UPSC Express

Development of an Industrial base is necessary for socio-economic development of any country. Industries  are crucial for employment creation, value addition to the products of primary sector and export competitiveness. The Industrial regions are identified using indicators and criteria like number of factories located, number of factory workers, industrial output, the value of production, etc.

The major industrial regions of India are:

1. Mumbai-Pune Region:
   • Trade with European countries after Suez Canal opening boosted the development of industries in this region.
   • The humid climate, natural ports, hydropower availability and cotton production are the key factors of growth of this region.
   • The key industries are cotton textiles, engineering goods, leather goods, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and processed foods.
2. Kolkata-Hugli Region:
   • Situated along the banks of Hugli River in West Bengal.
   • The proximity to areas growing jute and tea plantations, coal mines, cheap labour availability, etc. were the key factors of industrial growth.
   • Major industries are jute textiles, cotton textiles, silk textiles, iron and steel, footwear and chemical industry.
3. Ahmedabad-Vadodara Region:
   • Availability of cheap land and labour, proximity to cotton growing areas, port facilities and nuclear, thermal and hydel power projects aided this region in the Industrial activities.
   • Key industries of this region are cotton textiles, diamond industry, silk textiles, petrochemical industry, pharmaceuticals industry and engineering goods industry.
4. Bengaluru-Coimbatore-Madurai Region:
   • This region covers the area of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
   • More than 60% of workers are engaged in textiles and rest are engaged in producing engineering goods and food-processing industry.
   • Good climate, skilled labour and regular supply of power are the pull factors for industries.
5. Chhotanagpur Region:
   • Covers Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha.
   • It is also called “Ruhr of India” due to the heavy concentration of Iron and Steel industry.
   • The pull factors are abundance of fossil fuel, metallic and non-metallic minerals, cheap labour availability, and power availability from Damodar Valley Corporation.
   • Other key industries are fertilizer, locomotive, glass and cement.
6. Agra-Delhi-Kalka-Saharanpur Region:
   • Proximate to the national capital of India
   • Raw materials form agriculture, power availability from multiple sources, proximity to market and peaceful industrial environment have facilitated industrial development.
   • Key industries are engineering goods, sugar, textiles, food processing, glass and agriculture machinery.

These regions are facing issues like outdated technology, power shortages, a spike in prices of land, etc. which needs to be addressed in order to sustain the industrial activities in these regions. Several small Industrial regions are also emerging which will further boost industrial base of India.