about 2600 to 1900 BC. The Indus Valley people were skilled weavers and dyers, and they produced a variety of cotton textiles, including fabrics, clothing, and carpets.
The cotton textile industry continued to grow in India after the Indus Valley Civilization. During the Mughal Empire (1526-1857), the cotton textile industry became one of the most important industries in India. The Mughals built a number of cotton mills, and they promoted the export of cotton textiles.
The cotton textile industry in India suffered a decline during the British colonial period (1857-1947). The British imposed high tariffs on Indian cotton textiles, which made it difficult for Indian manufacturers to compete with British manufacturers. The British also encouraged the cultivation of opium in India, which led to a decline in the cultivation of cotton.
After India gained independence in 1947, the cotton textile industry began to revive. The Indian government provided subsidies and other assistance to the cotton textile industry, and the industry began to export cotton textiles to other countries.
In the 1980s, the cotton textile industry in India underwent a major transformation. The government deregulated the industry, and private companies began to invest in cotton mills. The industry also began to adopt new technologies, such as computerized spinning and weaving machines.
Today, the cotton textile industry in India is one of the largest in the world. The industry employs millions of people, and it is a major source of income for many families in India. The industry is facing a number of challenges, including competition from low-cost producers in other countries, rising costs of raw materials, and environmental regulations. However, the industry is also making progress in addressing these challenges. For example, the industry is investing in new technologies to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The industry is also working to improve its environmental performance.
Structure of the cotton textile industry in India
The cotton textile industry in India is made up of a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises. The industry is concentrated in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. The industry employs millions of people, and it is a major source of income for many families in India.
The cotton textile industry in India is divided into three main segments: spinning, weaving, and finishing. The spinning segment is responsible for converting cotton fibers into yarn. The weaving segment is responsible for converting yarn into fabric. The finishing segment is responsible for treating fabric to improve its appearance and durability.
The cotton textile industry in India is a highly competitive industry. There are a large number of manufacturers, and they are constantly competing for market share. The industry is also facing a number of challenges, including competition from low-cost producers in other countries, rising costs of raw materials, and environmental regulations.
Production of cotton textiles in India
India is the world’s second largest producer of cotton textiles, after China. In 2017, India produced 34.9 million bales of cotton, which was an increase of 1.5% from the previous year. The majority of India’s cotton production is used to produce cotton textiles.
The cotton textile industry in India is a major employer. In 2017, the
What is the cotton textile industry?
The cotton textile industry is a major sector of the Indian economy, accounting for about 2% of GDP and employing about 45 million people. The industry is made up of spinning mills, weaving mills, and garment factories.
What are the major challenges facing the cotton textile industry?
The cotton textile industry faces a number of challenges, including:
Competition from low-cost producers: India faces competition from low-cost producers in countries such as China and Bangladesh. These countries have lower labor costs and are able to produce cotton textiles at a lower cost.
Volatile cotton prices: The price of cotton is volatile and can fluctuate significantly from year to year. This volatility can make it difficult for cotton textile manufacturers to plan and budget.
Environmental concerns: The cotton textile industry is a major user of water and energy. The industry also generates a significant amount of waste, which can pollute the Environment.
What are the government’s initiatives to support the cotton textile industry?
The government has taken a number of initiatives to support the cotton textile industry, including:
Providing subsidies for raw materials: The government provides subsidies for raw materials such as cotton. This helps to reduce the cost of production for cotton textile manufacturers.
Offering tax breaks: The government offers tax breaks to cotton textile manufacturers. This helps to reduce the cost of doing business for these companies.
Promoting exports: The government promotes exports of cotton textiles. This helps to increase demand for Indian cotton textiles and boost the industry’s Growth.
What are the future prospects for the cotton textile industry?
The future prospects for the cotton textile industry are positive. The industry is expected to grow at a rate of 7-8% per year in the next few years. This growth will be driven by increasing demand for cotton textiles in both domestic and international markets.
What are the social and environmental impacts of the cotton textile industry?
The cotton textile industry has a number of social and environmental impacts. These include:
Employment: The cotton textile industry is a major employer in India. It employs about 45 million people, directly and indirectly.
Income generation: The cotton textile industry generates a significant amount of income for the Indian economy. It is estimated that the industry contributes about $20 billion to GDP each year.
Foreign Exchange earnings: The cotton textile industry is a major earner of foreign exchange for India. It is estimated that the industry exports about $30 billion worth of cotton textiles each year.
Water Pollution: The cotton textile industry is a major user of water. It is estimated that the industry uses about 10 billion cubic meters of water each year. This water is used for Irrigation, processing, and dyeing. The use of this much water can lead to water pollution.
Air Pollution: The cotton textile industry is a major source of air pollution. It is estimated that the industry emits about 10 million tons of air pollutants each year. These pollutants can cause respiratory problems and other Health issues.
Land degradation: The cotton textile industry is a major cause of land degradation. It is estimated that the industry uses about 10 million hectares of land each year. This land is used for cultivation, processing, and dyeing. The use of this much land can lead to land degradation.
What are the sustainable practices in the cotton textile industry?
There are a number of sustainable practices that can be used in the cotton textile industry. These include:
Using organic cotton: Organic cotton is grown without the use of pesticides or herbicides. This helps to reduce the environmental impact of cotton production.
Using recycled cotton: Recycled cotton is made from used cotton textiles. This helps to reduce the amount of waste produced by the cotton textile industry.
Using water-efficient irrigation methods: Water-efficient irrigation methods can help to reduce the amount of water used in cotton production.
Using energy-efficient processing methods: Energy-efficient processing methods can help to reduce the amount of energy used in cotton production.
Using non-toxic dyes: Non-toxic dyes can help to reduce the environmental impact of cotton dyeing.
Using sustainable packaging: Sustainable packaging can help to reduce the environmental impact of cotton textile products.
What are the certifications available for sustainable cotton textile products?
There are a number of certifications available for sustainable cotton textile products. These include:
Organic Content Standard (OCS): The OCS is a certification that ensures that a product contains a certain percentage of organic cotton.
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): The GOTS is a certification that ensures that a product is made from 100% organic
The cotton textile industry is the largest employer in India, accounting for over 45 million jobs.
The industry is worth over $100 billion and is the second largest export earner for India.
The industry is highly competitive, with over 100,000 mills and factories operating in India.
The industry is facing a number of challenges, including rising raw material costs, labor unrest, and environmental pollution.
The government is taking a number of steps to support the industry, including providing subsidies, tax breaks, and Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE-development/”>Infrastructure Development.
The cotton textile industry is concentrated in which state? (A) Gujarat (B) Maharashtra (C) Tamil Nadu (D) Andhra Pradesh
The cotton textile industry is the largest employer in which sector? (A) Agriculture (B) Manufacturing (C) Services (D) Construction
The cotton textile industry is the second largest export earner for India after which sector? (A) Agriculture (B) Manufacturing (C) Services (D) Construction
The cotton textile industry is facing a number of challenges, including which of the following? (A) Rising raw material costs (B) Labor unrest (C) Environmental pollution (D) All of the above
The government is taking a number of steps to support the cotton textile industry, including which of the following? (A) Providing subsidies (B) Tax breaks (C) Infrastructure development (D) All of the above