Subject: Indian Geography

India's cotton textile industry, one of the oldest manufacturing sectors, demonstrates a highly decentralized pattern across the country due to various geographical, economic, and historical factors that have shaped its evolution from traditional handlooms to modern power looms.

Geographical Factors

• Raw Material Proximity: Major cotton-growing states like Maharashtra (84.80 lakh bales) and Gujarat (80.01 lakh bales) have naturally developed into textile hubs due to easy access to raw materials.
• Climatic Conditions: Humid coastal regions like Tamil Nadu provide ideal conditions for yarn spinning, explaining why the state hosts 752 out of 1399 operational mills in India.
• Water Availability: Presence of perennial rivers and adequate water supply supports textile processing and finishing operations.

Economic Factors

• Market Access: Decentralization ensures proximity to both domestic and international markets through ports and transportation networks.
• Labor Availability: Abundant skilled workforce across different regions supports the industry's dispersed nature.
• SME Dominance: Presence of 1.5 million small and medium enterprises promotes geographical spread rather than concentration.

Policy Support

• Government Initiatives: Recent policies like Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and establishment of mega textile parks encourage regional development.
• Infrastructure Development: Creation of specialized textile clusters and parks across states promotes decentralization.
• Technology Upgradation: The recent Union Budget 2024-25 exemption on shuttle-less looms encourages modernization across regions.

Historical and Social Factors

• Traditional Skills: Regional specialization in specific textile products based on traditional expertise.
• Cooperative Movement: Strong presence of cooperative societies in states like Gujarat and Maharashtra supports decentralized production.
• Entrepreneurial Culture: Local business communities in different regions have contributed to the industry's spread.

The decentralized nature of India's cotton textile industry has evolved through a combination of natural advantages, policy support, and historical factors. The launch of the five-year Cotton Mission in 2025-26 aims to further strengthen this pattern by enhancing productivity across cotton-growing regions, ensuring sustainable growth of this vital sector.