CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu has emerged as the country’s biggest employment generator under Centre’s production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for textiles, creating nearly one in four jobs generated under the programme.The scheme for textiles has contributed to employment generation by encouraging investments in the manufacture of MMF apparel, MMF fabrics and technical textiles.The scheme has generated 33,427 jobs across India through investments of Rs 8,117.64 crore by 170 companies as of March 31, according to data shared in the Lok Sabha.Tamil Nadu accounted for about 24% of the jobs created, highlighting the state’s continued dominance as India’s textile and apparel manufacturing hub.Interestingly, Tamil Nadu ranked fourth in terms of investments under the PLI scheme, behind Gujarat, Karnataka and Goa.However, it topped the employment chart, signalling the state’s ability to convert capital investment into large-scale manufacturing jobs.Under the PLI scheme, 17 companies in Tamil Nadu have invested a total of Rs 1,277.16 crore.While Gujarat attracted the highest investment of Rs 1,903.38 crore from 46 companies, it generated 4,493 jobs, significantly fewer than Tamil Nadu. Karnataka, with investments of Rs 1,515.99 crore, created 5,611 jobs. Goa generated 692 jobs from a single investment of Rs 1,355.87 crore.Tamil Nadu’s exports of textiles and apparel, including handicraft, stood at Rs 68,792 crore in 2025-26, compared with Rs 67,863 crore in 2024-25, registering a growth of 1.4%. Tirupur’s exports of textiles and apparel, including handicraft, stood at Rs 38,676.5 crore in FY26, compared with Rs 37,564 crore in FY25, registering a growth of 3%.“Tirupur has demonstrated that scale does not always require one dominant corporate entity. This cluster has grown through the combined efforts of about 2,000 factories and 20,000 smaller units, creating a specialised knitwear manufacturing ecosystem,” according to analysts at 360 ONE Capital.Meanwhile, the PM MITRA Park at Virudhunagar has achieved 100% land acquisition and received environmental clearance. A joint venture agreement has been signed between Centre and TN govt, and the land has been transferred to a special purpose vehicle. A detailed project report worth Rs 1,894 crore for the PM MITRA Park in Tamil Nadu has been approved, Pabitra Margherita, Union minister of state for textiles, said in a reply to the Lok Sabha.The EPC contract for the core infrastructure has been awarded to a construction company. The first instalment of development capital support amounting to Rs 50 crore has also been released for the project, he added.
