The National Textiles Ministers’ Conference 2026 took place from January 8 to 9, 2026, in Guwahati, Assam. The conference was held under the theme “India’s Textiles: Weaving Growth, Heritage & Innovation.” Hosted by the Ministry of Textiles (MoT) and the Government of Assam, this two-day event welcomed textile ministers and senior officials from various states and Union Territories (UTs).
One of the main outcomes was the launch of the District-Led Textiles Transformation (DLTT) Plan. Additionally, the report titled “India’s Textile Atlas: State Compendium 2025” was unveiled. Two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed during the event, focusing on the protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for Geographical Indications (GI) products from the North Eastern states.
The inaugural session featured prominent dignitaries, including Union Minister Giriraj Singh and Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma of Assam. The conference aligned with the Government of India’s vision to transform India into a global textile manufacturing hub by 2030, emphasizing exports, job creation, and inclusive growth.
The Government of India has set an ambitious goal to establish a USD 350 billion textile economy by 2030. The Northeastern region is significant in this endeavor, accounting for approximately 52% of the country's handloom production, as per the Handloom Census 2019–20.
During the conference, a special conclave aimed at empowering the textiles sector of the North-Eastern region was held. This conclave focused on exploring the potential of silk handloom, handicrafts, and bamboo-based textiles, particularly Eri, Muga, and Mulberry silk.
Moreover, the MoU signed between the Textiles Committee and the North Eastern Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation (NEHHDC) marked a significant step towards safeguarding IPR for unique products from the North Eastern states through GI registration.
The DLTT Plan, unveiled during the conference, aims to drive inclusive and sustainable growth in India’s textile industry. This initiative targets transforming 100 high-potential districts into Global Export Champions and uplifting 100 Aspirational Districts into self-reliant hubs. The MoT utilized a data-driven approach to analyze districts based on export performance, MSME ecosystem, and workforce presence.
The initiative prioritizes the development of tribal belts, enhancing connectivity, and promoting unique cultural handicrafts through GI tagging, specifically focusing on the North East and East zones. This aims to ensure these regions can effectively showcase their heritage to premium international markets.
On the inaugural day, MoUs were signed with 15 states to establish a robust operational framework under the Tex-RAMPS scheme. This initiative, backed by a budget of Rs 305 crore from 2025-26 to 2030-31, aims to enhance the quality and reliability of textile-related data and research.
Q1. What was the theme of the National Textiles Ministers' Conference 2026?
Answer: The theme of the conference was “India’s Textiles: Weaving Growth, Heritage & Innovation,” focusing on the textile industry's growth and innovation.
Q2. Where was the National Textiles Ministers' Conference held?
Answer: The conference took place in Guwahati, Assam, from January 8 to 9, 2026.
Q3. What is the DLTT Plan introduced during the conference?
Answer: The District-Led Textiles Transformation (DLTT) Plan aims to transform 100 high-potential districts into Global Export Champions and uplift 100 Aspirational Districts.
Q4. What was one significant outcome of the conference?
Answer: A notable outcome was the signing of MoUs focusing on protecting Intellectual Property Rights for Geographical Indications from North Eastern states.
Q5. What is the target for India's textile economy by 2030?
Answer: The target is to achieve a USD 350 billion textile economy by the year 2030, emphasizing growth and job creation.
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