Answer: Ministry of Finance
Notes: The Ministry of Finance removed the 11% import duty on cotton from 19 August to 30 September 2025. Imports earlier had 11% duty since February 2021, including 5% Basic Customs Duty and 5% Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess. India imported 39 lakh bales of cotton in the 2024-2025 season, with 2 lakh bales in transit to benefit from this waiver. Cotton imports rose 107.4% from $579.2 million in FY24 to $1.20 billion in FY25, with suppliers like Australia, United States, Brazil, and Egypt. The waiver will ease high input costs, support yarn and fabric exporters, and stabilise markets until the new crop.
