According to an official government factsheet released on 21 July 2026:
Global Position:
- 1st in acreage (114.84 lakh hectares).
- 2nd in production & consumption.
- Contributes ~19% of global fibre output.
Production & Consumption (2025–26):
- Production: 290.91 lakh bales.
- Consumption: 328 lakh bales.
Government Interventions:
- MSP operations for farmer price support.
- Mission for Cotton Productivity (2026–31): Target 498 lakh bales by 2031.
- Tech demonstrations, digital procurement, traceability for quality & competitiveness.
Economic Significance:
- Known as “White Gold”.
- Supports 6 million farmers + 40–50 million workers in textile value chain.
- Major source of foreign exchange via exports.
Exports (2024–25):
- Volume: 18 lakh bales (0.31 MMT) → 3.37% of global exports.
- Value: USD 11.49 billion.
- Top destinations: USA (26.35%), Bangladesh (19.81%), Sri Lanka (5.11%), UK (2.38%), UAE (2.32%).
Geographic Spread:
- Northern Zone: Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan.
- Central Zone: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh.
- Southern Zone: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka.
- Also in Odisha & Tamil Nadu.
