Centre extends duty-free cotton imports till Dec 31 to ease textile industry costs

New Delhi, Oct 31 (UNI) The Centre has extended the exemption from customs duty and Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC) on cotton imports by two months until December 31, allowing textile manufacturers to continue importing raw cotton without paying the specified levies. The decision, notified by the Ministry of Finance on October 30, comes a day before the existing exemption was scheduled to expire on October 31 and is expected to improve cotton availability and help textile mills manage raw material costs. According to Notification No. 35/2026-Customs, issued under G.S.R. 960(E), the government has amended its earlier notification dated…