India, May 31 -- The Central Government has announced a temporary exemption on customs duties for cotton imports from June 1 to October 31, 2026, to ensure adequate cotton availability for the domestic textile industry.

The move is aimed at supporting the entire cotton value chain while balancing the interests of farmers, manufacturers, and exporters.

According to the Ministry of Textiles, the duty waiver will help improve raw material availability during the cotton off-season, reduce input costs for textile and apparel manufacturers, and strengthen the global competitiveness of Indian textile exports.

The government said the measure is expected to particularly benefit micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which often face chal...