India is steadily strengthening its position in the global cotton industry. According to a government factsheet released on Monday, India ranks first in the world in terms of cotton cultivation area and second in both cotton production and consumption. The country contributes nearly 19% of global fibre production. As per government estimates, Indias cotton production is projected to reach 29.091 million bales in the 2025–26 marketing year, while domestic consumption is expected to be around 32.8 million bales. The government said its recent initiatives in the cotton sector are focused on improving productivity, quality, market access, and value addition. Farmers continue to receive price support through the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism whenever market prices fall below the support level. In addition, the Mission for Cotton Productivity aims to increase cotton production to 49.8 million bales by 2031. Measures such as technology demonstrations, digital procurement, and traceability systems are being implemented to improve cotton productivity and quality. These initiatives are expected to enhance the competitiveness of Indian cotton and the domestic textile industry in the global market. Often referred to as Indias White Gold because of its economic importance, cotton serves as the primary source of livelihood for nearly 6 million farmers. The crop is cultivated across approximately 11.484 million hectares in the country. Furthermore, processing, trading, and the textile value chain provide employment to an estimated 40–50 million people. Cotton also plays a significant role in earning foreign exchange through exports of fibre, yarn, fabrics, and garments. During 2024–25, India exported around 1.8 million bales of cotton, accounting for approximately 3.37% of global cotton exports. The total value of cotton exports during the financial year stood at US$11.49 billion. The United States remained the largest export destination for Indian cotton textiles and made-up products, accounting for 26.35% of total exports. Other major markets included Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. Cotton cultivation in India is concentrated across nine major states, which are grouped into the northern, central, and southern agro-climatic zones. The crop is also cultivated in Odisha and Tamil Nadu.