What happened
India’s cotton sector is being pushed through a mix of price support, productivity missions, digital procurement, and branding. The Government of India presents cotton as a strategic crop for agriculture, textiles, and exports, while setting a production goal of higher output by 2031 through the Mission for Cotton Productivity.
Why cotton matters for India
Cotton is a commercial crop with deep linkage to the textile value chain. It supports farm income, ginning, spinning, weaving, garments, and exports. The sector also matters for foreign exchange earnings and for rural employment across processing and trade.
Background and earlier position
India has a long cotton tradition and was historically a major centre for cotton textiles. The modern mill industry expanded in the 19th century in Kolkata, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad, and the Swadeshi movement later gave cotton textiles a political and economic role in indigenous industry building.