Industrial Sector (Part – II)

Total Questions: 60

41. From which sector of the following, largest quantity of cotton textile is produced in the country? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

Correct Answer: (c) Powerloom
Solution:The powerloom sector produces the largest quantity of cotton textile in the country.                                                                                                                  Nearly two-thirds of cotton production in India comes from the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana collectively known as the Cotton Basket of India.
  • Within the country, Maharashtra has the highest area under cultivation, at 41.2 lakh ha, followed by Gujarat at 27.1 lakhs and Telangana at 17.9 lakh.
  • Together, these three states account for 72% of the total cotton acreage in the country.
  • Approximately 62% of India's cotton is produced in rainfed areas, and 38% is on irrigated lands.

India grows all four known species of cultivated cotton.
The cotton industry in India leans towards apparel exports, contributing approximately 51% to overall apparel exports. Approximately 74% of the apparel exported from India is made of cotton.

42. The largest centre of textile industry in India at Present is: [Uttarakhand U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2003]

Correct Answer: (c) Mumbai
Solution:Among the given options, the largest centre of textile industry in India at present is Mumbai.

India's Textile Journey: From Fibre to Fabric
Cotton Production and Employment: India is the second-largest cotton producer globally, contributing 24% of global
production. Cotton farming involves around 60 lakh farmers, primarily in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Telangana. The cotton textile value chain, from fibre processing to garment manufacturing, employs over 4.5 crore people.
Man-Made Fibre (MMF) Industry: India is also the second-largest producer of MMF, with Reliance Industries leading in
polyester and Grasim Industries being the sole domestic producer of viscose. However, MMF consumption in India remains low at 3.1 kg per capita, compared to 12 kg in China and 22.5 kg in North America. Overall fibre consumption, including natural and synthetic fibres, is 5.5 kg per capita, below the global average of 11.2 kg.
MSME Clusters and Specialisations: Around 80% of India's textile value chain operates within MSME clusters, each
specializing in different textiles:
Bhiwandi (Maharashtra) - Fabric production
Tiruppur (Tamil Nadu) - T-shirts and undergarments
Surat (Gujarat) - Polyester and nylon fabrics
Ludhiana (Punjab) - Woolen garments.

43. Which Indian State has the largest number of Cotton Textile Mills? [B.P.S.C (Pre) 2016]

Correct Answer: (e) None of the above/More than one of the above
Solution:Tamil Nadu has the largest number of operational non-small scale industry cotton textiles mills in India, followed by Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. While Tamil Nadu ac counts for less than 2 percent of the country's total raw cotton production, it has almost half of cotton spinning capacity in the country.

44. In India, the highest production of mill-made cotton cloth comes from: [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Mains) 2010, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]

Correct Answer: (a) Gujarat
Solution:The largest producer of mill-made cotton cloth among all States in India, is Gujarat. As per the latest available data, top 3 States in production of mill-made cotton cloth are as follows:
StatesMill-made Cotton cloth Production (in thousand m²) 2016-17
Gujarat489712
Maharashtra270531
Madhya Pradesh167818

45. The oldest large scale industry of India is: [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]

Correct Answer: (a) Cotton textiles
Solution:The oldest large scale industry of India is cotton textile industry. Mumbai and Ahmedabad are the centers of the cotton textile industry. The first cotton mill in India was established in 1818 at Fort Gloster near Kolkata.        The major issues faced by the cotton sector in India can be listed below:
  • India's cotton fields are vulnerable to insect infestation, which lowers both output and quality.
  • Many factors, including lack of crop rotation, monoculture, adverse weather, poor soil quality, inadequate pest control, etc., contribute to pest infestation in cotton crops.
  • India produces less cotton per hectare than other significant cotton-producing nations. This is mostly caused by the employment of out-of-date farming techniques, insufficient irrigation systems, and subpar seed quality.
  • Small-scale cotton farmers in India struggle to make ends meet due to the high cost of inputs including seeds, fertilizer, and insecticides.
  • The success of India's cotton crop is primarily dependent on the monsoon rains, which may be inconsistent and unexpected.
  • There are a lot of indebted cotton farmers in India, which might result in a vicious cycle of debt and poverty.
  • As they have no access to markets, many Indian cotton producers are compelled to sell their products to intermediaries for poor rates.

46. The first industry to develop in India was the: [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2008]

Correct Answer: (a) Cottage industry
Solution:The first industry to develop in India was the cottage industry. Cottage industries have contributed significantly since ancient times in India. After the British arrived in India, cottage industries were rapidly destroyed in the country and the traditional artisans adopted other occupations. The major cottage industries in India are cotton weaving, carpet making, silk weaving, leather industry and small scale food processing industry etc.

47. Which one of the following industries is regarded as the most basic for our modern civilization? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]

Correct Answer: (b) Iron and Steel
Solution:Iron and steel industry is the axis of modern civlization. It constitutes the backbone of modern industrial economy. Most of the important modern industries such as automobiles, locomotives, rail tracks, machinery and tools, shipbuilding and manufacture of defence equipments etc. depend on iron and steel industry.
  •  Steel has traditionally occupied a top spot among metals and one of the primary forces behind industrialization.
  • Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon containing less than 2% carbon and 1% manganese and small amounts of silicon, phosphorus, sulphur and oxygen. (with higher carbon content, it is known as cast iron)
  • Growth of the sector is driven by domestic availability of raw materials such as iron ore (fifth-highest reserves of iron ore), cost-effective labour (e.g. Durgapur in West Bengal), and increased infrastructure construction and the thriving automobile and railways sectors.
  • Other Location Factors of Steel Industry in India: Access to water (e.g. Tata Steel in Jamshedpur near the Subarnarekha River), Proximity to Markets (e.g. Bhilai plant in Chhattisgarh) and Transportation (e.g. Vizag Steel Plant in Andhra Pradesh near Visakhapatnam Port).

48. The industry for which Nepanagar is known is: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2001, M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992]

Correct Answer: (d) Newsprint paper
Solution:Nepanagar is an industrial township in Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh. Nepanagar is famous for its newsprint paper mill, Nepa Mills Limited (Earlier known as The National News Print Ltd.). Nepa Mills pioneered manufacturing of newsprint in the country. It commenced production from April, 1956.

49. Which of the following places are known for paper manufacturing industry? [I.A.S (Pre) 1997]

1. Yamunanagar

2. Guwahati

3. Shahabad

4. Ballarpur

Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:

Correct Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 4
Solution:Yamunanagar (Haryana), Guwahati (Assam) and Ballarpur (Maharashtra) are famous for paper manufacturing industry, while Shahabad is not known for paper manufacturing industry.                                                                              The first modern paper mill was founded in 1832 in Serampore (West Bengal), but it did not survive, and the industry began again in 1870 near Calcutta. The paper sector has advanced rapidly during the period of planned development since independence. Now, India has 861 paper mills, 526 of which are operational, with a total installed capacity of 27.15 million tonnes, according to CPPRI data (2019-20).
In India, per capita consumption is hovering around 2 kilograms, compared to more than 200 kg in highly industrialized countries. India is likely to become a significant country in the industry's growth in the next few years. Paper and paperboard output in the world is around 390 million tonnes, with 490 million tonnes predicted by 2020. In 2009, 371 million tonnes of paper were consumed worldwide.

50. The Hazira Fertilizer Factory is based on: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1991]

Correct Answer: (b) Natural Gas
Solution:Krishak Bharti Cooperative Ltd. (KRIBHCO) was incorporated in April, 1980 as a national level Multi State Cooperative Society. KRIBHCO has state of-the art high capacity Fertilizer Complex based on natural gas at Hazira, District Surat, Gujarat consisting of two streams of Ammonia Plant and four streams of Urea Plant.