Mains Practice Questions

Introduction:

The shift of the textile industry from the Ganga-Yamuna plain to the peninsular region of India is a significant historical and economic phenomenon driven by a combination of historical, geographical, and economic factors. 

• While the Ganga-Yamuna plain was a traditional hub for handloom textiles, the rise of the modern mill industry in the 19th and 20th centuries favored the peninsular region, especially coastal areas.

Body: 

Shift in the Location of the Textile Industry from the Ganga-Yamuna plain to the Peninsular Region: 

Geographical and Resource Factors:

• Cotton Production: With the expansion of cotton cultivation in peninsular India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu), textile units naturally moved closer to raw material sources to reduce transportation costs.
• Climate: Peninsular India has a more favourable climate for mechanized textile mills, particularly for spinning and weaving, with less humidity and flooding compared to the Ganga-Yamuna plains.
  • Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), known as the "Manchester of South India," became a hub for cotton spinning and weaving industries.

Industrial and Technological Factors:

• Mechanization: The peninsular region, especially Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, saw early industrial development and adoption of mechanized textile mills during the post-independence period. 
• Electricity and Infrastructure: Peninsular India developed better infrastructure, including reliable electricity, ports (Mumbai, Chennai), and road-rail connectivity, facilitating industrial growth.
• Hydroelectricity: The development of hydroelectricity in the early 20th century in states like Tamil Nadu (e.g., Pykara Dam) provided a crucial power source for the mills, further accelerating industrial growth in the south.

Economic and Market Factors:

• Proximity to Ports and Export Markets: Western and southern regions offered better access to ports (Mumbai, Chennai, Tuticorin), facilitating textile exports. 
  • Mumbai, being a major port, became the "Cottonopolis of India" as it was the hub for importing machinery from England and exporting finished goods. 
  • Tirupur (Tamil Nadu), specialized in knitwear exports due to modern industrial estates and infrastructure.
• Private Investment: Peninsular India attracted private entrepreneurs, especially from Gujarat and Maharashtra, who invested in textile mills, boosting industrial concentration there.

Conclusion:

The shift of the textile industry to peninsular India reflects resource availability, industrialization, and market access. Initiatives like PM MITRA, following the “5F” vision (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign), are now further boosting integrated textile parks, exports, and employment, positioning India as a modern global textile hub.