The textile industry in India provides direct employment to more than 35 million people and is the second-largest employment generator after agriculture. The textiles industry accounts for 14 per cent of the total industrial production in India. At current prices, it accounts for 4 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP)—US$ 51.36 billion.

India has the largest area under cotton cultivation—9 million hectares—constituting 25 per cent of the world’s total cultivation area. India is also the second-largest producer of silk in the world. Several international retail giants such as Marks & Spencer are leveraging India as a key global sourcing destination.

India is the seventh-largest producer of wool and contributes 1.8 per cent to the total wool production in the world. The production of raw jute between July 2008 and June 2009 has been estimated at 8.2 million bales (1.47 billion kg). This industry is still largely untapped and has immense potential for attracting investments. The Working Group for the seventh-largest producer of wool (2007–2012) has estimated the market size of technical textiles to reach US$ 10.87 billion (INR 522 billion) by 2011–12.

Textiles and apparel industry exports, valued at US$ 20.02 billion (INR 963.05 billion), contributed about 11.5 per cent to the country’s total exports in 2008–09. In addition to the four functional SEZs, there are 13 in-principle approved, 19 formally approved and 12 notified SEZs in India.

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