New Delhi, May 30: The Central Government has announced a temporary exemption from all customs duties on cotton imports from June 1 to October 31, 2026, in a move aimed at improving cotton availability for India’s textile and apparel industry.
According to an official notification issued by the government, the duty exemption is intended to augment the supply of cotton to domestic manufacturers and help ease input cost pressures across the textile value chain.
The government said the measure is expected to provide targeted relief to textile and apparel manufacturers, while also benefiting consumers through improved market conditions. At the same time, it noted that the interests of domestic cotton growers have been taken into consideration while framing the decision.
Officials said the temporary exemption is likely to have a positive impact on the performance of the domestic textile industry, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), by ensuring better availability of raw cotton during the five-month period.
The exemption will remain in force until October 31, 2026, after which the existing customs duty regime on cotton imports is expected to resume unless further policy changes are announced.
