Textile industry flags risks from cotton MSP hike
While aimed at supporting farmers, the hike has sparked concern among Gujarat's textile industry, which fears that higher raw material costs will erode India's competitiveness in the global market.
Industry leaders argue that enhancing cotton productivity, rather than simply raising MSP, offers a more sustainable path for increasing farmers' incomes without straining manufacturers. "India holds 37% of global cotton acreage but contributes only 23% to production," said Jayesh Patel, senior vice-president of the Spinners' Association of Gujarat.
"Focusing on yield improvement is key if India wants to lead globally.
"
Manufacturers are also seeking the removal of import duties on cotton. "Indian cotton is now the costliest globally, which directly affects our competitiveness," said Bharat Chhajer, former chairman of PDEXCIL. "At a time when global brands are considering India as an alternative to Bangladesh, expensive cotton makes us less viable."
You Can Also Check:
Ahmedabad AQI
|
Weather in Ahmedabad
|
Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad
|
Public Holidays in Ahmedabad
According to cotton trader Arun Dalal, the revised MSP structure incentivises farmers to supply better-quality cotton through price linkages based on moisture content. "Sowing activity picked up this season, and higher arrivals could help farmers secure better returns," he said. However, Dalal warned that sustained high cotton prices may put further pressure on spinning units and yarn manufacturers already grappling with weak demand and shrinking margins.
Industry experts are urging the govt to balance farm support with safeguards for the textile sector. Removing import duties, boosting productivity, and easing logistics costs remain key demands.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
9 minutes ago
- First Post
From aspiration to agency: India redefines its global role
India seems to have resolved a complex arithmetic: diplomacy without submission, trade without compromising sovereignty, tech engagement that does not sacrifice agency, and multilateralism that negotiates interest, not ideology read more It is not the India of aspiration alone; it is the India of agency, reframing between autonomy and engagement, between principle and pragmatism. File image/ AP In the rapidly shifting global political architecture, few nations stand at as pivotal a juncture as India, caught in the confluence of normative aspirations, strategic autonomy, economic opportunity, and diplomatic realignment. From international tech rule‑setting to high‑stakes trade negotiations, from balancing sanctions pressure to recalibrating relations with China, the past few weeks have made clear that it's India's real moment. This is not mere reactivity but about India stepping forward to set the narrative, even under the weight of great power tensions and domestic imperatives. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Take the sharp warning from Nato Secretary‑General Mark Rutte, a diplomatic salvo that carries real consequences. In statements delivered in Washington and to Congress, Rutte emphasised that 'secondary sanctions', including tariffs up to 100 per cent, could be deployed against major economies like India, China, and Brazil should they continue to trade with Russia. The intent: leverage global economic ties to pressure Moscow toward a peace settlement over Ukraine. The declaration is a clear signal that India's commercial engagements are being scrutinised through the lens of Western security priorities. Delhi's swift rebuke, citing 'double standards' and asserting its sovereign right to conduct its trade, reveals India's determination to resist external dictates, even as it shoulders the complexity of geopolitical entanglements. Yet, this episode does not simply reflect Indian defiance. Rather, it underscores a rare and consequential exercise of normative sovereignty. India is not tethered to any bloc; it takes pride in being a multi-aligned and principled actor. Domestic energy security demands, its long‑standing commitment to global South solidarity, and cautious calibration with both West and East place it in a strategic sweet spot or jeopardy, depending on perspective. When Rutte urged these countries to 'make the phone call to Vladimir Putin' or face sanctions, he emphasised pressure, but India refused to be boxed into Western frameworks, opting instead for a calibrated diplomacy. This is not a retreat; this is self‑definition in action. World Trade Organisation (WTO) reform, gaining traction ahead of the Cameroon Ministerial, is another arena where India is quietly influencing multilateral rules. Talks now hinge on thorny compromises: easing 'consensus' gridlocks, demanding proof for industrial subsidies, and revisiting the special status of countries like India and China. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pushed by the US and Europe to revive a stalled WTO, these shifts could undermine developing country carve-outs. While India remains restrained, its backroom diplomacy is active. The challenge lies in securing meaningful exceptions without stalling reform, testing not just India's trade stance but also its broader role in global rule-making. This is more about realigning trade with development than resistance. At the same time, New Delhi finds itself on the cusp of a potentially transformative bilateral trade agreement with the US, ahead of a hard August 1 US tariff deadline. An article of faith in India's political economy has been bilateralism as an antidote to protectionism, and Washington has signalled expansiveness: from high‑tech to supply‑chain resilience. Yet this is no yawning liberal fixture; it is a negotiation circumscribed by domestic concerns on both fronts. For India, offering tariff concessions or regulatory liberalisation might invite debate around industrial policy and food sovereignty; for the US, access to Indian markets must be matched by deeper procurement commitments and intellectual property standards. If last week's Nato‑sanctions episode underscores Indian autonomy, this trade narrative highlights its readiness to play a constructive, collaborative role, so long as reciprocity and national interest underpin any deal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, India's pivot toward China, marked by Jaishankar's first visit to Beijing since the 2020 standoff, is a calculated move. At the SCO summit, his meeting with Wang Yi focused on de-escalation, a border resolution, and reviving trade minus 'restrictive measures'. China called normalisation 'hard-won', underscoring mutual interest in quiet diplomacy and regional stability. Beneath the optics, India is asserting agency: addressing boundary disputes, restoring critical supply chains, and preserving open trade. It's a calibrated framework—friendship without illusion, cooperation without compulsion. Now, juxtapose these developments with India's stealth campaign in global AI norm‑setting. While less visible to the world's press, New Delhi has been earnest, partaking actively in the Unesco‑led 2025 AI Action Summit and championing inclusive, transparent, and sustainable AI frameworks. Internally, the government's Shinrin hush, its hallmark IndiaAI mission, has enabled the creation of the India AI Safety Institute and the public‑sector BharatGen model, announced earlier this year. This reflects a coherent, outward‑looking narrative: one where India is not merely a consumer of Western AI but a producer and ethical interlocutor in its own right, framing a normative trajectory for the Global South. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This junction of AI, trade, sanctions, and diplomacy reveals an Indian posture defined by complexity rather than simplification. India is neither a protectable emerging market nor a fearful collateral of competition; it is instead a multifaceted actor shaping its lane, steering norms, and anticipating friction. If India is being squeezed by trade reform at the WTO, by diplomatic pressure over Russia, and by bilateral negotiations with large economies, it is responding with a choreography of normative offers, negotiation discipline, and diplomatic nuance. Strategic autonomy is no longer a slogan; it is a tactical posture. India's message comes across loud and clear: we will trade responsibly, not opportunistically; we will engage in global initiatives, not deflect them; we will assert our interests, not surrender them. This posture is especially critical because India's multilateral footprint is expanding with institution‑shaping spaces. In 2025, it has convinced even sceptics that its voice is consequential and its initiatives, from AI safety to trade alliances, are worth centralising. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD None of this is without strain. The geo‑economic environment is a maze of competing pressures: pressure to align with Western sanctions regimes, to commit to bilateral trade deals, to accelerate AI governance, and to stabilise border diplomacies. But India seems to have resolved a complex arithmetic: diplomacy that does not buy influence with submission, trade that does not cost sovereignty, tech engagement that does not sacrifice agency, and multilateralism that negotiates interest, not ideology. The key test lies ahead: can India engineer a degree of coherence across ministries, Commerce, Finance, External Affairs, and IT? Can it manage stakeholder friction between business communities aligned to greenhouse tech corridors and those tied to legacy energy relations with Russia? Can it maintain credibility on the world stage while cultivating domestic legitimacy? These questions are not rhetorical; they are strategic deadlines directed at policymaking systems, where alignment and execution define success. Ultimately, this is more than policy choreography; it is India redefining its global centre of gravity. When the US Congress debates whether India is aligned enough to merit exemption from sanctions, Delhi's internal coordination across diplomatic, economic, and strategic lines becomes part of its national security calculus. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD When WTO multilateralism teeters, India can offer constructive reform, leadership or resistance. When AI norm debates emerge, India doesn't merely have a seat; it has proposals. India projects the kind of policy confidence few states of its standing enjoy. India stands assertive, multi‑alignment‑centric, normatively engaged, and institutionally responsive. It is not the India of aspiration alone; it is the India of agency, reframing between autonomy and engagement, between principle and pragmatism. Amal Chandra is an author, political analyst and columnist. He posts on 'X' at @ens_socialis. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
News18
18 minutes ago
- News18
Tata Harrier.EV: Waiting Periods Revealed, Check Variant-wise List Here
Last Updated: The has been launched in India at the starting price of Rs 21.49 lakh, while the top model goes up to Rs 30.23 lakh. Ever since the Tata Harrier electric arrived in the Indian market, the model has somehow hooked the audience in no time. The soaring demand somehow listed the product in the top category, pushing the waiting period further across the trims. In case you are confused about the Tata Harrier EV's waiting period, and have no idea how much the company can force you to wait. Do not worry, we have got your back. In this article, we have listed all the trims and their waiting period. Tata Harrier Waiting Period According to the reports, the base model seems to have a massive waiting period up to 30 weeks (seven months) in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. When it comes the variants like Adventure and Fearless+, these trims fall on the longest waiting periods, which go up to 28-30 weeks. Model Wise Details Price Range Meanwhile, the has been launched in India at the starting price of Rs 21.49 lakh, while the top model goes up to Rs 30.23 lakh. The Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) trims can cost up to Rs Rs 27.49 lakh, while the QWD variants can be purchased at Rs 28.99 lakh (all ex-showroom). view comments First Published: July 26, 2025, 17:19 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
India-UK FTA: Trade deal offers tariff safeguards; domestic industry gets protection buffer
India has secured the right to impose temporary trade safeguards under its newly signed free trade agreement (FTA) with the United Kingdom, the commerce ministry confirmed on Saturday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The mechanism allows India to raise import tariffs or suspend duty concessions if a sudden spike in British imports causes or threatens serious harm to domestic industries. The India-UK trade deal was signed in London on Thursday in the presence of senior leaders from both nations, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart Keir Starmer. 'In this agreement, there are bilateral safeguard measures,' the ministry said in an official statement, as per news agency PTI. 'It allows India to temporarily increase tariffs or suspend tariff concessions on certain goods if there is a significant surge in imports from the UK that causes or threatens to cause serious injury to Indian domestic industries.' The safeguard provisions are initially valid for up to two years but may be extended for another two years if a formal investigation finds that continued protection is necessary for the affected domestic sector to recover and adjust. 'Thus, the total maximum duration of a bilateral safeguard measure is four years,' the ministry said. According to the agreement, if India applies these safeguards only for two years, the UK cannot take retaliatory measures. However, if extended to four years, Britain will have the right to respond. The pact also includes a provision for provisional safeguards in urgent or emergency situations. 'Provisional measures can be used in critical or emergency situations to prevent irreparable harm to domestic industry,' the ministry said, adding these can be enforced for up to 200 days based on preliminary findings, but must be followed by a comprehensive investigation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has emphasised that India has safeguarded all sensitive sectors, including dairy, rice, and sugar, during the negotiations. 'We have protected all the sensitive sectors of India... we have not opened for the UK (those areas).... Zero compromise and extensive benefits make it a phenomenal free trade agreement (FTA),' Goyal said, as per PTI. The minister also highlighted that the agreement would give a significant boost to exports of labour-intensive sectors like footwear, textiles, and gems and jewellery.
