Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

Challenges faced by the cotton textile industry:

1. Competition during colonial period: Traditional cotton textile industry suffered a setback as it could not compete with mill-made cloth imported from England.
2. Poor quality of weaving: India has world-class spinning, but weaving supplies low-quality fabric as it cannot fully utilise the high-quality yarn produced in the country.
3. Decentralisation issues: Weaving is highly decentralised across handloom, powerloom and mills, making quality control and modernisation difficult.
4. Raw material and infrastructure: Dependence on several localisation factors like moist climate, ports, and labour makes the industry regionally constrained.

Spatial distribution over time:

• Initially, the industry was concentrated in the cotton-growing belt of Maharashtra and Gujarat due to raw cotton availability, moist climate, port facilities, and labour.
• The first textile mill was set up in Mumbai in 1854.
• Over time, spinning remained centralised in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu, while weaving decentralised across the country to preserve traditional skills and designs.
• Handloom weaving spread as a cottage industry nationwide, especially through khadi.

Source: Agro-based Industries, Chapter 6

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• The question has two parts (2+3): spend ~2 points on challenges and ~3 points on spatial distribution.
• Examiners expect specific facts: Mumbai 1854, Maharashtra/Gujarat/Tamil Nadu for spinning, decentralisation of weaving.
• The key contrast to highlight is centralised spinning vs. decentralised weaving — this is a frequently tested point.
• Avoid writing vague general statements; use textbook-specific reasons for localisation.