10th India International Footwear Fair 2026 Held in New Delhi

Key Facts

• Event: 10th India International Footwear Fair (IIFF) 2026
• Date: 6–8 August 2026
• Venue: Bharat Mandapam (Pragati Maidan), New Delhi
• Organizers: India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) under Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Confederation of Indian Footwear Industries (CIFI)
• Footwear sector employment in India: Approximately 4.5 million people
• India's share in global footwear production: Around 12–13%
• India's share in global footwear exports: Approximately 2%
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: Government scheme promoting incremental production and sales, supporting manufacturing capacity, investment, and exports in the footwear sector
• Bihar session highlights: Investment proposals worth ₹6 crore projected to create around 1,800 jobs in footwear and leather sector

Background & Context

The India International Footwear Fair is a flagship platform showcasing the latest trends, technologies, raw materials, machinery, components, and innovations in the footwear industry. India's footwear industry is a significant employment generator and a large producer globally, though its export share is relatively low, highlighting potential for growth. The Government of India's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme is a key policy tool aimed at enhancing production capacity, technological upgradation, investment infusion, and boosting exports in the footwear sector—a labour-intensive industry that forms a notable part of India’s manufacturing base.

The fair also emphasized regional development with Bihar positioning itself as an emerging hub for global footwear manufacturing, evidenced by recent investment proposals and employment generation estimates highlighted at the event.

Why This Matters for Exams / Exam Relevance

The IIFF exemplifies India's efforts to bolster manufacturing and exports through strategic government initiatives like the PLI scheme, directly impacting economic growth and employment. Such sector-specific events and government policies are pertinent in current affairs, especially for competitive examinations focusing on Indian economy, industrial policies, and regional development. Understanding the interplay between trade fairs, sectoral policies, and regional industrial emergence (like Bihar’s footwear sector development) is crucial for comprehensive answers in exams related to commerce and industry, economy, and government schemes.

Points to Remember

• The 10th India International Footwear Fair took place from 6 to 8 August 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• Organized by ITPO under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in association with CIFI.
• The footwear sector employs approximately 4.5 million people, contributes about 12-13% to global footwear production, but has only about 2% share in global exports.
• PLI Scheme supports growth via incentives linked to incremental production and export expansion.
• The fair included a special focus on Bihar’s footwear and leather sector, with investment proposals of ₹6 crore potentially generating 1,800 jobs.
• Technical textiles, comprising over 90% of the material base for footwear components such as uppers and linings, play a vital role in footwear manufacturing.