To review the progress of initiatives for cotton value chain, Union Minister of Textiles, Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal presided over the fifth interactive meeting with the Textile Advisory Group (TAG) in New Delhi.
The Quality Control Order (QCO) for mandatory certification of cotton bales under specification No. IS12171: 2019 – Cotton Bales to augment supply of good quality cotton to the textile industry was approved by the minister.
He also pointed out that the quality of Indian cotton fibre is beneficial both for the farmers and the industry.
Branding of Indian cotton will add great value to the entire cotton value chain, from farmers to end users he stressed. CCI and TEXPROCIL have signed an MoU on 15th December 2022 to encourage the Trade and Industry to work on the principle of self-regulation by owning complete responsibility of Traceability, Certification and Branding of “KASTURI Cotton India” with the project target period of 2022-23 to 2024-25. Steering Committee and Apex Committee have been constituted and the work of TEXPROCIL will begin in the current cotton season.
To enhance cotton productivity by targeting the technology of HDPS, Closer Spacing and ELS. a holistic plan has been approved which is based on public-private partnership with cluster-based and value chain approach. This pilot plan has been prepared by Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) under the aegis of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and will be implemented from 2023-2024.
The minister emphasised on the need for strengthening testing facilities needed to conform to KASTURI standards, DNA testing and traceability. Adequate modern testing facilities would be created through BIS and TRAs (Textile Research Associations), he assured. BIS will also ensure the setting up of a DNA testing facility for the textile industry by convergence with the Ministry of Textiles.
He further appealed to the industry their need to focus on quality and traceability of the entire textile value chain.
Smt. Darshana V. Jardosh, Hon’ble Minister of State for Textiles and Railways and TAG Chairman Shri Ashok Kotak also guided the TAG meeting.
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Abhilaksh Likhi and Joint Secretary Crops Mrs. Shubha Thakur, APEDA & BIS representatives, other senior officials from related Ministries and cotton value chain stakeholders were also present during the meeting.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
