Cheat Sheet: Industries in India | Geography for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Introduction

Industries play a vital role in India’s economic development by contributing to employment, GDP, exports, and technological advancement. They are categorized into primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors. The secondary sector, which includes manufacturing and construction, is critical for structural transformation and job creation.

Classification of Industries

Major Industrial Regions in India

• Mumbai–Pune Industrial Region: Cotton textiles, automobiles, engineering
• Delhi–Gurugram–Noida Region: Electronics, IT, consumer goods
• Chennai–Coimbatore–Bengaluru Region: Automobiles, software, aerospace
• Chhota Nagpur Plateau: Iron and steel, heavy engineering
• Gujarat Industrial Belt: Petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles

Core Industrial Sectors 

1.Iron and Steel

• Backbone of industrial development
• India is the second-largest crude steel producer
• Major plants: Bhilai, Rourkela, Durgapur
• Challenges: High input cost, energy intensity

2. Automobile Industry

• India is among the top automobile manufacturers
• EV sector expanding with FAME II scheme
• Major hubs: Pune, Chennai, Manesar

3. Textile and Apparel

• Largest employment generator after agriculture
• Focus on exports and technical textiles
• Government push through MITRA parks scheme

4. Pharmaceuticals

• India is the third-largest by volume
• Known as the "pharmacy of the world"
• Increasing exports to Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia

5. Electronics and Semiconductors

• Critical for Atmanirbhar Bharat
• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) launched
• Dholera (Gujarat) and Sanand emerging as hubs

6. Information Technology

• Contributes significantly to exports and GDP
• Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune are major hubs
• Expansion into AI, blockchain, and fintech sectors

Government Initiatives for Industrial Growth

Environmental Concerns

• Industrial pollution, improper waste disposal, and high carbon emissions
• Compliance with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) norms mandatory
• Green industrial practices gaining traction

Industrial Corridors 

• Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC): Smart cities and logistics hubs
• Amritsar–Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC): Agro-industries and manufacturing
• Chennai–Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC): Electronics and automobile clusters

Challenges

• Land acquisition and environmental clearances
• Infrastructure bottlenecks
• Global supply chain disruptions
• Skill mismatch and labour reforms

Recent Developments 

• Rising FDI in defence, electronics, and green energy sectors
• Increase in domestic manufacturing under ‘China Plus One’ strategy
• MSME digitisation and formalisation drive
• Growth in sunrise industries like green hydrogen, drones, and space tech