India Launches ₹5,659 Crore Cotton Mission to Boost Textile Competitiveness
Share Post
In a major policy initiative aimed at transforming India’s cotton and textile ecosystem, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the “Mission for Cotton Productivity” with a total outlay of ₹5,659.22 crore for the period 2026–27 to 2030–31. The ambitious mission is designed to improve cotton productivity, strengthen fibre quality, modernize infrastructure, and reinforce India’s position in global textile markets.
The initiative aligns with the Government of India’s “5F Vision” — Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign — and focuses on building a more integrated, sustainable, and globally competitive cotton value chain. The mission aims to address long-standing challenges in India’s cotton sector, including stagnating yields, pest-related crop losses, contamination issues, and inconsistent fibre quality.
A key component of the programme is the development and promotion of high-yielding, climate-resilient, and pest-resistant cotton seed varieties. The government will also scale up modern farming practices such as High Density Planting System (HDPS), closer spacing techniques, integrated cotton management, and the cultivation of Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton, which is increasingly in demand for premium textile applications and exports.
According to official estimates, the mission aims to increase India’s cotton production from around 291 lakh bales in 2025–26 to 498 lakh bales by 2030–31. Simultaneously, lint productivity is projected to rise from 440 kg per hectare to 755 kg per hectare during the same period. Nearly 32 lakh cotton farmers are expected to benefit from improved productivity, better price realization, and enhanced market access.
The government also plans to modernize approximately 2,000 ginning and processing factories across the country to ensure contamination-free cotton supply and better fibre quality. In addition, standardized and accredited cotton testing laboratories will be strengthened to improve quality assessment and international benchmarking standards.
Another major focus area of the mission is the expansion of “Kasturi Cotton Bharat,” India’s premium cotton branding initiative. Through enhanced traceability, certification systems, and branding efforts, the government aims to position Indian cotton as a sustainable, high-quality, and globally trusted product in international textile markets.
The mission further emphasizes sustainability and circularity by promoting cotton waste recycling and encouraging the use of alternative natural fibres such as flax, ramie, sisal, bamboo, banana fibre, and milkweed. These initiatives are expected to support environmentally responsible textile manufacturing and align India’s textile industry with evolving global sustainability requirements.
Implementation of the mission will be jointly undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and the Ministry of Textiles in collaboration with institutions such as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and State Agricultural Universities. Initially, 140 districts across 14 major cotton-growing states will be targeted for technology deployment and capacity building programmes.
Industry stakeholders have welcomed the decision, stating that the mission could play a vital role in strengthening India’s textile exports, improving raw material availability, and supporting the country’s ambition of building a $350 billion textile and apparel industry by 2030.
10:03 AM, May 07
Industry Update
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
India’s Textile Exports Slip in FY26, Exposing Structural Gaps in Global Competitiveness...view more
1.webp)
1.webp)
.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
Punjab Eyes Green Transformation of Textile Processing Clusters to Attract Global Brands...view more
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
Kolkata Set to Become Textile Sourcing Hub as YARNEX and TEXINDIA Return in January 2026...view more
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
1.webp)
.png)
.jpg)
1.jpeg)
