Mission for Cotton Productivity (2026–31)

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

The Union Cabinet has approved Rs.5659.22 crore for the Mission for Cotton Productivity (2026–27 to 2030–31)

Mission for Cotton Productivity

It is also referred as Kapas Kranti
Objective – it aims to address stagnant yields and improve fibre quality to make India a self-reliant and globally competitive textile hub.
Focuses on high-density planting (HDPS), developing 24 climate-resilient varieties, promoting Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton, and branding (“Kasturi Cotton Bharat”).
Modernization: Includes upgrading 2,000 ginning units and integrating digital tools for better market access

Connect with the basics – Cotton Cultivation in India

It is often referred to as “White Gold,”
It is a vital commercial crop that serves as the backbone of India’s textile industry and sustains millions of livelihoods.

Geographic & Climatic Requirements-

It is a subtropical Kharif crop requiring 6–8 months to mature, cotton needs a warm, sunny climate (21°C–30°C) with at least 210 frost-free days.
Rainfall/Soil: Requires 50–100 cm of water; best grown on moisture-retaining Black Cotton Soil (Regur), though it thrives in alluvial/red soils with proper drainage to avoid waterlogging.
Production: India is the world’s top producer and holds the largest acreage.
Major producing states – Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh
Key Challenges: Pink Bollworm (PBW) resistance

Syllabus: GS3/Environment/Waste Management

Context

India generated 6.2 million tonnes of e-waste in FY24, projected to more than double to 14 million tonnes by 2030.

Connect with the basics- E-Waste

E-waste refers to discarded electrical and electronic devices such as computers, circuit boards, mobile phones, and appliances.
It contains hazardous materials like lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants.
Improper disposal leads to soil contamination, water pollution, and health hazards.

Impact of Improper E-Waste Management

Water Pollution: Toxic discharge from cyanide and sulphuric acid affects water bodies.
Air Pollution: Emissions from lead fumes and plastic burning are severe.
Soil Contamination: Hazardous substances leach into the soil, damaging agriculture and biodiversity.
Economic Loss: India is estimated to forfeit over ₹80,000 crore worth of critical metals each year, which could have been recovered and re-used in manufacturing.

Initiatives for E-Waste Management in India

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Producers, importers, and brand owners are made responsible for managing their product’s end-of-life waste.
An online EPR E-Waste portal has been developed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) where entities such as producers, manufacturers, recyclers, and refurbishers of the e-waste are required to be registered.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has comprehensively revised the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 and notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022.
India’s first e-waste clinic was inaugurated in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
It’s a facility for segregating, processing, and disposing of e-waste from both households and commercial units.
The Ministry of Mines launched a Pan-India E-Waste Recycling Drive as part of Special Campaign 5.0 (in 2025), aimed at promoting Swachhata in government offices and ensuring scientific disposal and resource recovery from electronic waste.

Basel Convention

The Basel Convention is a global treaty aimed at controlling the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal, ensuring that such wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner.
It was adopted in 1989 and entered into force in 1992.
India is a party to the Basel Convention.

Syllabus: GS1/Geography

In News

Bangladesh has renewed its request to move forward on the long-pending Teesta water-sharing agreement.

Teesta River

It is a tributary of the Brahmaputra
It originates from the Tso Lhamo Lake in north Sikkim.
It travels for about 150 km in Sikkim and 123 km in West Bengal, before entering Bangladesh.
It flows another 140 km in Bangladesh and joins the Bay of Bengal.

Agreement

India and Bangladesh had reached an in-principle agreement in 2011 to share the Teesta river waters, but it was never finalized due to coordination issues between the Centre and the West Bengal government .
Bangladesh has now expressed hope that the 2011 agreement can be reconsidered in the present political context.