India’s Cotton Sector: Growth, Productivity and Global Competitiveness

 

1. India is the only country in the world that cultivates all four recognised cotton species—G. Arboreum, G. Herbaceum, G. Hirsutum, and G. Barbadense.

2. India ranks first globally in cotton cultivation area and second in cotton production and consumption, reflecting the strength of its agricultural and textile sectors.

3. Cotton production in India stood at 290.91 lakh bales (provisional) in 2025–26, while domestic consumption reached 328 lakh bales during the same period.

4. Cotton contributes nearly 19 percent of global fibre production and supports the livelihoods of around 6 million cotton farmers, along with employment for 40–50 million people in allied activities.

5. Cotton is popularly known as “White Gold” in India because of its significant contribution to agriculture, textiles, exports, and rural employment.

6. Bt cotton, introduced commercially in India in 2002, contains genes from Bacillus thuringiensis that provide resistance against bollworms and reduce insecticide use.

7. Cotton in India is cultivated across three major agro-climatic zones—Northern, Central, and Southern—with Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh forming the largest cotton-producing region.

8. About 62 percent of India’s cotton area is rain-fed, while the remaining 38 percent is cultivated under irrigated conditions.

9. One bale of cotton is equivalent to 170 kilograms and serves as the standard unit of measurement in the global cotton trade.

10. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for cotton is announced annually for medium and long staple varieties on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), ensuring at least 50 percent return over production costs.

11. During Cotton Season 2025–26, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) procured 105.09 lakh bales worth ₹41,530 crore through nearly 24 lakh procurement transactions under MSP operations.

12. The five-year Mission for Cotton Productivity (2025–26 to 2029–30), with an outlay of ₹5,659.22 crore, aims to increase cotton production from 297 lakh bales to 498 lakh bales by 2031.

13. The Special Project on Cotton under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) promotes the High-Density Planting System (HDPS), Closer Spacing Planting System, and Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton to improve productivity and fibre quality.

14. The Kapas Kisan mobile application enables self-registration, online procurement slot booking, Aadhaar-linked payments, and real-time SMS updates, making cotton procurement transparent and paperless.

15. Kasturi Cotton Bharat is a flagship branding initiative that promotes certified and traceable Indian cotton through QR-based certification, blockchain technology, and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)-accredited quality testing to enhance India’s global cotton competitiveness.

Must know Terms :

1.Mission for Cotton Productivity: Launched in 2025–26 with an outlay of ₹5,659.22 crore, the Mission aims to increase cotton production from 297 lakh bales to 498 lakh bales by 2031 by promoting climate-resilient, pest-resistant, and high-yielding cotton varieties.

 

2. Cotton Corporation of India (CCI): CCI is the Government’s nodal agency responsible for procuring cotton under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme. During the 2025–26 cotton season, it procured 105.09 lakh bales worth ₹41,530 crore through MSP operations.

 

3. Bt Cotton: Bt cotton is a genetically modified cotton variety containing genes from the bacterium *Bacillus thuringiensis*. Commercially introduced in India in 2002, it provides resistance against bollworms, reduces insecticide use, and improves productivity.

 

4. Kasturi Cotton Bharat: Kasturi Cotton Bharat is a flagship branding initiative that promotes certified, traceable, and high-quality Indian cotton through QR-based certification, blockchain technology, and NABL-accredited quality testing to strengthen India’s global competitiveness.

 

5. Kapas Kisan App: The Kapas Kisan App is a digital platform developed to streamline cotton procurement under MSP. It enables farmer registration, online slot booking, Aadhaar-linked payments, and real-time SMS updates, making procurement transparent and paperless.

 

6. Minimum Support Price (MSP): MSP is the minimum guaranteed price announced by the Government for medium and long staple cotton on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). It protects farmers from market price fluctuations and ensures remunerative returns.

 

 

MCQ:

 

 

1. With reference to cotton cultivation in India, consider the following statements:

1. India is the only country cultivating all four recognised cotton species.
2. India ranks first in the world in cotton cultivation area.
3. India ranks first globally in cotton production.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

2. Which one of the following cotton species accounts for nearly 90 percent of hybrid cotton production in India?

A. G. Arboreum
B. G. Herbaceum
C. G. Hirsutum
D. G. Barbadense

3. Assertion (A): Bt cotton has significantly improved cotton productivity in India.

Reason (R): Bt cotton contains genes from Bacillus thuringiensis that provide resistance against bollworms.

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.

4. With reference to Bt cotton, consider the following statements:

1. It was commercially introduced in India in 2002.
2. It reduces the need for insecticide sprays against bollworms.
3. It is a naturally occurring cotton species.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

5. Which of the following states belong to the Central Cotton Zone of India?

1. Gujarat
2. Maharashtra
3. Madhya Pradesh
4. Punjab

Select the correct answer using the code below:

A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 2 and 4 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

6. About what percentage of India’s cotton cultivation is rain-fed?

A. 38%
B. 50%
C. 62%
D. 75%

7. One bale of cotton in India is equivalent to:

A. 100 kg
B. 150 kg
C. 170 kg
D. 200 kg

8. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for cotton is recommended by:

A. NITI Aayog
B. Cotton Corporation of India
C. Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
D. Ministry of Textiles

9. Which organisation is the nodal agency responsible for procuring cotton under the MSP scheme?

A. Food Corporation of India (FCI)
B. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED)
C. Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)
D. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

10. Consider the following statements regarding the Mission for Cotton Productivity:

1. It was launched in 2025–26.
2. It has an outlay of ₹5,659.22 crore.
3. It aims to increase cotton production to 498 lakh bales by 2031.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

11. The Special Project on Cotton under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) promotes which of the following?

1. High-Density Planting System (HDPS)
2. Closer Spacing Planting System
3. Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton production technology

Select the correct answer using the code below:

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

12. Which one of the following best describes the Kapas Kisan App?

A. A platform for cotton exports
B. A digital platform for MSP procurement and farmer registration
C. A cotton price forecasting system
D. An e-commerce portal for textile exports

13. With reference to Kasturi Cotton Bharat, consider the following statements:

1. It promotes certified and traceable Indian cotton.
2. It uses QR-based certification and blockchain technology.
3. It seeks to strengthen India’s global cotton branding.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

14. Assertion (A): Cotton is popularly known as “White Gold” in India.

Reason (R): Cotton makes a significant contribution to agriculture, textiles, exports, and rural employment.

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.

15. With reference to India’s cotton sector, consider the following statements:

1. India ranks second globally in cotton production and consumption.
2. Cotton contributes nearly 19 percent of global fibre production.
3. Cotton supports the livelihoods of about 6 million farmers and provides employment to 40–50 million people in allied activities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3