New Delhi
India's cotton textile exports, including yarn, fabrics, made-ups, and raw cotton, crossed $35.64 billion over the last three years, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh informed Parliament on Tuesday. To boost cotton quality and productivity, the government has launched a five-year ‘Mission for Cotton Productivity’ under Budget 2025–26.
Led by the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) with support from the Ministry of Textiles, the Mission focuses on research, innovation, and advanced farming practices. It aims to develop high-yielding, pest-resistant, and climate-resilient cotton varieties, including Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton. A special project by ICAR-CICR is underway across eight major cotton-growing states, with a budget of ₹6,032.35 lakh.
The Mission supports farmers with cutting-edge technology, aiming to improve fibre quality, resilience, and income, while strengthening India's entire textile value chain under the 5F vision: Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign.
To boost exports further, the ministry is backing Bharat TEX 2025, a global textile event showcasing India’s strengths and innovations in the sector. Additionally, NIFT has formed partnerships with over 22 institutions in more than 14 countries—including the U.S., UK, France, Japan, and Australia—through MoUs supporting faculty/student exchanges, research, and dual-degree programs.
These collaborations are helping Indian students and professionals gain global exposure, improve design and technical skills, and align with international standards. The minister emphasized that such efforts are key to enhancing India's competitiveness and global standing in textiles and fashion.
