NATIONAL SCHEMES

GREAT Scheme (Grant for Research & Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles)

• Context : Ministry of Textiles is implementing the GREAT (Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles) scheme under the National Technical Textiles Mission.

About GREAT Scheme

• • The GREAT Scheme was started in August 2023 to strengthen the startup ecosystem in the Technical Textiles sector in India.

• It is implemented under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) component of the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM).

• • The scheme encourages young innovators, scientists, technologists, entrepreneurs, and startups to convert their innovative ideas into commercial products and technologies, helping India become self-reliant.
  • It provides financial support to individual entrepreneurs and startups for developing functional prototypes and commercializing technical textile innovations.
  • The scheme covers innovations in various Technical Textile segments, including: Agro-textiles, Buildtech (Building Textiles), Clothtech, Geotextiles, Hometech (Home Textiles), Indutech (Industrial Textiles), Meditech (Medical Textiles), Mobiltech (Mobile Textiles), Oekotech (Eco-friendly Textiles), Packtech (Packaging Textiles), Protech (Protective Textiles), Sportech (Sports Textiles)

• Funding Support: Eligible applicants can receive a grant of up to ₹50 lakh for a maximum period of 18 months.

National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM)

• • The National Technical Textiles Mission was launched to increase the use of technical textiles in India and promote the rapid growth of this sector.
  • Its objective is to make India a global leader in Technical Textiles.

• Major Components of NTTM

• • Research, Innovation, and Development (R&D)
  • Promotion and Market Development
  • Export Promotion
  • Education, Training, and Skill Development

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Textiles.

 

National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM)

• Context: The Union Minister for Tribal Affairs informed the Rajya Sabha that under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM), Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) screening is being conducted for people aged 0–40 years in 17 tribal-dominated states through health facilities from District Hospitals to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs).

• As of 16 July 2026, over 7.24 crore people have been screened, with 2,47,961 SCD patients and 20,35,181 carriers identified in tribal areas.

About National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM)

• The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission was announced in the Union Budget 2023.

• • Vision: To eliminate Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) as a public health problem in India by 2047.
  • The mission aims to provide affordable and quality healthcare to all SCD patients and reduce the disease through awareness, screening, counselling, and behaviour change.

• It includes:

• • Creating awareness about SCD.
  • Screening 7 crore people in the 0–40 years age group in affected tribal areas.
  • Providing counselling through the joint efforts of the Central Government and State Governments.

• Initially, the mission focuses on 17 states with a high burden of SCD.

About Sickle Cell Anaemia

• • Sickle Cell Anaemia is an inherited genetic blood disorder.
  • It affects haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells (RBCs) that carries oxygen throughout the body.

• People with this disease produce an abnormal type of haemoglobin called Haemoglobin S (HbS).

• • This causes red blood cells to become sickle-shaped (crescent-shaped) instead of their normal round shape.
  • These sickle-shaped cells are hard and sticky, which can block blood flow and reduce oxygen supply to different parts of the body.

• Cause

• • The disease is caused by a defective sickle cell gene.
  • A child develops Sickle Cell Disease only when both parents pass on the defective gene.

• Symptoms

• • • Early Stage: Extreme tiredness due to anaemia, Painful swelling of hands and feet, Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
    • Later Stage: Severe episodes of pain, Chronic anaemia., Damage to organs, Frequent infections.

• Treatment

• • The only permanent cure is bone marrow transplantation or stem cell transplantation.
  • Other treatments help: Reduce pain, Prevent complications, Improve quality of life, Increase life expectancy.