Ministry of Textiles Hosts FoThe Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles, Neelam Shami Rao, chaired the fourth ESG Task Force meeting to co-create a sustainable and forward-looking vision for the Indian Textiles & Apparel Industry.
The high-level meeting saw participation from senior officials, including Rohit Kansal (Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles), Dr. M. Beena (Textile Commissioner), Padmini Singla (Joint Secretary, Fibre), Renu Lata (Economic Advisor, Ministry of Commerce & Industry), and Ashok Kumar (Deputy Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency). Representatives from related ministries, textile industry associations, global brands, multilateral agencies, and other key stakeholders also attended. The entire textile value chain—from raw materials to finished garments—was represented through industry experts and associations.
In her keynote address, Rao emphasized that sustainability in textiles is not just a concept but a lived reality in clusters such as Tirupur, Surat, and Panipat. She pointed to ongoing efforts in wastewater recycling, renewable energy, and textile waste management. She stressed the importance of scaling these practices nationally and called for a cooperative, multi-stakeholder approach to ensure sustainable growth in the textile industry.
Additional Secretary Rohit Kansal highlighted that sustainability is deeply rooted in India’s cultural and traditional practices. He stressed the urgent need for sustainability in the textile sector and described several government-led initiatives, including skill development and cluster-level engagement. Kansal urged the industry to treat sustainability not just as a compliance mandate but as a strategic advantage for global competitiveness. He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of positioning India as a global leader in Fashion for Environment and Empowerment.
The Ministry of Textiles shared an outline of its long-term vision and invited suggestions from stakeholders to co-develop a robust policy framework. A key highlight of the meeting was a discussion on the draft Roadmap 2047—focused on building a sustainable, circular, and resource-efficient Indian textile industry.
Key discussion areas included awareness building across the textile value chain—from large corporations and MSMEs to students and consumers. The stakeholders explored the importance of capacity building, R&D, innovation, and knowledge sharing. There were also strong calls for a harmonized sustainability framework, simplified compliance norms, and a mix of voluntary and regulatory approaches to promote textile circularity.
Participants also emphasized the need to align national ESG strategies with evolving global norms, including green finance, sustainability certification, and responsible consumption practices.
The meeting concluded with unanimous support from all attendees to actively shape the updated policy framework. Stakeholders appreciated the Ministry’s inclusive, action-oriented approach to accelerating sustainability in textiles and apparel.urth ESG Task Force Meeting to Drive Sustainability in India’s Textile Industry
