India, May 31 -- The Centre's move to exempt all customs duties on cotton imports for five months till October 30 will ensure adequate availability of cotton for the textile industry, lower input costs and boost the competitiveness of Indian textiles, the Textile Ministry said on Saturday.

Industry bodies welcomed the decision, terming it a "much-needed relief" for the apparel sector.

"The measure is expected to augment the availability of cotton for the Indian textile and apparel sector and provide much-needed relief to the entire value chain," the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) stated. In a notification, the Finance Ministry said the import duty exemption will be effective from June 1, 2026.

"The measure, implemented during ...