CH-8

INDUSTRY

1. Classify industries, stating the basis of your classification.

Answer: Industries can be classified on the basis of different factors as follows:

1. On the basis of size of the establishment:
(i) Household industry
(ii) Small-scale industry
(iii) Large-scale industry

2. On the basis of raw materials used:
(i) Agro-based industry
(ii) Mineral-based industry
(iii) Chemical-based industry
(iv) Forest-based industry
(v) Animal-based industry

3. On the basis of output or products:
(i) Basic industry
(ii) Consumer goods industry

4. On the basis of ownership:
(i) Public sector industry
(ii) Private sector industry
(iii) Co-operative industry

2. What is a household industry? What kind of goods are produced by this industry?

Answer: A household industry is an industry which is organised at the family level and is very small in size. It uses local raw materials and traditional technology. The goods produced by this industry include pottery goods, metallic utensils, handloom clothes, food items, furniture, and ornaments.

3. Present a comparative discussion on the small-scale and large-scale industries.

Answer: Small-scale industries are those which are small in size and require limited capital and labour. They depend mostly on locally available raw materials and manpower. These industries are important for the economic development of local people as they increase purchasing power. They also play a role in decentralising industries in different areas.

Large-scale industries, on the other hand, require huge capital, modern technology, trained workforce and sufficient sources of energy. They are mainly concentrated in developed countries and are complicated in management as they often depend on international markets. Many medium and small industries also grow around large-scale industries, and in the long run such industries can transform an area into a developed industrial region.

4. Define an agro-based industry with an example.

Answer: An agro-based industry is an industry that depends mainly on crops and other agricultural products as its raw materials. Since agricultural products require some processing to make them suitable for use or storage, these industries are established for that purpose. Agro-based industries are very common in agricultural countries and play an important role in their economy. Examples of such industries include rice mills, sugar mills, oil mills, wheat mills, tea processing units, and spice mills.

5. Give a brief idea of the mineral-based industry.

Answer: A mineral-based industry is an industry that uses different kinds of mineral resources as its raw materials. These industries are usually set up in areas rich in minerals, though with better transport facilities, they can now grow even in places without minerals. Important examples of mineral-based industries are iron and steel, aluminum, copper and petroleum industries.

6. What do you mean by basic industry? Give examples.

Answer: A basic industry is an industry which produces raw materials for other industries. These industries provide the foundation for industrial development as their products are used in manufacturing various other goods. For example, the iron and steel industry is considered a basic industry because it supplies raw materials for machine-building industries.

7. Give an outline of the factors determining the localization of industry.

Answer: The growth of industries is not the same everywhere. Some areas develop into industrial regions while others remain backward. This happens because the location of industries depends on several important natural and human factors. The main factors are as follows:

(a) Raw Materials – The availability and nature of raw materials often decide the location of industries. Heavy raw materials like iron ore increase transport cost, so iron and steel industries are set up near mines. Perishable products like sugarcane must be processed quickly, so sugar mills are established near sugarcane fields.

(b) Power or Energy – All industries require energy. Sources like coal, petroleum, gas, hydroelectricity and nuclear power are important. Coal is bulky and costly to transport, so coal-based industries grow near coal fields, while electricity and petroleum can be carried to distant places.

(c) Labour – The supply of labour is a key factor for industries. Industries like tea need a large number of cheap, unskilled workers for plantation and processing. Mechanised industries need fewer but skilled workers. Without a proper labour supply, industries cannot run successfully.

(d) Transport and Communication – Industries need good transport facilities to bring raw materials and send finished products to markets. Movement of workers and other materials also depends on transport. A good communication network with all sectors related to industries is equally necessary for smooth functioning.

(e) Market – Market plays a vital role in industrial location. Industries near markets reduce transport costs and sell goods easily. This is the main reason why industries are mostly located in and around cities, as they provide a ready urban market.

(f) Capital – Establishing industries requires huge capital investment for land, machinery, buildings, power, labour, transport and communication. Many regions rich in resources remain backward in industrialization due to lack of capital. Adequate capital is essential for both setting up and expanding industries.

(g) Government Policy – Industrial policies of the government play an important role in the type and location of industries. The government often plans for balanced regional development, and such policies directly influence where industries are set up and how they grow.

8. Write with examples about the role of raw materials in the location of industries.

Answer: Raw materials play a very important role in deciding the location of industries. All industries require raw materials, but their nature is different. Some are heavy, some are perishable, and some are weight-loss raw materials, which lose weight during processing. Heavy raw materials like iron ore raise transport cost, so iron and steel industries are located near iron ore mines. Cotton is light and does not lose much weight during processing, so cotton mills can be set up near raw materials or markets. Sugarcane is perishable and difficult to carry far, so sugar mills are located near sugarcane fields. In the case of weight-loss raw materials, like iron ore, industries must be established close to the source to reduce transport costs. Thus, the type and property of raw materials strongly influence the location of industries.

9. Write briefly on the iron and steel industry of India.

Answer: The iron and steel industry is a basic industry of India. It requires raw materials like iron ore, coal, manganese, and limestone, and is usually located near their sources. The first modern iron and steel plant was established in 1907 by J. N. Tata at Jamshedpur.

Most of the industries are concentrated in the mineral-rich regions of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, and Chhattisgarh. Later, centres also developed in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The main centres are Durgapur, Burnpur, Jamshedpur, Asansol, Bokaro, Rourkela, and Bhilai. In southern India, Salem and Bhadravati are also important.

India produces more than 30 million metric tons of steel and above 4 million metric tons of pig iron annually. Vast iron ore reserves, cheap labour, and a huge domestic market help the rapid growth of this industry.

10.Give an account of the cotton textile industry of India.

Answer: The cotton textile industry is one of the most important industries of India. Cotton is the main raw material, and since it is a non-weight-loss raw material, the industry may be located either near raw materials or markets. Other factors like power, labour, transport and favourable environment also influence its location.

Before the establishment of modern mills, cotton textile was a widespread household industry in India. Today, it has developed into a mechanised industry and is spread across almost all states. However, the main centres are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Some mills are also located in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

Although it faces challenges from industries using artificial fibres, cotton textile still remains a leading industry of India.

11.Draw a map of India and locate thereon three iron and steel industries and the three cotton textile industries.

Answer: Create a drawing of yourself.