In addition to boosting cotton output, the government has set an ambitious target to expand India’s textile market size from the current $176 billion to $350 billion by 2030.
The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has been directed to identify one district in each state for cotton productivity trials as part of the government’s initiative to enhance cotton yield. India’s average cotton production stands at 450-500 kg per hectare, significantly lower than countries such as Brazil, China, Australia, and Russia, which achieve 2,000-2,200 kg per hectare. To bridge this gap, efforts are being made to implement global best practices and scale up the Akola model to improve cotton productivity nationwide.
In addition to boosting cotton output, the government has set an ambitious target to expand India’s textile market size from the current $176 billion to $350 billion by 2030. The textile sector, which is the second-largest employment generator after agriculture, currently employs 40.5 million people. Plans are in place to increase this to 60 million jobs in the coming years. To support this growth, the sector has received a budget allocation of Rs 53 billion, aiming to enhance both employment and exports.
The upcoming Bharat Tex exhibition, a key event for the textile industry, is set to host approximately 6,000 foreign exhibitors from 126 countries, doubling last year’s participation. The event is expected to bolster international collaborations and showcase India’s advancements in the sector.
Further developments include the planned domestic production of carbon fibre, a critical technical textile used in defence applications such as missiles and drones, by 2026. Additionally, the Union Budget 2025-26 has introduced a five-year Cotton Mission to improve the yield of extra-long staple varieties, with an allocation of Rs 5 billion for the National Cotton Technology Mission. The Ministry of Textiles has received a budgetary outlay of Rs 52.72 billion for 2025-26, marking a 19 per cent increase over the previous year’s allocation.