| Latest Geography NCERT Notes, Solutions and Extra Q & A (Class 8th to 12th) | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Class 8th Chapters | ||
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| 1. Resources | 2. Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation And Wildlife Resources | 3. Agriculture |
| 4. Industries | 5. Human Resources | |
Chapter 4 Industries
Consider an everyday item like a notebook. Its creation involves a lengthy manufacturing process, starting from a natural resource (a tree) and undergoing several transformations to become a finished product ready for use.
This transformation process, where **raw materials are changed into products of greater value and utility to people**, is the core function of **secondary activities**, also known as **manufacturing**. For example, wood from a tree is processed into wood pulp, which is then manufactured into paper, and finally, the paper is used to create a notebook. Each stage in this process adds value to the material.
In the manufacturing process, value is added at each step. The finished product (like a notebook or cloth from cotton) has significantly more value and utility than the original raw material it was made from.
An **industry** is defined as an economic activity focused on:
- The **production of goods** (e.g., iron and steel industry).
- The **extraction of minerals** (e.g., coal mining industry).
- The **provision of services** (e.g., tourism industry).
Classification Of Industries
Industries can be classified based on three primary criteria: the type of **raw materials** used, their **size**, and their **ownership** structure.
Raw Materials
Industries are categorised based on the source and nature of the raw materials they process:
- **Agro-based Industries:** These industries use plant and animal-based products sourced from agriculture as their raw materials. Examples include food processing, vegetable oil production, cotton textile manufacturing, dairy products, and leather industries.
- **Mineral-based Industries:** These are considered primary industries that utilise mineral ores extracted from the Earth as their raw materials. The products generated by mineral-based industries often serve as raw materials for other industries. For instance, iron produced from iron ore is used as a base material for manufacturing various goods like heavy machinery, building components, and railway coaches.
- **Marine-based Industries:** These industries draw their raw materials from the sea and oceans. Examples include companies involved in processing seafood (like fish canning) or manufacturing fish oil.
- **Forest-based Industries:** These industries depend on forest produce for their raw materials. Examples of industries using forest resources include pulp and paper manufacturing, pharmaceuticals derived from forest plants, furniture making, and construction using timber.
Size
The size of an industry is typically determined by the amount of **capital invested**, the number of **people employed**, and the volume of **production**. Based on size, industries are classified into small-scale and large-scale categories.
- **Small Scale Industries:** These industries involve less capital investment, employ fewer people, and have a lower volume of production compared to large-scale industries.
- **Cottage or Household Industries:** A type of small-scale industry where products are primarily manufactured by hand by artisans, often within homes. Examples include basket weaving, pottery, and various handicrafts.
- Other small-scale industries, like silk weaving and some food processing units, use relatively less capital and simpler technology.
- **Large Scale Industries:** These industries require significantly higher capital investment, employ a large workforce, and achieve a massive volume of production. They typically utilise more advanced and superior technology compared to small-scale industries. Examples include the manufacturing of automobiles and heavy machinery.
Fig. 4.1 shows the stages involved in processing Gorgon nut (makhana), illustrating a food processing activity which can be classified as an agro-based industry and, depending on scale, potentially a small-scale or even cottage industry if done traditionally.
Ownership
Industries can be classified based on who owns and operates them:
- **Private Sector Industries:** Owned and managed by either an individual or a group of private individuals/companies.
- **State-owned or Public Sector Industries:** Owned and operated directly by the government. Examples in India include Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
- **Joint Sector Industries:** Owned and operated jointly by the state (government) and individuals or a group of individuals/private entities. Maruti Udyog Limited in India was historically an example of a joint sector venture.
- **Co-operative Sector Industries:** Owned and operated by the producers or suppliers of the raw materials, the workers, or a combination of both. The main objective is mutual benefit for the members. Anand Milk Union Limited (Amul) and Sudha Dairy are successful examples of co-operative ventures in India, particularly in the dairy industry.
Fig. 4.2 shows the Sudha dairy, which is a successful example of a co-operative sector industry. Co-operatives like Sudha Dairy are owned and managed by milk producers and/or workers, illustrating an ownership model focused on collective benefit.
Factors Affecting Location Of Industries
The decision of where to establish an industry is influenced by the availability and accessibility of various factors. Industries tend to be located in areas where some or all of these factors are readily available or easily procurable. These essential factors include:
- Availability of **Raw Material**
- Availability of suitable **Land**
- Adequate **Water** supply
- Availability of **Labour**
- Reliable **Power** supply
- Access to **Capital** for investment
- Efficient **Transport** facilities
- Proximity to the **Market** where the finished goods will be sold
Sometimes, governments actively try to influence the location of industries, particularly to promote development in economically backward areas. They may offer **incentives** such as subsidised power costs, lower transport expenses, and the development of infrastructure to encourage industries to set up facilities in these regions. The establishment of industries (industrialisation) often triggers the growth and development of nearby towns and cities as people migrate for work and services.
Fig. 4.3 visually summarises the key factors that influence where industries are located. It shows how proximity to resources (raw materials, water), infrastructure (power, transport), economic elements (capital, market), and human factors (labour) are all considered when selecting a suitable site for an industrial unit.
Industrial System
An **industrial system** can be understood in terms of a system with **inputs, processes, and outputs**.
- **Inputs:** These are the resources and costs required to operate the industry. They include raw materials, labour, the cost of land, transportation expenses, power supply, and other necessary infrastructure.
- **Processes:** This involves a wide range of activities that take the raw materials and transform them into finished products. These activities are specific to the type of industry.
- **Outputs:** This is the result of the industrial process – the final product that is manufactured and the income or revenue generated from its sale.
Using the example of the textile industry:
- **Inputs** might include cotton (raw material), human labour, the cost of setting up and running the factory, and transport costs.
- **Processes** involve steps like ginning (separating cotton fibres from seeds), spinning (making yarn from fibres), weaving (making fabric from yarn), dyeing (colouring the fabric), and printing (adding designs).
- The **Output** is the finished product, such as a shirt that you wear.
Industrial Regions
**Industrial regions** are areas where multiple industries are concentrated close together. This proximity allows industries to share infrastructure, labour pools, and services, creating mutual benefits. These clusters often develop around key resources or strategic locations.
Major industrial regions across the world are primarily located in:
- Eastern North America
- Western and Central Europe
- Eastern Europe
- Eastern Asia
Globally, large industrial regions tend to be situated in **temperate climatic areas**, near **sea ports** (facilitating trade and transport of raw materials/finished goods), and especially close to **coal fields** (historically a major source of power).
Fig. 4.4 is a map illustrating the major industrial regions of the world, highlighting their concentration in certain continents and areas often linked to resource availability, historical development, and access to transport networks like coasts and rivers.
India also has several distinct industrial regions, reflecting concentrations of industrial activity in specific areas. These include:
- Mumbai-Pune cluster
- Bangalore-Tamil Nadu region
- Hugli region (West Bengal)
- Ahmedabad-Baroda region (Gujarat)
- Chottanagpur industrial belt ( Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh)
- Vishakhapatnam-Guntur belt (Andhra Pradesh)
- Gurgaon-Delhi-Meerut region (around the capital)
- Kollam-Thiruvanathapuram industrial cluster (Kerala)
Industrial Disaster
Industrial activities, particularly those involving complex technology or hazardous materials, carry inherent risks. **Industrial accidents or disasters** can occur due to technical malfunctions or the mishandling of dangerous substances.
One of the most tragic industrial disasters globally was the **Bhopal gas tragedy** in India, on **3 December 1984**. Around 00:30 a.m., a highly toxic gas, **Methyl Isocyanate (MIC)**, along with other dangerous chemicals, leaked from a pesticide factory owned by Union Carbide. This technological accident resulted in the deaths of thousands, with an official toll of 3,598 by 1989, though the actual numbers are believed to be much higher. Many more thousands who survived continue to suffer from severe health problems, including blindness, immune system damage, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Another incident occurred on **23 December 2005**, in Gao Qiao, China, due to a gas well blowout. This disaster caused 243 fatalities, injured 9,000 people, and necessitated the evacuation of 64,000 residents. Many died because they were unable to escape the explosion quickly, while survivors suffered burns and respiratory issues from the gas exposure.
This image depicts rescue operations following the gas well blowout disaster in Gao Qiao, China in 2005. It serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with industrial activities involving volatile substances and the immediate humanitarian response required during such emergencies.
Learning from such tragedies is crucial for implementing measures to reduce industrial risks and prevent future disasters. Key **Risk Reduction Measures** include:
- Ensuring a **significant distance between densely populated residential areas and industrial zones**, particularly those handling hazardous materials.
- Making sure that people living near industries are **aware of the types and storage of toxic or hazardous substances** used in the facilities and understand the potential effects in case of an accident.
- Improving **fire warning and fighting systems** within and around industrial areas.
- Limiting the **storage capacity of highly toxic substances** to reduce the scale of potential leaks or accidents.
- Improving the ability of industries to effectively **disperse pollutants** to minimise their concentration and impact on the surrounding environment and population.
Distribution Of Major Industries
Globally, some industries are considered major players based on their historical importance, economic impact, or technological significance. The world's most prominent industries are the **iron and steel industry**, the **textile industry**, and the **information technology industry**.
The iron and steel and textile industries are considered **older, established industries**, dating back to the Industrial Revolution. The information technology industry, on the other hand, is an **emerging or 'Sunrise Industry'**, which is relatively new and rapidly growing.
**Sunrise Industries** are typically forward-looking industries experiencing rapid growth and innovation. Examples often include information technology, wellness, hospitality, and knowledge-based industries.
The distribution of these major industries is concentrated in specific countries and regions:
- **Iron and Steel Industry:** Major producing countries include Germany, USA, China, Japan, and Russia.
- **Textile Industry:** Heavily concentrated in countries like India, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
- **Information Technology Industry:** Major hubs are found in the **Silicon Valley** area of Central California (USA) and the **Bangalore region** in India.
Iron And Steel Industry
The **Iron and Steel Industry** is fundamental to modern industrial development. It functions like any other industry, involving inputs, processes, and outputs. However, it is often termed a "**feeder industry**" because its primary output, steel, serves as a crucial raw material for a vast number of other industries.
The key components of the iron and steel industrial system are:
- **Inputs:** Raw materials are essential and include **iron ore**, **coal** (as a fuel and reducing agent), and **limestone** (as a flux). Other inputs are labour, capital investment, suitable site location, and infrastructure like water and power.
- **Processes:** The conversion of iron ore into steel involves multiple stages. The main raw materials are placed in a **blast furnace**, where the iron ore undergoes **smelting** – a process of extracting metal from its ore by heating it to a high temperature beyond its melting point. The molten iron is then further refined to produce steel.
- **Output:** The primary output is **steel**, which is then used as a raw material by numerous other manufacturing industries.
Fig. 4.5 is a simplified equation illustrating the typical ratio of key inputs required to produce one tonne of steel (4 tonnes of iron ore + 1 tonne of limestone + 8 tonnes of coal = 1 tonne of steel).
Fig. 4.6 illustrates the process within a blast furnace, where iron ore is smelted using coal and limestone to extract molten iron, the initial step in the production of steel.
**Steel** is a highly valuable material due to its properties: it is tough and can be easily shaped, cut, or drawn into wire. Adding small quantities of other metals like aluminium, nickel, or copper can create special **alloys of steel**, which possess enhanced properties such as unusual hardness, toughness, or resistance to rust.
Steel is often referred to as the "**backbone of modern industry**" because it is indispensable. Almost everything we use is either made from iron or steel, or its production involved tools and machinery made from these metals. Examples of steel's widespread use include ships, trains, trucks, automobiles, safety pins, needles, oil drilling machinery, pipelines, mining equipment, farm machines, and the structural framework of large buildings.
The factors influencing the **location of the iron and steel industry** have changed over time:
- **Before 1800 AD:** Location was primarily driven by the easy availability of raw materials (iron ore, coal), power supply (often from water), and running water.
- **From 1800 to 1950:** The ideal locations shifted closer to coal fields and near canals and railways, which facilitated cheaper transport of heavier raw materials like coal and iron ore.
- **After 1950:** Large integrated steel plants, requiring vast areas of flat land, began to be located near **sea ports**. This change occurred because steel production capacity increased significantly, requiring the import of iron ore from overseas sources, making proximity to ports crucial for cost-effective transportation.
Fig. 4.7 is a schematic showing how the most favourable location for iron and steel plants has evolved historically, influenced by changes in technology, scale of operations, and transportation methods – moving from resource proximity to transport access, and finally to coastal locations for importing raw materials.
Fig. 4.8 is a map highlighting the world's major iron ore producing regions. Understanding the distribution of this key raw material is essential for explaining the location of steel industries globally, especially in the context of changing transportation capabilities.
Jamshedpur
In India, the iron and steel industry has developed by leveraging the availability of raw materials, cheap labour, transport networks, and market access. Many of the country's major steel production centres are concentrated in a mineral-rich belt spanning four states: West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
Before India's independence in 1947, there was only one significant privately owned iron and steel plant: the **Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited (TISCO)**. After Independence, the government actively promoted the establishment of several public sector steel plants.
TISCO was founded in **1907** at **Sakchi** in Jharkhand, strategically located near the confluence of the **Subarnarekha and Kharkai rivers**. Sakchi was later renamed **Jamshedpur** and is considered geographically the most advantageously located iron and steel centre in India.
Reasons for choosing Sakchi (Jamshedpur) as the site for TISCO:
- **Proximity to Railway:** It was only 32 km from the Kalimati station on the Bengal-Nagpur railway line, facilitating transport.
- **Access to Raw Materials:** The location was close to deposits of iron ore, coal, and manganese, essential for steel production.
- **Proximity to Market:** Kolkata, a large urban and industrial centre, provided a significant market for steel products.
- **Sources of Raw Materials:** TISCO sourced coal from the nearby Jharia coalfields. Iron ore, limestone, dolomite, and manganese came from the states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
- **Water Supply:** The Kharkai and Subarnarekha rivers provided a reliable and sufficient water supply required for the plant's operations.
Subsequent government support also played a role in providing capital for TISCO's later expansion and development. The establishment of TISCO spurred further industrial growth in Jamshedpur, leading to the setting up of various other industries producing chemicals, locomotive parts, agricultural equipment, machinery, tinplate, cables, and wires. The development of the iron and steel industry, particularly TISCO, was crucial for India's rapid industrialisation, providing the basic infrastructure needed by almost all other sectors.
The Indian iron and steel industry today comprises large integrated steel plants, smaller mini steel mills, secondary producers, rolling mills, and ancillary industries.
Fig. 4.9 is a map detailing the location of the iron and steel industry in Jamshedpur, visually demonstrating its proximity to rivers (Subarnarekha and Kharkai) and its strategic position relative to coalfields (Jharia) and iron ore sources (Odisha, Chhattisgarh), illustrating the locational factors that made it ideal.
Pittsburgh
**Pittsburgh** in the United States of America is another historically important city for the steel industry. Its development as a major steel centre was also based on significant locational advantages.
Locational advantages of the steel industry in Pittsburgh:
- **Raw Material Availability:** Coal, one of the key raw materials, was available locally.
- **Iron Ore Transport:** Iron ore was sourced from mines in Minnesota, located about 1500 km away. However, a highly efficient and cheap mode of transport was available via the **Great Lakes waterway**. Trains were then used to carry the ore from the Great Lakes to the Pittsburgh area.
- **Water Supply:** The **Ohio, Monongahela, and Allegheny rivers** provided an adequate and reliable water supply necessary for the steel production process.
Note that the **Great Lakes** are a chain of five large lakes: Superior, Huron, Ontario, Michigan, and Erie. Lake Superior is the largest and located upstream of the others, forming a crucial part of the inland waterway system in North America.
Over time, the steel mills in the Pittsburgh area have shifted locations. Today, fewer large mills are directly within the city of Pittsburgh itself. They are primarily located in the valleys of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers upstream from Pittsburgh and along the Ohio River downstream. The finished steel products are transported to markets using both land and water routes.
The presence of the steel industry in Pittsburgh also fostered the growth of many other factories in the area. These industries use steel as their raw material to manufacture a diverse range of products, including railroad equipment, heavy machinery, and rails, creating an integrated industrial ecosystem.