Cotton plays an important role in the Indian economy as the country’s textiles industry is predominantly cotton based.

Cotton plays an important role in the Indian economy as the country’s textiles industry is predominantly cotton based. India is one of the largest producers as well as exporters of cotton yarn. The Indian textiles industry contributes around 5% to country’s gross domestic product (GDP), 14% to industrial production and 11% to total export earnings. The industry is also the second-largest employer in the country after agriculture, providing employment to over 51 million people directly and 68 million people indirectly, including unskilled women. The textiles industry is also expected to reach US$ 223 billion by 2021.

Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Punjab are the major cotton producers in India.