📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Iron & Steel Industry
- "Basic / key industry" — the base of others. India is the 2nd largest crude steel producer (after China).
- First modern unit: Kulti (WB, 1870 — Bengal Iron Works). First large-scale — TISCO, Jamshedpur (1907) — at the confluence of Subarnarekha and Kharkai.
| Plant | State | Collaboration |
|---|---|---|
| Bhilai | Chhattisgarh | USSR (Russia) |
| Rourkela | Odisha | West Germany |
| Durgapur | West Bengal | UK |
| Bokaro | Jharkhand | USSR |
| Visakhapatnam (RINL) | Andhra Pradesh | First shore-based |
| Visvesvaraya (Bhadravati) | Karnataka | — |
| Salem | Tamil Nadu | Stainless steel |
- SAIL — 1973 (manages Bhilai, Rourkela, Durgapur, Bokaro, Burnpur/IISCO).
📌 2. Textile & Agro-based Industries
- Cotton textiles — largest traditional industry; first mill Fort Gloster (Kolkata, 1818, failed); first successful Mumbai (1854, Cowasji Davar). Nicknames: Mumbai — "Cottonopolis", Ahmedabad — "Manchester of India / Boston of the East", Kanpur — "Manchester of North India", Coimbatore — "Manchester of South India".
- Jute — first mill Rishra (Hooghly, 1855); most mills along the Hooghly in WB.
- Silk — Karnataka leads (mulberry); India 2nd in the world. Muga silk — Assam (only in India). Wool — Ludhiana, Panipat.
- Sugar — second largest agro industry; led by UP and Maharashtra (cooperatives). Seasonal industry.
📌 3. Other Industries & Centres
| Industry | Centres / facts |
|---|---|
| Cement | First at Chennai (1904); leaders Rajasthan, MP, AP; Katni, Lakheri; India 2nd in world |
| Fertiliser | First — Sindri (Jharkhand, 1951); IFFCO (Kalol), Nangal, Trombay |
| Paper | First at Serampore (1812); Nepanagar (MP) — newsprint |
| Petrochemicals | Jamnagar, Vadodara, Mumbai; Gujarat leads |
| IT / software | Bengaluru — "Silicon Valley of India"; Hyderabad ("Cyberabad"), Pune, Chennai, Noida, Gurugram |
| Automobile | Chennai — "Detroit of Asia"; Gurugram-Manesar, Pune, Sanand |
| Shipbuilding | Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Mazagon (Mumbai), Kolkata (GRSE) |
| Railway coaches / engines | ICF Perambur (Chennai), RCF Kapurthala, MCF Rae Bareli; Chittaranjan (CLW — locos), Varanasi (BLW) |
| Aircraft | HAL — Bengaluru, Nashik, Koraput, Kanpur, Lucknow |
| Glass / bangles | Firozabad (UP) — "City of Bangles" |
| Sports goods | Jalandhar, Meerut |
| Diamond cutting | Surat — "Diamond City" |
| Locks | Aligarh |
| Carpets | Bhadohi, Mirzapur |
- Major industrial regions: Mumbai-Pune, Hooghly, Bengaluru-Chennai-Coimbatore, Gujarat, Chota Nagpur, Visakhapatnam-Guntur, Gurugram-Delhi-Meerut, Kollam-Thiruvananthapuram.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- Bhilai and Bokaro — Russia; Rourkela — Germany; Durgapur — Britain.
- "Manchester of India" = Ahmedabad; "Cottonopolis" = Mumbai.
- First fertiliser plant Sindri, cement Chennai, jute Rishra.
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Bhilai Steel Plant was set up with the help of — Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Bhilai (Chhattisgarh) — Soviet collaboration.
Bhilai (Chhattisgarh) — Soviet collaboration.
Q2. Rourkela Steel Plant was built with — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Rourkela (Odisha) — German collaboration.
Rourkela (Odisha) — German collaboration.
Q3. Durgapur Steel Plant was set up with — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Durgapur (WB) — British collaboration.
Durgapur (WB) — British collaboration.
Q4. TISCO (Jamshedpur) was established in — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
In 1907, on Jamsetji Tata's plan.
In 1907, on Jamsetji Tata's plan.
Q5. Which city is called the "Manchester of India"? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Ahmedabad, for its cotton mills.
Ahmedabad, for its cotton mills.
Q6. Which city is the "Manchester of South India"? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Coimbatore (TN) — cotton textiles.
Coimbatore (TN) — cotton textiles.
Q7. India's first successful cotton mill was set up at — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
By Cowasji Davar in Mumbai, 1854.
By Cowasji Davar in Mumbai, 1854.
Q8. India's first jute mill was at — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Rishra (Hooghly, WB) — 1855.
Rishra (Hooghly, WB) — 1855.
Q9. India's first fertiliser plant is at — Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Sindri (Jharkhand) — 1951.
Sindri (Jharkhand) — 1951.
Q10. Which city is the "Silicon Valley of India"? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Bengaluru is the leading IT hub.
Bengaluru is the leading IT hub.
Q11. Which city is called the "Detroit of Asia"? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Chennai is a major automobile hub.
Chennai is a major automobile hub.
Q12. Firozabad is famous for — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Firozabad (UP) — "City of Bangles".
Firozabad (UP) — "City of Bangles".
Q13. Which city is famous for diamond cutting? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Surat (Gujarat) is a global diamond-cutting hub.
Surat (Gujarat) is a global diamond-cutting hub.
Q14. India's first cement factory was at — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
At Chennai (Madras) in 1904.
At Chennai (Madras) in 1904.
Q15. Muga silk is a speciality of — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Golden muga silk is unique to Assam.
Golden muga silk is unique to Assam.
Q16. The Integral Coach Factory is at — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
ICF Perambur, Chennai (1955).
ICF Perambur, Chennai (1955).
Q17. Chittaranjan, known for locomotives, is in — Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (West Bengal).
Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (West Bengal).
Q18. Which industry is considered "seasonal"? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Cane crushing runs only some months (Nov-Apr).
Cane crushing runs only some months (Nov-Apr).
Q19. A special feature of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is that it is — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
RINL Visakhapatnam is the first coastal steel plant.
RINL Visakhapatnam is the first coastal steel plant.
Q20. Why is iron-steel called a "basic industry"? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Machines, construction, transport all need steel.
Machines, construction, transport all need steel.