Explain the state of industries in India on the eve of Independence.

Question

Accepted Answer

The state of industries in India on the eve of independence was as follows:

1. The role of the public sector in the development of industries was restricted to the railways, power generation, communications, ports and some other departmental undertakings. There was no growth of a sound industrial base in India.

2. Before the advent of the British, the traditional handicraft industries enjoyed a worldwide reputation for their quality and standard of craftsmanship. But the colonial government caused its intentional and planned decline and did not allow any corresponding industrial base to come up.

3. Some modern industries were set up in the areas of cotton textiles, iron and steel, sugar, paper and cement. But the profits were used for debt payments of the British in their home country, rather than for the further development of Indian industries.

4. There were hardly any capital goods industries to promote further industrialisation, since the British had no interest in the development of the Indian economy. A few manufacturing units set up were no substitute for the complete displacement of the local industries.