GS Paper III 

News Excerpt:

The Government of India, Ministry of Textiles is hosting the 81st Plenary Meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) in Mumbai, in association with the Cotton Corporation of India Limited (CCI), the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) and the Cotton Association of India (CAI).

About the 81st Plenary Meeting:

• The theme is “Cotton Value Chain: Local Innovations for Global Prosperity,” reflecting a shift from economic considerations to ecological sustainability.
• It aims to serve as a platform for sharing innovations, benchmarks, good practices and experiences across the globe on productivity, climate resilience and circularity for a vibrant cotton economy.
• The focus is on local innovations and cutting-edge technologies for sustainability developed locally but have global implications and potential for the prosperity of the cotton value chain.
• The Union Minister of Textiles emphasized that India must become the world's largest cotton producer and improve productivity to match levels seen in countries like Australia.

About the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC):

• It is an inter-governmental UN-recognized body of cotton-producing and consuming nations.
• It was formed in 1939 and has 28 Member countries at present.
• India, along with Brazil, Egypt, France, Sudan and the USA, is one of the founder members of this forum.
• The Plenary Meeting of ICAC is held annually in the member countries of ICAC at their invitation.
• This provides a forum for discussions on international issues of importance to the World Cotton industry.
• It provides an opportunity for the industry and the government leaders from cotton-producing, consuming and trading countries to deliberate on matters of mutual concern.

Cotton Textile Industry in India:

• Cotton Production Overview: India has the largest area under cotton cultivation and is currently the second-largest global producer, representing about 25% of the world's area under cultivation.
• Regional Distribution: Maharashtra has the highest area under cultivation (41.2 lakh ha), followed by Gujarat (27.1 lakh ha) and Telangana (17.9 lakh ha), accounting for 72% of the total cotton acreage in the country.
• Launch of Kasturi Cotton Bharat: Launching 'Kasturi Cotton Bharat' brand marks India's foray into providing complete end-to-end traceability and transparency solutions using Blockchain technology.
• Challenges Faced by the Cotton Textile Industry: Outdated Machinery, water scarcity, high energy costs, global competition, and fluctuating cotton prices, hindering growth and competitiveness.
• Measures for Industry Enhancement: Invest in modernizing machinery, promote water-efficient technologies, provide subsidies for energy costs, support research for pest- resistant cotton varieties, and enhance global competitiveness through strategic policies and partnerships.
• Government Schemes for the Cotton Textile Sector: Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP), Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS), Integrated Processing Development Scheme (IPDS), Market Development Assistance (MDA), and Market Access Initiative (MAI).
•  Industry-led Growth Initiatives: Initiatives such as PM MITRA (PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel) Parks, National Technical Textiles Mission, and drone-based pesticide spraying support the growth and innovation of the cotton textile sector.

Prelims PYQ

Q. A state in India has the following characteristics: (UPSC 2011)

1) Its northern part is arid and semiarid.

2) Its central part produces cotton.

3) Cultivation of cash crops is predominant over food crops.

Which one of the following states has all of the above characteristics ?

(a) Andhra Pradesh

(b) Gujarat

(c) Karnataka

(d) Tamil Nadu