Mission for Cotton Productivity (2026‑31): Rs 5,659 crore का बूस्ट भारतीय कपास के लिए – 5F Vision, MSP & Digital Mandis
Union Government ने Rs 5,659 crore, पाँच‑वर्षीय Mission for Cotton Productivity (2026‑31) को मंजूरी दी है ताकि लिंट उत्पादन को 755 kg/ha तक बढ़ाया जा सके और 2031 तक 498 lakh bales का उत्पादन किया जा सके। यह योजना बीज सुधार, उन्नत रोपण प्रणाली, डिजिटल मंडी और Kasturi Cotton Bharat ब्रांडिंग पहल को एकीकृत करती है, जो कृषि, प्रौद्योगिकी अपनाने और किसान कल्याण पर UPSC GS‑3 विषयों से सीधे जुड़ी है।
Overview The Union Government approved Rs 5,659.22 crore for the Mission for Cotton Productivity on 5 May 2026. The scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2025‑26, aligns with the 5F vision and aims to secure a steady supply of high‑quality cotton for the Indian textile industry. Key Developments Allocation of Rs 5,659 crore Target to raise lint productivity from 440 kg/ha to 755 kg/ha and produce 498 lakh bales of cotton by 2031. Introduction of Kasturi Cotton Bharat to position Indian cotton as a globally trusted product. Digital integration of mandis for transparent price discovery and direct farmer‑buyer linkages. Promotion of circular economy through cotton‑waste recycling and diversification into natural fibres such as flax, ramie, sisal, bamboo and banana. Important Facts India produced 290.91 lakh bales of cotton in 2025‑26, with Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka and Rajasthan as the top five states. Cotton is a semi‑xerophytic crop requiring 15 °C minimum temperature for germination, 21‑27 °C optimum for vegetative growth, and 210 frost‑free days with 50‑100 cm rainfall. The major agro‑ecological zones are: Northern Zone : Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan – well‑drained alluvial soils. Central Zone : Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh – black clayey soils. Southern Zone : Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka – black and mixed black‑red soils. India uniquely cultivates all four cotton species – G. arboreum, G. herbaceum, G. barbadense and G. hirsutum . Core Interventions Seed improvement: high‑yielding, climate‑resilient, pest‑resistant varieties. Production technology: scaling HDPS , 35 mm, valued for premium textiles (GS3: Industry)">ELS cotton, and Integrated Cotton Manageme
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Key Insight
Rs 5,659 crore Mission aims to double cotton yield, securing textile sector under 5F vision
Key Facts
- Scheme approved on 5 May 2026 with an allocation of Rs 5,659.22 crore for 2026‑31.
- Target lint productivity to rise from 440 kg/ha to 755 kg/ha by 2031.
- Goal to produce 498 lakh bales of cotton by 2031, up from 290.91 lakh bales in 2025‑26.
- Launch of ‘Kasturi Cotton Bharat’ for premium branding, traceability and global market positioning.
- Digital mandis to provide transparent price discovery and direct farmer‑buyer linkages.
- Core tech interventions include High‑Density Planting System (HDPS), Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton and climate‑resilient seed varieties.
- Circular‑economy push through cotton‑waste recycling and promotion of alternative natural fibres such as flax, ramie, sisal, bamboo and banana.
Background
Cotton, a semi‑xerophytic cash crop, contributes over 30 % of India’s textile raw material. The Mission for Cotton Productivity integrates agricultural R&D, market reforms and digital infrastructure to boost yields, enhance farmer incomes and secure the 5F (Farm‑Fibre‑Factory‑Fashion‑Foreign) vision of the textile sector.
UPSC Syllabus
- GS3 — Major crops, cropping patterns, irrigation and agricultural produce
- Essay — Economy, Development and Inequality
- Prelims_GS — National Current Affairs
- Prelims_GS — Physical Geography of India
- GS3 — Farm subsidies, MSP, PDS, food security and technology missions
- Essay — Science, Technology and Society
- GS3 — Government Budgeting
- Prelims_GS — World Geography
- GS2 — Constitutional posts, bodies and their powers and functions
- GS1 — Distribution of Key Natural Resources
Mains Angle
GS 3 – The scheme can be examined in a question on agricultural technology missions and value‑chain reforms, e.g., ‘Assess the impact of the Mission for Cotton Productivity on farmer welfare and the Indian textile industry.’