Context:
Recently, the Union Minister of Textile, Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution launched website of Kasturi Cotton Bharat.
Relevance:
GS II: Government Policies and Interventions
About Kasturi Cotton Bharat:
- Kasturi Cotton Bharat is a collaborative initiative involving the Ministry of Textiles, the Cotton Corporation of India, various trade bodies, and the industry.
- Its primary objective is to promote self-regulation by taking full responsibility for branding, traceability, and certification of Indian Cotton.
- This initiative aims to enhance the competitiveness of Indian cotton in the global market while creating a sustainable ecosystem for all stakeholders in the cotton industry.
Key points about Kasturi Cotton Bharat:
- The initiative operates on the principles of self-regulation.
- It is responsible for branding, traceability, and certification of Indian Cotton.
- The goal is to improve the competitiveness of Indian cotton globally.
- The initiative provides a digital platform for information and updates.
- Ginning mills across the country are authorized to produce the Kasturi Cotton Bharat brand following specified protocols.
- To ensure traceability throughout the supply chain, QR-based certification technology will be employed at various processing stages. Additionally, a blockchain-based software platform will offer end-to-end traceability and transaction certificates.
- The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL) has been designated as the implementing agency for the traceability, certification, and branding of “KASTURI Cotton India.”
