Why it is in the news
On World Cotton Day (7 October 2026), industry data showed that about 2.13 lakh bales of Indian-grown cotton were certified as Kasturi Cotton Bharat in the cotton season 2025-26 (ended 30 September 2026), and that more than 10 lakh bales have now been brought onto the brand's blockchain traceability platform. Users say global buyers, particularly in the US and Europe, increasingly demand supply-chain transparency and traceability.
The exam angle
Issue: India is a cotton giant in area and output but sells largely unbranded, variable-quality fibre into a global market that now demands certified, traceable origin.