An IIT Delhi startup, SWATRIC, has collaborated with the Flag Foundation of India to develop an advanced textile solution for the national flag of the country. An MoU was recently signed between the FITT, IIT Delhi and the FFI to execute the associated research and development activities via the startup.
SWATRIC, the startup by the researchers from the Institute’s Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering, is working to develop state-of-the-art technologies to help Indian domestic textile and garment industries in commercializing new and competitive categories of the smart and functional products.
Prof. Bipin Kumar, Textile and Fibre Engineering Dept., IIT Delhi & Mentor, SWATRIC said, “It is the need of the hour to help manufacturers with a proper standardization and core subject knowledge or skills on technical yarns and fabrics to improve quality of the flag fabric.”
The Flag Foundation of India is a non-governmental organisation, registered under the
society’s registration act of 1980. It has a primary vision to popularise the display of the
Tiranga (tricolor) by more and more Indians, with a great sense of pride.
Speaking of the MoU with IIT Delhi, Major General (retd.) Ashim Kohli, CEO, Flag
Foundation of India, said, “We have always been facing a challenge of obtaining good
quality flags. It is indeed a proud moment for us to work with IIT Delhi experts on developing appropriate technologies, which are relevant to the country’s pride.”
While hailing the collaboration between IIT Delhi researchers and the Flag Foundation of
India, Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Director, IIT Delhi said, “India has the potential to be the
global leader in technical textiles. The Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering at IIT
Delhi has been constantly working in the field of smart and functional textile projects,
actively supporting the National Technical Textiles Mission to empower Indian Textile sector
through ‘Make in India’ technologies for various applications ranging from geotextiles,
defence, sportswear, smart wearables, medical, composites, transport, protection,
packaging, etc.”
On 26 January 2002, Indian citizens were permitted to fly their national flag throughout the year. In a historic judgment on 23 January, 2004, the Supreme Court of India ruled that the right to fly the national flag freely, with respect and dignity, was a fundamental right. Given India’s diverse climatic and geographical conditions, designing and developing engineered fabric for the flag is a big challenge.