Explained: Why Cotton is India's "White Gold"

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) recently released a detailed backgrounder titled "White Gold: India's Cotton Story", tracing cotton's journey from cultivation to export and highlighting government schemes aimed at improving productivity, quality and market access. This makes cotton, one of India's oldest commercial crops, a relevant topic for both prelims and mains preparation, covering agriculture, trade and government schemes.Understanding the basicsCotton is called "white gold" because of its outsized economic importance in India. It supports the livelihoods of around 6 million cotton farmers and provides employment to another 40-50 million people in processing and trade. It is also a major foreign exchange earner through exports of fibre, yarn, fabric and garments.India holds a uniq