The Union government cleared a ₹1,480 crore scheme to boost research, production, use and export of technical textiles, to make the country a leader in the specialized segment of the textile industry. The cabinet committee on economic affairs cleared a plan to set up a National Technical Textiles Mission under which steps will be taken in the four years up to FY24 to boost the industry, according to an official statement. Technical textiles have specialized applications in diverse areas such as production of fire-resistant vests, bulletproof jackets, high altitude combat gear, as well as space applications. They are also used in automobile and medical industries. The statement said that the bulk of the funds, ₹1,000 crore, will be used to promote research and development in the field. The Indian technical textiles segment is estimated at $16 billion but accounts for only 6% of the $250 billion global market, it said.