The cotton marketing season that ended on 30 September 2026 saw 2.13 lakh bales of Indian‑grown cotton certified under Kasturi Cotton Bharat. The rapid rise in certified volumes highlights the growing importance of traceability in India’s textile value chain.
Key Developments
- Certified bales jumped from 47,100 in 2023‑24 to 2.13 lakh in 2025‑26.
- More than 10 lakh bales are now recorded on the blockchain, creating an end‑to‑end digital trail.
- Exporters such as SBT Apparels have already bought 3,000 bales of long‑staple Kasturi Cotton from the Cotton Corporation of India for overseas garment orders.
- By 2031‑32, an estimated 498 lakh bales of cotton will be produced, with 132 lakh bales expected to qualify as Kasturi Cotton.
- The scheme now has 124 active registered users, including 33 textile mills.
Important Facts
The initiative, launched in 2020, aims to give buyers confidence over the origin and quality of Indian cotton. International buyers, especially from the U.S. and Europe, are demanding verifiable sourcing, making the blockchain‑based certification increasingly relevant. Industry leaders such as Kulin Lalbhai note that traceability has become a core component of the global textile supply chain.
Long‑staple cotton certified under the scheme is reported to offer better quality than regular cotton, enhancing acceptance in export markets where buyers seek both quality and provenance.
Exam Relevance
Understanding Headline: Blockchain‑based cotton certification boosts India’s export credibility and supply‑chain transparency.
AI Summary: The Kasturi Cotton Bharat blockchain‑based certification crossed 2.13 lakh bales in the 2025‑26 season, signalling rapid adoption of traceability in Indian cotton. This strengthens export credibility, aligns with international standards and showcases a digital‑first approach to agricultural value‑addition, a key theme for GS‑3 aspirants.
Context: Traceability through digital tools like blockchain is a priority under India’s supply‑chain reforms and export strategy. The scheme links farmers, public agencies and textile mills, enhancing quality assurance and meeting buyer demands from the US and Europe.
Mains angle: In GS‑3, candidates can discuss how Kasturi Cotton Bharat illustrates the use of technology for agricultural value‑addition and export competitiveness, a likely answer to questions on digital interventions in supply chains.
Facts: ["2.13 lakh bales of Indian cotton were certified under Kasturi Cotton Bharat in the 2025‑26 season ending 30 Sept 2026.", "Certified volumes rose from 47,100 bales in 2023‑24 to 2.13 lakh bales in 2025‑26.", "More than 10 lakh bales are now recorded on a blockchain platform, creating an immutable digital trail.", "The scheme, launched in 2020, has 124 active registered users, including 33 textile mills.", "Exporter SBT Apparels bought 3,000 bales of long‑staple Kasturi Cotton from the Cotton Corporation of India for overseas orders.", "Projections estimate 132 lakh bales will be Kasturi‑certified by 2031‑32 out of an expected 498 lakh bales of total cotton production."]