Government Extends Customs Duty Exemption on Cotton Imports till December 31, 2026

Exam-focused facts from the 30 October 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The Centre extended the exemption from customs duty on cotton imports by two months till December 31, 2026, via a Gazette notification; the waiver was earlier scheduled to expire on October 31.
India had initially removed the 11% import duty on cotton from June 1 to October 31 to augment supplies during the lean season and support the textile industry.
Cotton is trading above ₹9,000 per 100 kg, higher than the government's minimum support price of ₹8,717 per 100 kg for the new season.
India's cotton production in 2026-27 is estimated below 29 million bales, while demand is expected to exceed 34 million bales.
The stock-to-use ratio is around 31%, the lowest level in five years.
India's cotton imports rose 63% year-on-year to $1.1 billion during the first six months of FY27.