Technical Textiles: According to a recent research report, the global Technical Textile market size is expected to reach USD 272.3 billion by 2030. Technical Textiles are textile products that are manufactured primarily for their functionality and use rather than aesthetic appeal. They are designed to have high levels of physical, mechanical, thermal, and/or chemical properties for use in specific applications within industrial sectors such as earthworks, construction, civil engineering, transport, defense, medical, and healthcare.
Technical Textiles Mission in India: The Ministry of Textiles has launched NTTM to increase the penetration level of technical textiles in India while leveraging the extraordinary growth rate of the sector. The aim of the mission is to position India as a global leader in Technical Textiles. The mission will comprise the following four components: Research, Innovation and Development; Promotion and Market Development; Export Promotion; Education, Training, Skill Development. The NTTM has been approved with an implementation period of four years starting from FY 2020-21 till FY 2023-24.The Mission has a target to take the domestic market size of the technical textile sector to $ 40-50 Bn by the year 2024 with an average growth rate of 15-20% per annum.
NIDHI Program: National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing innovations (NIDHI) program was launched in 2016.It is an umbrella programme conceived and developed by the Innovation & Entrepreneurship division, Department of Science & Technology. The Aim is to nurture start-ups through scouting, supporting and scaling innovations. Funding: By the National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB).
Key Components:
- The NIDHI- PRAYAS (Promoting and Accelerating Young and Aspiring Innovators and Startups) program at Proof-of-Concept level provides mentoring and financial support to innovator for converting their ideas into prototypes.
- NIDHI Entrepreneurs-In-Residence (EIR) Program provides fellowships to the students opting for entrepreneurship.
- The NIDHI Seed Support Program provisions availability of early-stage seed support funding to startups and the NIDHI Accelerator program speeds up the investment readiness of the startups.
- NIDHI Accelerator: An accelerator is typically a 3-6 months fast track structured program helping ideas get accelerated to the next orbit.
Committee of Parliament on Official Language: The Committee of Parliament on Official Language was set up in 1976 under Section 4 of the Official Language Act 1963.Under the provisions of the 1963 Act, the panel submits its report to the President, who “shall [then] cause the report to be laid before each House of Parliament, and sent to all the State Governments”. The Committee is chaired by the Union Home Minister, and has, in accordance with the provisions of the 1963 Act. The committee consists of 30 members — 20 MPs from Lok Sabha and 10 MPs from Rajya Sabha. The mandate of the Committee is to review the progress made in the use of Hindi for official purposes, and to make recommendations to increase the use of Hindi in official communications. The first Report of the Committee was submitted in 1987.
