India's Organic Cotton Scam Sparks Global Export Concerns

On February 5, 2026, a scam in Kalahandi, Odisha revealed 95% seeds sold as organic were Bt cotton, risking India’s share in the $58.21 billion (2025) global market.

APEDA’s probe led to 2-year bans by GOTS on several Indian firms for ICS manipulation and fake certificates.

The issue threatens India’s Vision 2030 target of ₹9 lakh crore in textile exports amid rising demand for Digital Product Passports.

The Ministry of Textiles has started pilots in 8 clusters using DNA tagging and blockchain to protect the $2 billion organic export goal.