News Capsule: India may take a middle path on cotton import duty
04-May-2026 10:05 AM
News Capsule: India may take a middle path on cotton import duty
★ The government is not in favour of completely removing import duty but is exploring a balanced approach.
Current situation:
★ Adequate domestic stocks, with about 4.7 million bales held by the Cotton Corporation of India
★ Domestic demand can be comfortably met till August
★ The textile industry is concerned about high domestic prices
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Production and trends:
★ Cotton output declined to 29.09 million bales in 2025–26
★ Farmers are shifting towards maize and paddy
★ Rising risk from pink bollworm pest
★ Cotton acreage has been declining in recent years
★ Overall, the government is likely to take a calibrated decision to balance the interests of farmers and the textile industry.