Structure and Composition of India’s Textile and Apparel Industry: A Descriptive Analysis of Production, Employment, and Exports

The textile and apparel industry occupies a strategic position in India’s manufacturing sector due to its extensive value chain, high labour intensity, and high export share. The disorganised structure, coexistence of organised and unorganised regional agglomerations, and changing fibre content make the sector complex, even as it is important. The present study undertakes a descriptive sectoral analysis to examine the structure and composition of India’s textile and apparel industry and assess the recent trends in production, employment, and exports. The study is based mainly on secondary data sourced from official publications issued by the Ministry of Textiles, Press Information Bureau, and various other government reports. A descriptive-analytical approach is adopted to synthesise sectoral information on value-chain structure, fibre-wise composition, the organised–unorganised dualism, regional distribution, and recent performance trends. The results indicate that the textile industry in India maintains a broad fibre-to-fashion value chain that remains labour-intensive, with the unorganised sector equally important for employment creation. Though cotton-based textiles remain important, there is a trend towards man-made fibres, in line with changing demands from global markets. The exports indicate relative stability and selective growth, particularly in garments, products of man-made fibres, jute, and handicrafts. The overall trend being described indicates that the structural makeup of the textile and apparel sector is important in determining the recent outcomes. As it presents a detailed descriptive analysis using recent official statistics, it helps highlight the current organisational base of the textile and apparel sector in India and may serve as a basis for further research.