Ludhiana Textile Sector Confronts Subsidy Delays: Industry Leaders Escalate Concerns with Textile Ministry

In a significant development highlighting systemic challenges within India's textile sector, over 150 textile mill owners from Ludhiana—a critical industrial hub—have formally escalated grievances regarding substantial subsidy disbursement delays through the Ministry of Textiles' i-TUFS portal. Launched in December 2025, the portal was designed to streamline the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) process, yet industry stakeholders report pending subsidies exceeding ₹250 crore, creating severe liquidity constraints and operational uncertainty. This collective action underscores deepening friction between policy implementation mechanisms and ground-level industrial realities. The coordinated approach by business leaders suggests a strategic move to pressure administrative channels for expedited resolution, reflecting broader concerns about bureaucratic efficiency affecting India's manufacturing competitiveness. Analysis indicates that prolonged subsidy withholding could destabilize capital investment cycles in one of the nation's premier textile clusters, potentially impacting employment and export capacity. The situation warrants close monitoring as it may signal necessary reforms in industrial subsidy administration frameworks to align with dynamic economic requirements.