The Union Government aims to establish dedicated laboratories to test high-grade cotton in six key states - Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, and Karnataka. This will help the government elevate India’s Kasturi cotton to a global brand status, mirroring the quality standards set by renowned global cotton brands like Supima and Giza, known for their exceptional softness, strength, and durability.
Aligned with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), these labs will ensure adherence to national quality benchmarks. Despite being a major producer of cotton, India has only recently begun branding its cotton products. In contrast, Egypt has successfully positioned its Giza cotton brand internationally.
The Indian variant, Kasturi Cotton Bharat, upholds stringent standards, limiting trash content to 2 per cent to ensure premium quality and enabling 100 per cent traceability. However, the absence of dedicated testing facilities raises concerns regarding the authenticity and global acceptance of the product.
The Ministry of Textiles aims to address this by finalising a comprehensive testing action plan focusing on enhancing overall quality standards to promote Indian textiles globally. This technology upgradation plan will enable real-time testing, emphasising credibility and accuracy, thereby ensuring the global acceptance of Indian textiles, particularly Kasturi cotton. Presently, the testing facilities under the textiles ministry, including those operated by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), lack NABL accreditation.
The government has identified five key focus areas, including skill development, infrastructure enhancement, and investment attraction to strengthen India's textile ecosystem. It has launched initiatives like PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM-MITRA) parks, the production-linked incentive scheme, and others to attract significant investments, potentially creating millions of new jobs in the next few years.
