First-time norms notified; Record 550 procurement centres, digital registration via ‘Kapas-Kisaan’ app
Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh, chaired a high-level review meeting in New Delhi to assess the preparedness for Cotton Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations for the upcoming Kharif Marketing Season 2025–26, commencing October 1, 2025. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary Textiles; Smt. Padmini Singla, Joint Secretary (Fibre); Shri Lalit Kumar Gupta, CMD, Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), along with other Ministry and CCI representatives.
For the first time, the Government has laid down uniform norms for setting up procurement centres, considering cultivation areas, availability of APMC yards, and cotton stock processing units. As a result, a record 550 procurement centres have been approved across major cotton-growing states.
Procurement under MSP will start on:
- October 1, 2025 – Northern States
- October 15, 2025 – Central States
- October 21, 2025 – Southern States
In line with the Digital India vision, cotton MSP operations will be faceless and paperless—from procurement to sale of stocks. Farmers will benefit from nationwide Aadhaar-based self-registration and 7-day rolling slot booking through the newly launched ‘Kapas-Kisaan’ mobile app, ensuring transparency and efficiency. Payments will be made directly to farmers’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts via NACH, with SMS alerts continuing from last year.
Union Minister Shri Giriraj Singh assured that all kapas arriving under MSP guidelines will be procured without disruption, reiterating the Government’s commitment to protect cotton farmers’ interests and provide remunerative prices. This initiative is expected to accelerate the shift toward a digitally empowered cotton ecosystem, boosting farmer confidence.
To strengthen service delivery, Local Monitoring Committees (LMCs) will be set up at every mandi for immediate grievance redressal. Additionally, state-level helplines and a central CCI helpline will remain active throughout the procurement season, supported by adequate manpower, logistics, and infrastructure.
