New Delhi, May 30 -- The Central Government has exempted customs duty on cotton imports for a five-month period beginning June 1, 2026, in a move aimed at improving cotton availability for the domestic textile sector and reducing input costs for manufacturers.

The decision was notified by the Ministry of Finance through a notification issued on Saturday. The notification exempts imported cotton from the entire basic customs duty as well as the Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess levied on the commodity.

According to the notification, the exemption will remain in force from June 1, 2026, up to and including October 31, 2026.

The Finance Ministry said the measure has been introduced "to augment availability of cotton for the ...