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 Kasturi Cotton Bharat helps aspirants answer questions on:
- Supply‑chain reforms and digital interventions in agriculture and textiles (GS3).
- India’s export strategy and compliance with international standards (GS3).
- Role of public sector agencies like the Cotton Corporation of India in promoting value‑addition (GS3).
Way Forward
To sustain momentum, the government may consider:
- Extending the blockchain framework to other cash crops, creating a broader digital agriculture ecosystem.
- Providing incentives for small‑holder farmers to adopt the certification, thereby widening the base beyond large mills.
- Strengthening linkages with export promotion councils to market the traceability advantage abroad.
Such steps would deepen traceability across the textile sector, improve export earnings, and showcase India’s capability to blend technology with traditional agriculture.