Miscellaneous Schemes under Ministry of Textiles
ATUFS – Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme
Essence: Push modern, efficient machinery into the textile value chain by giving a one-time, credit-linked capital subsidy (i.e., subsidy tied to eligible machinery investment financed via banks).
Type: Central Sector Scheme.
Aims (think 5 keywords): Ease of Doing Business, Make in India, Zero Defect–Zero Effect, exports, import substitution—with higher investment, quality, jobs, exports.
Who gets what (segment-wise subsidy):
- Garmenting & Technical Textiles: 15% capital subsidy, cap ₹30 crore.
- Weaving, Processing, Jute, Silk, Handloom: 10% capital subsidy, cap ₹20 crore.
Subsidy flows through nodal financial institutions (not via states).
Targeted push: Focus on garmenting etc.;
Exclusion: Segments already modernized—spinning.
UPSC take-away: ATUFS = modern machinery + segment-wise subsidy caps; spinning excluded.
SAATHI – Sustainable and Accelerated Adoption of Efficient Textiles Technology to Help Small Scale Industries
What it does: Supplies energy-efficient powerlooms, motors, rapier kits to small & medium powerloom units at no upfront cost.
Partnership: Launched with Ministry of Power (energy efficiency synergy).
Why it matters: Lowers energy bills → boosts competitiveness of small units → greener production.
Jute ICARE – Improved Cultivation and Retting Exercises
Objective: Help small & marginal jute growers with better pre- & post-harvest practices so they produce higher-quality jute and earn better prices.
Key Implementing Bodies:
- National Jute Board (NJB)
- Jute Corporation of India (JCI)
- ICAR-CRIJAF (Central Research Institute for Jute & Allied Fibres)
Tech nugget: SONA—a microbial consortium developed by CRIJAF—improves retting, thereby enhancing quality & yield.
UPSC hook: Jute + SONA (microbial retting aid) + NJB/JCI/CRIJAF trio.
Pahchan Cards (Handicrafts)
Owner: Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).
What: Aadhaar-linked ID card for handicraft artisans.
Why: Creates a verified artisan database (name, address, Aadhaar, mobile, craft) and unlocks access to all Handicrafts schemes for Pehchan card holders.
Remember: Identification → inclusion → direct benefit flow.
Project SU.RE – Sustainable Resolution (Apparel Industry)
Spirit: A voluntary commitment by India’s apparel industry to shift towards environment-friendly fashion.
Alignment: SDG-12 (Responsible Consumption & Production).
Partners: CMAI (Clothing Manufacturers Association of India), United Nations in India, IMG Reliance.
Why it matters: Mainstreams sustainability in a high-visibility, export-facing sector.
CHCDS – Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme
Aim: Build world-class handicraft clusters with:
- Modern infrastructure (common facilities, testing, design, utilities),
- Latest technology,
- Training & HRD support,
- Market linkage, to scale up SMEs & artisans for production + exports.
Placement: Part of the National Handicraft Development Programme (NHDP).
UPSC cue: Cluster-based approach for handicrafts (not handlooms).
GREAT – Grant for Research & Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (under NTTM)
Where it sits: Research, Development & Innovation component of the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM).
Purpose: Build a startup ecosystem in Technical Textiles—move ideas → prototypes → products → commercialization quickly, via collaboration.
Money matters:
- Startups/Individuals: Grant up to ₹50 lakh.
- Associated Incubator: 10% of the startup’s grant (e.g., ₹5 lakh if startup gets ₹50 lakh).
So, a ₹50L startup grant triggers ₹55L total under NTTM (startup + incubator).
UPSC cue: GREAT = NTTM’s startup arm with ₹50L + 10% to incubator.