Industries are the backbone of economic development. They transform raw materials into finished goods and generate employment, income, and infrastructure growth. Indian industries are categorized into:
Agro-based
Mineral-based
Forest-based
Chemical-based
Heavy and light industries
Public Sector & Private Sector
9.2 Factors Influencing Industrial Location
Raw materials
Power supply
Water availability
Transport facilities
Market proximity
Skilled labour
Capital and infrastructure
9.3 Major Industrial Regions of India
Region
Key Industries
Mumbai–Pune Belt
Cotton textiles, automobile, engineering
Chotanagpur Plateau
Iron & steel, coal, heavy industries
Ahmedabad–Vadodara
Cotton textiles, chemicals, pharma
Hugli Industrial Region
Jute, engineering, chemicals, paper
Bengaluru–Tamil Nadu
IT, software, textile, electronic goods
Delhi–Meerut–Ambala
Light engineering, electronics
Visakhapatnam–Guntur
Shipbuilding, fertilizers, steel
9.4 Major Industries in India
1. Iron and Steel Industry
Core industry — backbone of industrial development
Major Centers: Bhilai, Bokaro, Rourkela, Durgapur, Jamshedpur (TISCO)
Raw materials: Iron ore, coal, manganese, limestone
Controlled by: SAIL, TATA Steel, JSW Steel
2. Textile Industry
Largest employment generator after agriculture
Divided into cotton, woollen, silk, and synthetics
Cotton mills: Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Coimbatore
Jute: Kolkata (major producer)
Silk: Karnataka (Bengaluru, Mysuru)
Synthetic: Gujarat, Maharashtra
3. Sugar Industry
Located near sugarcane fields
States: UP (largest), Maharashtra, Bihar
Problem: Seasonal nature, low recovery rate
4. Cement Industry
Used in infrastructure, housing
Raw materials: Limestone, coal, gypsum
Top producers: Gujarat, MP, AP, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh
5. Chemical Industry
Includes fertilizers, acids, petrochemicals, paints
Cities: Vadodara, Mumbai, Kanpur, Kochi
Linked with oil refineries
6. Automobile Industry
Rapidly growing due to urbanization and exports
Hubs: Chennai (“Detroit of India”), Pune, Gurugram, Sanand (Gujarat)
7. Information Technology (IT) & Electronics
Software exports and digital services
Hubs: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Noida, Pune, Chennai
Government initiatives: Digital India, Startup India
8. Food Processing Industry
Adds value to agricultural products
Spread across Punjab, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala
9.5 Industrial Policies and Reforms
Industrial Policy of 1991: Liberalization, Privatization, Globalization (LPG)
FDI Policy: 100% FDI allowed in many sectors
Make in India: Boost domestic manufacturing
National Manufacturing Policy (2011): Enhance GDP share from 16% to 25%
9.6 Major Public Sector Industries
SAIL: Steel
ONGC: Oil
NTPC: Power
BHEL: Heavy electricals
IOCL, HPCL: Petroleum refining and marketing
NALCO: Aluminium
9.7 Environmental Issues due to Industries
Air, water, and soil pollution
Industrial waste and untreated effluents
Urban smog and respiratory hazards
Depletion of groundwater in industrial zones
Measures:
Effluent treatment plants
Eco-industrial parks
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
National Green Tribunal (NGT) oversight
9.8 Special Economic Zones (SEZs)
Export-oriented, tax-incentivized industrial areas
Provide infrastructure, single-window clearance
Examples: Noida SEZ, Mundra SEZ, Kandla SEZ
UPSC/PSC/SSC Focus Points
Location-based industries map (iron, cotton, IT hubs)
Industry–raw material–location match
National policies and government schemes
PSU headquarters and products
Pollution–industry link
Employment vs automation debate
Chapter 10: Transport and Communication in India
10.1 Importance of Transport and Communication
Facilitates movement of goods and people
Supports agriculture, industry, trade, and defense
Integrates remote areas with national economy
Vital for disaster response and national security
10.2 Modes of Transport in India
A. Roadways
India has the second-largest road network in the world.
Roads handle about 65% of freight and 85% of passenger traffic.
Types of Roads
National Highways (NHs):
Connect important cities and ports
Maintained by NHAI
Example: NH-44 (longest, from Srinagar to Kanyakumari)
State Highways – Connect state capitals and important towns
District Roads – Link district HQs to villages
Rural Roads (PMGSY) – Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
Key Projects
Golden Quadrilateral: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata
North-South & East-West Corridors
Bharatmala Pariyojana: Improve border, coastal, and economic corridors
B. Railways
India has the 4th largest railway network globally.
Owned and operated by Indian Railways (under Ministry of Railways)
Zones:
Total of 18 zones (e.g., Northern, Western, Eastern, Central)