Industries in India – Iron, Steel, Cotton, IT, etc.
Delhi Police Exams – Economic & Human Geography
Introduction: The Industrial Backbone of India
Industry plays a vital role in transforming raw materials into finished goods, providing employment, and boosting economic development.
India has a diverse industrial base — from traditional textile units to high-tech IT hubs.
- Primary Industry: Uses natural resources (e.g., mining).
- Secondary Industry: Manufacturing goods (e.g., steel).
- Tertiary Industry: Services (e.g., IT, banking).
Major Industrial Regions of India
| Region | Main Industries | States Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai–Pune Belt | Cotton textiles, IT, Engineering | Maharashtra |
| Hugli Region | Jute, Paper, Engineering | West Bengal |
| Ahmedabad–Vadodara | Cotton, Chemical, Petrochemical | Gujarat |
| Chota Nagpur Plateau | Iron, Steel, Heavy Engineering | Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh |
| Delhi–Meerut Region | Electronics, IT, Consumer Goods | Delhi, UP |
| Bangalore–Chennai Region | IT, Electronics, Automobile | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu |
Mumbai, Hugli, Ahmedabad, Chota Nagpur, Delhi, Bangalore
Iron and Steel Industry
Importance: Backbone of modern industries — provides raw material for engineering, transport, and construction.
| Plant | Location | State | Established With |
|---|---|---|---|
| TISCO | Jamshedpur | Jharkhand | India’s first, by Tata (1907) |
| IISCO | Burnpur | West Bengal | British collaboration |
| Bhilai | Bhilai | Chhattisgarh | USSR (1959) |
| Rourkela | Rourkela | Odisha | Germany |
| Durgapur | Durgapur | West Bengal | UK |
| Bokaro | Bokaro | Jharkhand | USSR |
(Bhilai, Rourkela, Bokaro, Durgapur, IISCO, TISCO)
Cotton Textile Industry
Oldest industry in India — employs millions, especially women.
| Centers | States | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | Maharashtra | Oldest center, port for import/export |
| Ahmedabad | Gujarat | Known as “Manchester of India” |
| Surat | Gujarat | Textile hub, synthetic fabrics |
| Coimbatore | Tamil Nadu | “Manchester of South India” |
| Kanpur | Uttar Pradesh | Cotton + leather industries |
(Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, Surat, Kanpur)
Jute Industry
Location: Along the Hugli River (West Bengal) — ideal humidity & water for processing.
| Centers | State | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Kolkata, Howrah, Serampore | West Bengal | Bags, ropes, carpets |
Automobile Industry
India is among the top 5 automobile producers in the world.
| Centers | Products | Companies |
|---|---|---|
| Pune, Chennai, Gurugram, Noida | Cars, bikes | Tata, Maruti, Hyundai, Mahindra |
| Jamshedpur, Pithampur | Trucks | Ashok Leyland, Eicher |
| Hosur | Motorcycles | TVS, Yamaha |
Information Technology (IT) Industry
The fastest-growing sector — India is known as the IT Hub of the World.
| City | Nickname | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru | Silicon Valley of India | Infosys, Wipro, TCS |
| Hyderabad | Cyberabad | Microsoft, Google |
| Pune | IT Corridor | Tech Parks |
| Chennai | Hardware & Software mix | Zoho, HCL |
| Noida–Gurugram | NCR Tech Hub | Startups & BPOs |
(Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Noida, Chennai)
Other Important Industries
| Industry | Major Areas | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Cement | MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat | Uses limestone |
| Petrochemical | Gujarat, Maharashtra | Plastics, fibers |
| Paper | Assam, WB, Kerala | Bamboo-based |
| Sugar | UP, Maharashtra, Bihar | Agro-based |
| Shipbuilding | Mumbai, Kochi, Vishakhapatnam | Heavy engineering |
Industrial Policies & Programs
- Make in India (2014): Boost manufacturing & self-reliance
- Industrial Corridors: Delhi–Mumbai, Chennai–Bengaluru
- Start-up India: Encouraging innovation
- Atmanirbhar Bharat: Local production drive
Practice Questions (Delhi Police PYQ-style)
The first Iron and Steel plant in India was established at —
Options: A) Burnpur B) Rourkela C) Jamshedpur D) Durgapur
Category: Industry History
Show Answer
C) Jamshedpur
Which city is known as the “Manchester of India”?
Options: A) Coimbatore B) Ahmedabad C) Surat D) Kanpur
Category: Textile Industry
Show Answer
B) Ahmedabad
The jute industry is mainly concentrated in —
Options: A) Tamil Nadu B) West Bengal C) Bihar D) Gujarat
Category: Jute Industry
Show Answer
B) West Bengal
Bengaluru is known for which industry?
Options: A) Textile B) IT C) Sugar D) Paper
Category: IT Sector
Show Answer
B) IT
The Bhilai Steel Plant was set up with the collaboration of —
Options: A) UK B) USSR C) USA D) Germany
Category: Steel Industry
Show Answer
B) USSR
Coimbatore is famous for —
Options: A) Leather industry B) Textile industry C) Jute industry D) Shipbuilding
Category: Textile Industry
Show Answer
B) Textile industry
“Make in India” initiative was launched in —
Options: A) 2012 B) 2014 C) 2015 D) 2016
Category: Industrial Policy
Show Answer
B) 2014
Quick Comparison Table
| Industry | Raw Material | Major States | Special Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron & Steel | Iron, Coal | Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh | Heavy Industry |
| Textile | Cotton | Gujarat, Maharashtra, TN | Oldest Industry |
| Jute | Jute fiber | West Bengal | Export-based |
| Automobile | Metals, Rubber | TN, Maharashtra, Haryana | Modern Industry |
| IT | Skill & Technology | Karnataka, Telangana, NCR | Fastest growing |
Exam Tricks & Mnemonics
"I Just Cook Awesome Information"
→ Iron, Jute, Cotton, Automobile, IT
"MACHO" for Iron & Steel Plants:
- M – Manganese (needed for alloy)
- A – Abundant coal
- C – Cheap labor
- H – Heavy water supply
- O – Ore (iron) availability
Cotton → West, Jute → East, IT → South.
Revision & Exam Points
Final Exam Tips
Master Economic & Human Geography for the Delhi Police Exam!
Join Courage Library for comprehensive study materials and expert guidance.
Be a Couragian!