Minister of State (MoS) for Textiles Pabitra Margherita informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday that the government has expanded MSME engagement under the Production Linked Incentives (PLI) Scheme for traditional textiles while also strengthening skill development and export-promotion initiatives.
The PLI Scheme, launched in September 2021 to accelerate production of man-made fibre (MMF) apparel, MMF fabrics and technical textiles, has so far approved 91 companies as of 30th September 2025. Of these, 36 are micro, small and medium enterprises. The approved firms have collectively reported a turnover of Rs. 7,290 crore (US $ 810 million) and exports worth Rs. 733 crore (US $ 81.48 million).
Margherita said the Ministry had amended the scheme to encourage greater MSME participation by reducing the investment threshold for new applicants—from Rs. 300 crore (US $ 33.34 million) to Rs. 150 crore (US $ 16.67 million) under Part-1 and from Rs. 100 crore (US $ 11.11 million) to Rs. 50 crore (US $ 5.55 million) under Part-2. He added that the minimum incremental turnover requirement had been lowered from 25% to 10%, and that the product basket had been broadened to include more categories of MMF apparel, fabrics and technical textiles.
He noted that the amendments also eliminate the earlier requirement for companies to establish a new entity to qualify for scheme benefits, a move aimed at easing access for smaller players.
Providing an update on skill development efforts, Margherita said that under the Samarth Scheme for Capacity Building in the Textiles Sector, 5.35 lakh beneficiaries had been trained and 4.20 lakh individuals placed in employment as of 1st December 2025. The programme is designed to strengthen capabilities in textile clusters, with a particular focus on supporting MSMEs.
