The study of major industries and industrial regions of the world is crucial for understanding the economic landscape and global development patterns. Industries play a pivotal role in shaping economies, influencing trade dynamics, and impacting social structures. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recognizes the significance of this subject area and often includes it in its examinations. NCERT notes serve as invaluable resources for UPSC aspirants, providing comprehensive insights into various topics. In the realm of geography, the exploration of major industries and their spatial distribution across the globe is particularly insightful. From manufacturing hubs to technological innovation centers, the industrial landscape offers a glimpse into the intricate web of human activity and resource utilization. This introductory paragraph sets the stage for a detailed exploration of UPSC NCERT notes on Geography, focusing on the major industries and industrial regions of the world.
Major industrial regions of the world are Eastern- North America, Western and Central Europe, Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia. These regions tend to be located in the temperate areas, near seaports and especially near coalfield.
Industries
- The realm of economic activities—primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary—all revolve around the acquisition and utilization of resources essential for survival. Among these, secondary activities play a crucial role by adding value to natural resources, transforming raw materials into valuable products.
- The optimum utilization of these products is facilitated by the contributions of the tertiary and quaternary sectors. These activities, collectively involving human and natural resources, occur in processing units commonly known as industries.
- Within an industry, natural resources undergo processing and are manufactured into finished goods, earning industries the designation of manufacturing industries.
Classification of Industries
- Industries play a pivotal role in boosting the economy of a region or nation, and their classification can be based on various criteria. One significant classification is based on size:
Industries Based on Size
- The size of an industry is determined by factors such as the amount of capital invested, the number of workers employed, and the volume of production.
- Accordingly, industries can be categorized into household or cottage industries, small-scale industries, and large-scale industries.
Household Industries or Cottage Manufacturing
- It is the Smallest manufacturing unit. The artisans use local raw materials and simple tools to everyday goods in their homes with the help of their family members or part-time labour.
- Finished products can serve either for consumption within the household, sale in local markets (villages), or for barter. In this type of manufacturing, capital and transportation exert minimal influence due to its low commercial significance, with most tools crafted locally.
- Everyday products produced in this manufacturing sector include foodstuffs, fabrics, mats, containers, tools, furniture, shoes, as well as figurines from woodlots and forests, leather goods, pottery, bricks, and jewelry made by goldsmiths using gold, silver, and bronze.
- Bamboo and wood sourced from local forests contribute to crafting various artifacts and crafts.
Small Scale Manufacturing
- Distinguished from household industries, small-scale manufacturing operates outside the home or cottage in workshops.
- It utilizes local raw materials, simple power-driven machines, and semi-skilled labor, providing employment and boosting local purchasing power. Countries like India, China, Indonesia, and Brazil emphasize labor-intensive small-scale manufacturing to address employment needs.
Large Scale Manufacturing
- Involving a large market, diverse raw materials, substantial energy, specialized workers, advanced technology, assembly line mass production, and significant capital, large-scale manufacturing emerged over the past 200 years in the United Kingdom, North-Eastern USA, and Europe. Its influence has now spread worldwide.
Agri-Business
- Based on the system of large-scale manufacturing, the world’s major industrial regions can be grouped into two broad types:
- traditional large-scale industrial regions clustered in more developed countries and high-technology large-scale industrial regions diffused to less developed countries.
Industries Based on Inputs/Raw Materials
- Based on raw materials, industries are classified as Agro-Based Industries:
- Agro-processing involves transforming raw materials from fields and farms into finished products for both rural and urban markets.
- Major agro-processing industries cover food processing, sugar, pickles, fruits, juices, beverages (tea, coffee, cocoa), spices, oils, textiles (cotton, jute, silk), and rubber.
Agri-Business
- Agri-business refers to commercial farming on an industrial scale, often funded by businesses with primary interests outside agriculture, such as large corporations involved in tea plantation ventures.
- These farms are characterized by mechanization, substantial size, high organization, and reliance on chemicals, and can be aptly described as agro-factories.
Mineral-Based Industries
- These industries utilize minerals as raw materials, with some focusing on ferrous metallic minerals like iron in iron and steel industries, while others center on non-ferrous metallic minerals such as aluminum, copper, and jewelry. Non-metallic minerals like cement and pottery are also extensively used in various industries.
Chemical-Based Industries
- Industries falling under this category utilize natural chemical minerals, with examples like mineral oil (petroleum) in the petrochemical industry. Salts, sulphur, and potash industries also rely on natural minerals. Additionally, chemical industries source raw materials from wood and coal, producing synthetic fibers, plastics, and more.
Animal-Based Industries
- Derived from animals, leather for the leather industry, wool for woollen textiles, and ivory from elephant tusks are key components of animal-based industries.
Forest-Based Industries
- Forests contribute major and minor products used as raw materials in various industries. Timber for the furniture industry, wood, bamboo, grass for the paper industry, and lac for lac industries are some examples.
Industries Based on Output/Product
Based on output/product, industries can be classified into:
Basic Industries
- These industries produce goods used as raw materials in the manufacturing of other products. There exists a significant linkage, where products from industries like iron and steel are utilized for making machines and tools.
Consumer Goods Industries
- These industries produce goods directly consumed by consumers. Examples include industries producing bread, biscuits, tea, soaps, toiletries, paper, televisions, and more.
Industries Based on Ownership
Based on ownership, industries fall into the following categories:
- Public Sector Industries Owned and managed by governments, public sector industries are common in socialist countries and coexist with private sector enterprises in mixed economies.
- Private Sector Industries Owned by individual investors and managed by private organizations, these industries are typically found in capitalist countries.
- Joint Sector Industries Managed by joint stock companies, or sometimes jointly established by private and public sectors, these industries combine elements of both ownership types.
- Cooperative Sector Industries Owned and operated by producers or suppliers of raw materials and workers, successful examples include Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL) and Sudha Dairy.
Foot Loose Industries
- Footloose industries can be located in various places, not being dependent on specific raw materials. They often produce in small quantities, employ a modest labor force, and are generally non-polluting. Accessibility via road networks plays a crucial role in their location.
Factors Influencing the Location of Manufacturing Industries
- Industries aim to maximize profits by minimizing costs. Therefore, strategic factors play a crucial role in determining industrial locations.
- Some key factors influencing industrial locations include:
- Access to Market: The presence of a market with both demand for goods and purchasing power is a pivotal factor. Remote areas with a sparse population offer limited markets.
- Access to Raw Material: Industries seek affordable and easily transportable raw materials. Industries using cheap, bulky, and weight-losing materials, like steel, sugar, and cement, are often situated near the sources of raw materials.
- Access to Labour Supply: The availability of skilled labor is a critical factor in industrial location decisions. While some manufacturing requires skilled labor, advancements in mechanization and automation have reduced dependence on manual labor.
- Access to Sources of Energy: Industries requiring significant power locate near energy sources. While coal was historically a primary energy source, hydroelectricity and petroleum have become crucial for many industries today.
- Access to Transportation and Communication Facilities: Efficient transport facilities are essential for the movement of raw materials to the factory and finished goods to the market. The cost of transportation plays a significant role in industrial location decisions.
- Government Policy: Governments formulate regional policies to foster balanced economic development, influencing the establishment of industries in specific areas.
- Access to Agglomeration Economies/Links between Industries: Proximity to leading industries and other related sectors provides benefits termed as agglomeration economies.
Traditional Large Scale Industrial Regions
- These regions historically centered around heavy industry, often situated near coal fields and engaged in metal smelting, heavy engineering, chemical manufacturing, or textile production. These industries, often referred to as “smokestack industries,” can be identified by several characteristics:
- A high proportion of employment in manufacturing industry.
- High-density housing, often of inferior quality and lacking in essential services.
- Unattractive environment, including pollution and waste heaps.
- Challenges like unemployment, emigration, and derelict land areas due to factory closures caused by a global decline in demand.
World Industrial Regions
- Major manufacturing regions are concentrated in North America, Europe, and East Asia, with additional centers elsewhere.
North America
- In North America, manufacturing is concentrated in the North-Eastern quadrant of the United States and South-Eastern Canada, forming the North American manufacturing or rust belt.
- Despite covering only 5% of the land area, this region houses one-third of the population and nearly two-thirds of the manufacturing output, thanks to historical and environmental advantages derived from early settlement.
- Initially settled in the 17th and 18th centuries, this region is facilitated by a comprehensive transportation system, including the Saint Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, connected to the East coast and the Atlantic Ocean through the Mohawk and Hudson rivers. The North-East boasts essential raw materials and efficient transportation, with the Great Lakes and major rivers complemented by canals, railways, and highways in the 18th century.
- In contemporary times, the New England district has developed due to the availability of highly skilled labor from nearby universities in Boston. California now hosts the greatest concentration of computer manufacturing and software development.
Industrial Regions of Canada
- Canada’s major industrial regions include the South-Eastern and South-Western regions.
- Key industrial centers in the South-Eastern regions are Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa, while Vancouver holds significance in the South-Western region. Hamilton, known as the Birmingham of Canada, is renowned for iron and steel, Ottawa and Montreal for the paper industry, and Quebec for the aircraft industry.
Industrial Regions of the United States
- The highest concentration of industries is found near the Great Lakes region. Additionally, industrially prosperous regions include the Appalachian region, the Southern region of America, the California region, and the New England region.
| Major Industries | Major Regions | Main Centres |
| Iron and steel, Engineering, | Great Lakes region | Chicago, Detroit, Indian |
| Automobile, Meat industry | Harbour | |
| Film industry, Aircraft manufacturing, | California state | Los Angeles, San Francisco |
| Tourism industry | ||
| Iron and steel, Engineering | Appalachian region | Pittsburgh |
| Iron and steel, Engineering, | New England | Boston |
| Fisheries | ||
| Cotton textile industry, Iron and | American South territory | Birmingham |
| steel industry |
Europe’s Industrial Regions
- The Western European industrial region stands out prominently on the global map, following a North-South linear pattern from Scotland through England, the mouth of the Rhine River Valley, Germany, and France to Northern Italy.
- This arrangement emerged as a result of intense competition among European countries to establish their industrial zones. Eastern Europe features six major industrial regions, with four located in Northern Poland, one in Ukraine, and one spanning Southern Poland and Northern Czech Republic.
Development Factors in Western Europe
- The Industrial Revolution, originating in the United Kingdom in 1750, played a pivotal role in shaping the Western European industrial landscape. Focused on iron and steel production, as well as textile and woolen manufacturing, this region saw post-World War II reconstruction in Germany and Japan, assisted by the United States, leading to industrial success that rivaled Great Britain.
- The Rhine River serves as the primary waterway for European commerce, flowing into the North Sea at the Dutch city of Rotterdam, which holds the title of the world’s largest port. Northern Italy has become a manufacturing hub, attracting industries due to lower wages and the availability of cheap hydroelectricity from the Alps.
Industrial Regions of the Mid-Rhine Belt
- The second most significant industrial area in Western Europe encompasses South-Western Germany, North-Eastern France, and the small nation of Luxembourg.
- Unlike the Rhine-Ruhr Valley, the German section of the Mid-Rhine region lacks abundant raw materials but sits at the heart of Europe’s most crucial consumer market.
- The French part, Alsace and Lorraine, boasts Europe’s largest iron ore field and serves as the production center for two-thirds of France’s steel. Luxembourg is also a major player in steel production, benefiting from the extension of the Lorraine iron ore field into the southern part of the country.
Industrial Regions of Germany
- Germany’s most industrialized area is the Rhine Valley, with the Ruhr region standing out as the industrial heartland. Munich and Augsburg are renowned for the chemical industry, while Frankfurt and Hamburg excel in the automobile and ship industries.
- Essen is famous for iron and steel, constituting a major European industrial region with coal, iron, and steel serving as economic pillars. Despite a decline in coal demand, the industry persisted, adapting to imported ore via waterways to the Ruhr.
- The Ruhr region contributes to 80% of Germany’s total steel production. Changes in industrial structure have led to decay in some areas, accompanied by issues of industrial waste and pollution. The Ruhr’s future prosperity hinges less on traditional coal and steel products and more on emerging industries, including the Opel car assembly plant, new chemical plants, universities, and out-of-town shopping centers, reshaping the New Ruhr landscape.
United Kingdom’s Industrial Regions
- The Industrial Revolution originated in the early Midlands, Northern England, and Southern Scotland, with innovative engineers and mechanics concentrated in these areas during the late 18th century.
- The UK lost international industrial leadership in the 20th century, burdened with outdated and deteriorating factories. However, in the late 20th century, the UK expanded industrial production by attracting new high-tech industries serving the European market. Presently, British industries favor locations in South-Eastern England near major population centers, wealth hubs, and the Channel Tunnel.
Industrial Regions of Northern Italy
- A crucial European industrial region is situated in the Po River basin of Northern Italy. Modern industrial development in the Po basin started with textile manufacturing in the 19th century, leveraging abundant workers and affordable hydroelectricity.
Eastern Europe and Russia
- Major manufacturing centers are clustered in European Russia and Ukraine, extending east of the Urals. Moscow, a population center of Russia, benefits from a large, skilled labor pool and a vast market for textiles, iron and steel, transportation equipment, chemicals, and motor vehicles.
- Eastern Ukraine, southwest of Moscow, thrives on rich coal deposits, attracting iron and steel producers. The linear Volga region to the east of Moscow is a key location for substantial oil and gas deposits, linked to the Black Sea via the Volga River. The Urals region, just east of Volga, holds the largest deposits of industrial materials in the former Soviet Union. The Kuznetsk Basin, to the east of the Urals, is the chief industrial region, known for its development.
Industrial Regions of Russia
- Moscow and the Ural region emerge as the most prominent and developed areas among Russia’s industrial regions.
- The Russian city of Ivanovo is often referred to as the Russian Manchester, while Gorky is renowned for its engineering industry, and Vladivostok excels in shipbuilding.
East Asia
- In China, numerous industries are concentrated in three centers along the East coast, while Japan’s production is clustered along the South-East coast.
Industrial Regions of China
- China, being an industrially prosperous nation, has ample availability of raw materials, with significant industrial concentration in the Yangtsekiang valley, Southern Manchuria, and Northern China. Shanghai is known for its cotton textile industry, Changchun for automobile and machinery industry, Ashan for iron and steel industry, and Wuhan for shipbuilding.
Industrial Regions of Japan
- Due to a scarcity of raw materials, Japan has predominantly developed market-based industries. Osaka is known as the Manchester of Japan, Kawasaki as the Pittsburgh of Japan, and Nagoya as the Detroit of Japan.
Industrial Disaster
- Industrial accidents or disasters often result from technical failures or irresponsible handling of hazardous materials. One of the most severe industrial disasters occurred in Bhopal on December 3, 1984, causing heavy casualties. Another incident in Gao Qiao, Chongqing, China, on December 23, 2005, resulted in 243 deaths, 9,000 injuries, and the evacuation of 64,000 people.
Major Industries of the World
Iron and Steel
- The iron and steel industry serves as the base for other industries, providing raw materials for machine tools and further production. It is considered basic due to its extensive use of raw materials and production of heavy products.
- Iron is extracted from iron ore through smelting, resulting in pig iron, which is further converted into steel by adding strengthening materials like manganese. The industry is traditionally located close to sources of raw materials or easily accessible ports. In contrast, mini steel mills prioritize proximity to markets due to the abundance of scrap metal as the primary input.
- The Indian iron and steel industry comprises large integrated steel plants, mini steel mills, secondary producers, rolling mills, and ancillary industries. It is a complex and capital-intensive industry concentrated in advanced countries across North America, Europe, and Asia.
The Changing Location of the Iron and Steel Industry
- Before 1800 AD, the iron and steel industry was situated where raw materials, power supply, and running water were readily available.
- Later, the ideal location shifted to coal fields and proximity to canals and railways.
- After 1950, the industry began to locate on large flat areas near ports because steelworks had become more extensive, and iron ore had to be imported from overseas.
Jamshedpur
- It was initially under private ownership, but after gaining independence, the government took the initiative to establish numerous iron and steel plants.
- TISCO, established in 1907 near the confluence of the rivers Subarnarekha and Kharkai in Jharkhand, was later renamed Jamshedpur. Geographically, Jamshedpur is strategically located as an iron and steel center in the country. The selection of Sakchi for the steel plant was influenced by several factors.
- Sakchi, now Jamshedpur, was just 32 km away from Kalimati station on the Bengal-Nagpur railway line. It was near iron ore, coal, and manganese deposits, as well as Kolkata, providing a substantial market.
- The presence of the Kharkai and Subarnarekha rivers ensured an ample water supply. Government initiatives supplied adequate capital for its subsequent development.
- Following TISCO’s establishment in Jamshedpur, several other industrial plants were set up, producing chemicals, locomotive parts, agricultural equipment, machinery, tinplate, cable, and wire. TISCO sources coal from Jharia coalfields and iron ore, limestone, dolomite, and manganese from Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
Pittsburgh
- Pittsburgh is a vital steel city in the United States of America, benefitting from strategic locational advantages.
- Some raw materials, such as coal, are locally available, while iron ore is sourced from mines in Minnesota, approximately 1500 km from Pittsburgh.
- The route between these mines and Pittsburgh utilizes one of the world’s most cost-effective methods for shipping ore—the renowned Great Lakes waterway. Trains transport the ore from the Great Lakes to the Pittsburgh area.
- The Ohio, the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers provide adequate water supply. Today, very few of the large steel mills are in Pittsburgh itself.
- They are located in the valleys of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers above Pittsburgh and along the Ohio river below it. The Pittsburgh area has many factories other than steel mills. These use steel as their raw material to make many different products such as, railroad equipment, heavy machinery and rails.
Steel Producing Region
| Countries/Regions | Major Steel Producing Regions |
| USA | – North Appalachian region (Pittsburgh) <br> – Great lake region (Chicago-Gary, Erie, Cleveland, Lorain, Buffalo, and Duluth) <br> – Atlantic coast (Sparrows point and Morrisville) <br> – Southern state of Alabama (industry shift) |
| Europe | – United Kingdom: Scun Thorpe, Port Talbot, Birmingham, and Sheffield <br> – Germany: Duisburg, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, and Essen <br> – France: Le Creusot and St Etienne <br> – Russia: Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Lipetsk, and Tula <br> – Ukraine: Krivoi Rog and Donetsk |
| Asia | – Japan: Nagasaki and Tokyo-Yokohama <br> – China: Shanghai, Tientsin, and Wuhan <br> – India: Jamshedpur, Kulti-Burnpur, Durgapur, Rourkela, Bhilai, Bokaro, Salem, Visakhapatnam, and Bhadravati |
| South Africa | – Newcastle and Transvaal |
| Australia | – Newcastle and Port Kanbla |
Cotton Textile Industry in Sao Paulo, Columbia
- The cotton textile industry encompasses three sub-sectors: handloom, powerloom, and mill sectors.
- The handloom sector is labor-intensive, employing semi-skilled workers and requiring minimal capital investment. Activities in this sector include spinning, weaving, and finishing of fabrics using traditional methods.
- The powerloom sector introduces machinery, reducing labor intensity and increasing production. The cotton textile mill sector is highly capital-intensive, producing fine clothing in bulk.
- Cotton textile manufacturing relies on high-quality raw cotton, with India, China, USA, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Egypt collectively producing more than half of the world’s raw cotton.
- The UK, North-Western European countries, and Japan also produce cotton textiles but use imported yarn.
- Europe faces stiff competition from synthetic fibers, resulting in a declining trend in many countries. Scientific advancements and technological improvements have led to structural changes in the industry.
Ahmedabad
- For example, Ahmedabad, located in Gujarat on the banks of the Sabarmati river:
- Established in 1859, it became the second-largest textile city in India after Mumbai, earning the nickname “Manchester of India.”
- Proximity to cotton-growing areas ensures easy access to raw materials.
- The climate is conducive to spinning and weaving, and the flat terrain facilitates the establishment of mills.
- Densely populated states like Gujarat and Maharashtra provide a skilled and semi-skilled labor force.
- Well-developed road and railway networks enable easy transportation of textiles across the country, ensuring market accessibility. The nearby Mumbai port facilitates the import of machinery and the export of cotton textiles.
Osaka
- The River Yodo provides sufficient water for the mills. Labor is easily available. The location of the port facilitates the import of raw cotton and for exporting of textiles. The textile industry in Osaka depends completely upon imported raw materials. Cotton is imported from Egypt, India, China, and the USA.
- The finished product is mostly exported and has a good market due to good quality and low price. Though it is one of the important textile cities in the country, the cotton textile industry at Osaka has been replaced by other industries, such as iron and steel, machinery, ship shipbuilding. automobiles, electric equipment, and cement.
Distribution of Cotton Industries
| Countries | Cotton Industries |
| UK | Scottish lowland, Nottingham, Ireland, Lancashire |
| Germany | Great Ruhr industrial region, Frankfurt, Munich, Bremen, Chemnitz, Hamburg |
| France | Bedford, Kollmann, Nancy |
| Italy | Naples, Milan |
| Brazil | Rio de Janeiro, Sao-Paulo, Rio Grande |
| Japan | South Kyushu, Kwanto plain, Nagoya, Kinki plain, Northern coast |
| China | Shanghai, Manchuria, Tien Shan, Beijing, Chuang, Nanchang, Lanchow |
| USA | New England and adjacent areas, Georgia, Florida, Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky |
| Russia | Moscow-Tula-Ivanova and Oblast along with Ukraine, Caucasus, Kazakh uplands, Crimea, Tashkent, Stalingrad, Kirovograd, and Georgia |
Woollen Textile Industry
- The woolen textile industry predates the cotton textile industry and has developed at the local and cottage industry levels. The bulk of the wool is produced by developed countries like Russia, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Japan, UK, Germany, China, France, and Italy.
- Raw wool preparation occurs in temperate and sub-tropical areas, with sheep rearing being popular in sub-tropical countries with nomadic herders. Most woollen products are consumed by people living in high latitude regions.
- Wool, as a raw material, is impure, and highly productive woollen industries are typically located near the market, such as Western Europe. The wool-producing areas in the Southern hemisphere are not as developed in the manufacturing of woollen goods.
Distribution of Woollen Textile Industry
| Countries | Woollen Textile Industry Centers/Regions |
| USA | New England region, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Pennsylvania also has significant centers. |
| Japan | Major woollen goods producing centers are located within Tokyo-Yokohama, Nagoya, Kobe, Himeji, Osaka, and Nagasaki. |
| UK | Yorkshire was the leading center of woollen goods production, subsequently new centers were developed in mid-land and Lancashire, later in Scottish lowland, South-Wales, and Ireland. |
| Eastern Europe | Woolen industries were developed around the Volga basin and Moscow. |
| Germany | Saxony, Westphalia, and Great Ruhr |
| Italy | Naples and Po river valley |
| China | Shanghai and Canton |
| India | Ludhiana, Shimla, Kanpur, Bhatinda, Dhariwal, and Jalandhar |
Sugar Industry
- Approximately 80% of the world’s sugar is estimated to be produced from sugarcane in tropical and sub-tropical climates, while the remaining 20% is derived from sugar beets, mostly grown in temperate zones of the Northern hemisphere.
- Sugarcane is a versatile crop that provides various products such as livestock feed, fiber, and energy, particularly biofuels like sugar-based ethanol and the cogeneration of electricity using cane bagasse.
- Major sugar producers globally include Brazil, India, Thailand, and China.
Synthetic Rubber Industry
- Synthetic rubber, a man-made polymer created by synthesizing it from petroleum and other minerals at manufacturing plants, serves various applications in the automotive industry, including tires, door and window profiles, and more. Its development gained momentum during World Wars due to shortages of natural rubber.
- China stands out as the world’s largest producer, consumer, and importer of synthetic rubber.
Important Countries/Regions of the Synthetic Rubber Industry
| Countries | Centers |
| USA | Connecticut, California, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio |
| UK | Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Leicester |
| Germany | Hanover, Berlin, Duisburg, Halle |
| France | Clermont Ferrand and Paris |
| Russia | Moscow and Saint Petersburg |
Information Technology Industry
- The Information Technology (IT) industry, dealing with the storage, processing, and distribution of information, has become a global force. Factors guiding its location include resource availability, cost, and infrastructure. Major hubs include Silicon Valley in California and Bengaluru, India, with emerging centers in Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai.
- Chandigarh, Gurgaon, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kochi are also notable IT centers, but Bengaluru remains unique due to its high availability of skilled middle and top management talent.
Major Information Technology Hubs of the World
- Some major IT hubs worldwide include Bengaluru, known as the “Silicon Plateau,” with a favorable climate and a high concentration of educational and research institutions. The Karnataka Government has played a key role in supporting the growth of IT industries, contributing to Bengaluru’s status as a major global IT hub.
High Technology Industry
- High technology, characterized by intensive Research and Development (R&D) efforts, leads to the manufacture of advanced scientific and engineering products. White-collar professionals dominate the workforce, outnumbering blue-collar production workers.
- High-tech industries feature modern, dispersed office-plant-lab buildings, emphasizing robotics, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), and manufacturing, electronic controls, and continuous development of new products. Regionally concentrated and highly specialized high-tech industries are termed technopolies.
- Examples of technopolies include the Silicon Valley near San Francisco and Silicon Forest near Seattle. These areas represent the latest generation of manufacturing activities with a focus on cutting-edge technologies.
Silicon Valley
- Situated within the Santa Clara Valley near the Rocky Mountains of North America, Silicon Valley boasts a temperate climate where temperatures rarely dip below 0°C. Recognized as one of the world’s most advanced scientific and technological centers, the region combines a pleasant climate with ample space for development and future expansion. Its strategic proximity to major roads and airports facilitates easy access to markets and a skilled workforce.
Sunrise Industry
- Sunrise industries, also known as emerging industries, encompass sectors like information technology, wellness, hospitality, and knowledge.
Industrial Machinery Industry
- The machine tool industry, specializing in the production of various tools and foundries for manufacturing and construction activities, is often clustered in industrial regions. Key countries and regions for machine tools include:
Important Countries/ Regions of Machine Tools
| Regions | Countries |
| USA | Ohio, Michigan, Connecticut, Illinois, Rhode Island (with Cincinnati as a leading production center) |
| Former USSR | Moscow, Gorky, Tula, Lipetsk, Kursk, Kiev, Lugansk, Rostov, Vladivostok |
| Germany | Rhine-Ruhr region, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Cologne, Stuttgart, Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig |
| UK | Sheffield, Birmingham, Glasgow, London, Manchester |
| Japan | Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe, Osaka, Nagoya |
Transport Equipment Industry
- The transport equipment industry encompasses shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing, aircraft production, and railway equipment manufacturing. Noteworthy details about specific sectors include:
Shipbuilding Industry
- Shipbuilding involves the construction of ships and floating vessels. Leading shipbuilding nations in 2021 were China, South Korea, and Japan. Key countries and regions for shipbuilding include:
Important Countries/ Regions of Ship Building Industry
| Country/ Centres | Regions |
| Europe | Clydeside (Glasgow), Tyneside (Newcastle), Merseyside (Liverpool), Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Dunkirk, Antwerp, Gothenburg, Marseille, Hamburg, Cadiz, Lisbon |
| America | New York, Sparrows Point, Montreal, Chicago, Buffalo, Cleveland, Toledo |
| Japan | Tokyo, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Nagasaki, Kobe |
| India | Cochin, Mormugao, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam |
Automobile Industry
- The automobile industry, involved in the manufacturing of motor vehicles and components, originated in Europe in the late 19th century. However, the United States became a dominant force through mass production techniques in the first half of the 20th century. In the latter half, Western European countries and Japan emerged as major producers and exporters.
Major Automobile Centers of the World
| Country | Cities |
| USA | Detroit, Lansing, Pontiac, Ohio, Toledo, Cleveland, Indiana, South Bend, Villoroen |
| United Kingdom | Coventry, Greater London, Birmingham, Oxford, Falkirk (Detroit of Britain) |
| France | Billancourt, Flairment, Peelans, Nontens, Monte Billiords, Lee Havre, Vordio |
| Germany | Wolfsburg, Bremen, Hanover, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Russelsheim, Frankfurt, Castle, Stuttgart, Nuremberg |
| Poland | Lublin, Warsaw |
| Romania | Bucharest |
| Hungary | Budapest |
| Australia | Sydney, Jaidland, Melbourne, Gillong |
| Brazil | Rio de Janeiro, Kempinos, Sao Paulo |
| Japan | Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Hiroshima, Nagoya |
| India | Gurugram, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Jamshedpur |
Important Countries/Regions of Railway Equipment
| Country/Regions | Centers |
| USA | Detroit, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia |
| UK | Derby, Glasgow, Doncaster, Manchester |
| India | Chittaranjan, Varanasi, Perambur, Kapurthala, Sua Jamshedpur |
Aircraft Manufacturing Industry
- In aircraft industry manufacturing of aircraft and its parts takes place.
- As it is one of the biggest industries in the world, aircraft industry generates economic growth, create jobs and facilitate international tourism. It also helps connecting cultures, people and businesses across the globe.
Important Countries/ Regions of Aircraft Industry
| Country/Regions | Centers |
| USA | California, Santa Monica, El Segundo, Long Beach, Hawthorne, Los Angeles, Texas, Seattle, Baltimore, Long Island (New York) |
| UK | Birmingham, Coventry, Derby, Bristol, London |
| France | Paris, Amiens-St. Quentin, Reims, St Nazaire, Nantes, Bordeaux |
| Russia | Moscow, Gorky, Kazan, Ulyanovsk, Kuibyshev, Saratov, Tomsk, Lininsk, Statinsky, Komsomolsk, Khabarovsk |
| Italy | Savona, Turin, Trento, Gorizia |
| Sweden | Boras, Linkoping |
| Japan | Tachikang, Tokyo, Yokohama, Kanazawa, Tanaka, Mitaka, Giru, Nagoya, Akaishi, Nishinomiya |
| China | Shenyang, Beijing, Harbin |
| Australia | Melbourne, Parafield, Brisbane |
| Canada | Montreal |
| Spain | Seville |
| Germany | Hamburg |
| Ukraine | Kiev, Kharkiv |
| India | Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Nashik, Koraput |
Glass Industry
- The raw materials used in the manufacture of glass are 71% silica (sand), 14% soda ash (sodium carbonate), 11% limestone (calcium), and 4% other ingredients like cullet (broken or refuse glass pieces).
- All these raw materials are heated in a furnace, and the end product obtained from this process is called soda-lime-silica glass. Silica sand sources are found in Australia and Southeast Asia, including countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
- According to archaeological evidence, the first glass vessels were made around 1500 BC in Egypt and Mesopotamia. The top five glass and glassware exporting countries are China, Germany, USA, France, and Japan.
Other Industries
Pulp and Paper Industry
- In the 6th century BC, the commercial planting of mulberry trees marked the beginning of paper making using pulp. Over 90% of paper is produced from wood pulp, mainly derived from softwood coniferous trees such as spruce or pine. Two methods of wood pulp production are discussed below:
- Mechanical Wood Pulp: This method involves grinding logs under a stream of water, producing lower-quality paper like newsprint.
- Chemical Wood Pulp: Produced by treating debarked, ground wood or chips with a strong solution to dissolve lignin and hemicellulose. The top paper-producing countries globally are China, the USA, Japan, Germany, and the Republic of Korea.
Types of Paper and Leading Producers:
- Printing and Writing Paper: USA, Canada, Finland, Germany, China, Japan
- Machine-Made Paper and Paperboard: China, USA, Russia, Germany, Japan
- Newsprint: Canada, USA, Japan, Sweden, China, Germany, France, Finland, UK
- Wrapping and Packaging Paper: USA, China, Germany, Sweden, France, Canada, Brazil
Plastic Industry
- Plastic is manufactured from raw materials like cellulose, natural gas, coal, salt, and crude oil through processes known as polycondensation and polymerization. The first plastic, Bakelite, was created in 1907 by Leo Hendrik Baekeland. Plastic is widely used in various packaging applications worldwide.
Petroleum Industry
- Petroleum, a fossil fuel formed millions of years ago, is found under sedimentary rocks. Extracted through drilling, it is transported to oil refineries via pipelines. Petroleum is used in automobiles and the chemical industry.
Cement Producing Regions of the World
- China: Shanghai, Sichuan, Hunan, Guizhou, Fujian, Shaanxi, Qinghai, Zhejiang, Shandong
- India: Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu
- Japan: Hitachi, Hachinohe, Niigata, Koriyama, Ube, Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo
- Turkey: Samsun, Bursa, Sivas, Malatya, Van, Erzurum, Mersin, Balikesir, Izmir, Konya
- Saudi Arabia: Tabuk, Buraydah, Al-Dammam, Riyadh, Abha, Jijan, Jeddah, Yanbu, Bahar
- USA: Pennsylvania, Texas, California, New York
- European Countries: United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Russia, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Greece, Portugal
- Brazil: Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Salvador
- Argentina: Katamark, San Juan, Cordoba, Mendoza, Buenos Aires
Cement Industry
- Cement is manufactured using various raw materials like calcium, silicon, aluminum, iron, limestone, shells, chalk, clay, and slate. It serves as a binder in concrete for construction purposes, such as building construction, roads, hospitals, and dams.
Fertilizer Industry
The fertilizer industry primarily focuses on nitrogen, phosphate, and potash fertilizers.
- Nitrogen Fertilizers: China stands as the world’s largest producer of nitrogen fertilizers, with India and the USA following in the second and third positions, respectively. Its significance extends to being a crucial factor behind the success of the green revolution globally.
- Phosphate Fertilizers: China leads in phosphate fertilizer production, trailed by the USA and India. Other major contributors to global phosphate fertilizer production include Russia, Morocco, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
- Potash Fertilizers: Essential for plant nutrition, potash is a vital ingredient in fertilizers. Canada claims the title of the world’s largest potash producer, constituting 31.6% of the global total in 2019. Canada, Russia, Belarus, and China jointly accounted for 80% of the world’s potash production in 2019.
Major Industrial Cities of the World
| Cities | Countries | Industries |
| Abadan | Iran | Oil-refining |
| Anshan | China | Iron and steel |
| Amsterdam | Netherlands | Diamond polish |
| Baku | Azerbaijan | Petroleum |
| Bangkok | Thailand | Ship building |
| Birmingham | UK | Iron and steel |
| Chicago | USA | Iron and steel, meat packing |
| Dhaka | Bangladesh | Textiles |
| Darjeeling | India | Tea processing |
| Detroit | USA | Automobiles |
| Dundee | Scotland | Linen manufacturing |
| Dresden | Germany | Optical |
| Firozabad | India | Glass industry |
| Cities | Countries | Industries |
| Geneva | Switzerland | Watches and light precision goods |
| Glasgow | UK | Ship building |
| Gorky | Russia | Engineering goods |
| Havana | Cuba | Sugar and Cigar |
| Johannesburg | South Africa | Gold mining |
| Kansas | USA | Meat packaging, Iron and steel |
| Kawasaki | Japan | Machine building |
| Kharkov | Ukraine | Engineering industry |
| Kiev | Ukraine | Diamond mining |
| Kimberley | South Africa | Petro-chemical, Films |
| Los Angeles | USA | Silk industry |
| Lyons | France | Cotton textiles |
| Manchester | UK | Food processing |
| Meerut | India | Sports goods |
| Milan | Italy | Silk textiles |
| Munich | Germany | Lenses |
| Nagoya | Japan | Cotton textiles, Shipping, Engineering industry |
| New Orleans | USA | Coal mining, Iron and steel |
| Nizhny Tagil | Russia | Iron and steel |
| Northampton | UK | Leather goods |
| Osaka | Japan | Textiles, Iron and steel |
| Oslo | Norway | Paper industry |
| Philadelphia | USA | Locomotives |
| Sheffield | UK | Cutlery |
| Venice | Italy | Glass industry |
| Vienna | Austria | Glass Industry |
| Vladivostok | Russia | Glass industry |
| Wellington | New Zealand | Ship building |
| Yenangyaung | Myanmar | Dairy, Oil drilling |
| Zurich | Switzerland | Light engineering industry |
Prelims FActs
- Which industry is known as ‘Sunrise Industry’?- Information Technology (APSC (Pre) 2016)
- Gornaya Shoria a territory in Southern Siberia, Russia is famous for? Coal Production [RAS/RTS (Pre) 2021
- What is meant by the term ‘Umland’? -Area surrounding a town [UPPSC (Mains) 2017]
- Which city is known as the Oil Capital of Europe? -Aberdeen (UPPSC (Pre) 2017)
- Osaka is an important center for the Cotton Textile Industry [UPPSC (Pre) 1990)
- Which city of Germany is a wool producing center – Wuppertal (UKPSC (Pre) 2012]
- Which industry is an example of ‘Footloose industry. Software (UKPSC (Pre) 2012)
- For the location of which industry, the availability of raw material is not the primary consideration – Electronics (UPPSC (Pre) 2015)
- Which country is the largest exporter of tea in the world? China (UPPSC (Mains) 2005)
- The leading producer of cotton textile in the world is China (UPPSC (Mains) 2005]
- Southern New England is located in which country? -United States of America [RAS/RTS (Pre) 2018]
- What is Baku, capital of Azerbaijan is famous for? -Petroleum (UKPSC (Pre) 2011
- Mesabi Range is famous for which industry? – Iron ore field (UPPSC (Mains) 2013
- Which woody raw material is used for making of paper Poplar (RAS/RTS (Pre) 2013] pulp?
- Which country has a market based steel industry? – Japan (UPPSC (Pre) 2014]
- Least cost approach in industrial location is associated with -Weber [Odisha PSC (Pre) 2018]
- For the location of which industry, the availability of raw material is important? Iron and steel (UPPSC (Pre) 2015]
- In which country market based Iron and steel industries is found? – India (UPPSC (Pre) 2019]
- What is the major activity of Ruhr region of Europe? – Industrial activity (BPSC (Pre) 2016]
- The leading producer of cotton textiles in the world is China (UPPSC (Pre) 2005)
- Japan is one of the leading industrial country in the world because it has…….- high technology [UPPSC (Pre) 2008
UPSC NCERT Practice Questions
1. For the location of which one of the following industries, the availability of raw material is not the primary consideration? UPPSC (Pre) 2021
(a) Iron and steel
(b) Sugar
(c) Electronics
(d) Cement
2. Which country has market based locations of iron and steel industries? UP UDA/LDA (Pre) 2010, 13
(a) China
(b) India
(c) Japan
(d) United Kingdom
3. Which one of the following pair(s) is/are not correctly matched?
Industrial regions Countries
(a) Ruhr : Germany
(b) Southern New England : United Kingdom
(c) Po valley : Italy
(d) Kanto plains : Japan
4. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists. UPPSC (Pre) 2021
| List I (Iron-steel centres) | List II (Countries) |
| A. Hamilton | 1. China |
| B. Birmingham | 2. Canada |
| C. Essen | 3. UK |
| D. Anshan | 4. Germany |
Codes
(a) 4 3 1 2
(b) 2 1 4 3
(c) 2 3 4 1
(d) 3 4 2 1
5. Which city is an important centre for the cotton textile industry? UPPSC (Pre) 1990
(a) Sheffield
(b) Bern
(c) Osaka
(d) Johannesburg
6. The leading producer of cotton textile in the world is UPPSC (Mains) 2005
(a) China
(b) India
(c) USA
(d) Russia
7. Which of following wool producing centre belongs to Germany? UKPSC (Pre) 2012
(a) Saint Petersburg
(b) Wuppertal
(c) Bradford
(d) Prato
8. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists.
| List I (Coal fields) | List II (Locations) |
| A. Kuztias | 1. United Kingdom |
| B. Red basin | 2. Russia |
| C. Bristol | 3. Australia |
| D. New South Wales | 4. China |
Codes
(a) 1 3 2 4 (c) 3 2 4 1
(b) 2 4 1 3 (d) 4 3 1 2
9. Which one of the following industries is known as ‘Sunrise industry’? APSC (Pre) 2016
(a) Iron and steel
(b) Cotton and textile
(c) Information technology
(d) Tea and coffee
10. Which one of the following is an example of ‘Footloose’ industry? UKPSC (Pre) 2012
(a) Oil refinery
(b) Sugar
(c) Software
(d) Aluminium
11. Which one of the following pair(s) is/are not correctly matched?
Ship building Centre state (USA)
(a) Houston : Texas
(b) Sparrows Points : Maryland
(c) New Orleans : Louisiana
(d) Camden : Florida
12. Which of the following city is known as the oil capital of Europe? UPPSC (Pre) 2017
(a) Belfast
(b) Aberdeen
(c) Leeds
(d) Liverpool
13. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists.
| List I (Centres) | List II (Industries) |
| A. Osaka | 1. Cigar |
| B. Detroit | 2. Ship building |
| C. Cuba | 3. Cotton textile |
| D. St Petersburg | 4. Automobile |
Codes
(a) 3 4 1 2 (b) 4 3 2 1
(c) 1 2 3 4 (d) 2 1 4 3
14. Which one of the following pair(s) is/are not correctly matched?
Citles Industries
(a) Anshan : Iron and steel
(b) Yokohama : Ship building
(c) Detroit : Automobile
(d) Gornaya Shoria : Cotton textile
15. Match List I with List II and select the correct by using the codes given below the lists. UPPSC (Main) 2005, UPPSC (Pre) 2005
| List I (Centres) | List It (Industries) |
| A. Pittsburgh | 1. Ship building |
| B. Shanghai | 2. Iron and steel |
| C. Dundee | 3. Cotton textile |
| D. Leningrad | 4. Jute textile |
Codes
(a) 1 2 3 4 (b) 4 3 2 1
(c) 2 3 4 1 (d) 4 3 1 2
16. Which of the following pair(s) is/are not corres matched? UPPSC (Pre) 1998
Locations Industries
(a) Detroit Automobiles
(b) Magnitogorsk Iron and steel
(c) Johannesburg Gold mining
(d) Birmingham Ship building
17. Which one of the following pair(s) is/are not correctly matched? UPPSC (Pre) 1996, 2012
Cities Industries
(a) Detroit : Motorcar
(b) Hawana : Cigar
(c) Sheffield : Cutlery
(d) Venice : Ship building
18. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists. UPUDA/LDA (Pre) 2010
| List I (Centres) | List II (Industries) |
| A. Nagoya | 1. Iron and steel |
| B. Salem | 2. Aircraft |
| C. Los Angeles | 3. Cotton textile |
| D. Abadan | 4. Oil refinery |
Codes
(a) 2 3 4 1 (b) 4 2 3 1
(c) 1 4 2 3 (d) 3 1 2 4
19. Which one of the following pair(s) is/are not correctly matched? UPPSC (GIC) 2010
Citles Industries
(a) Osaka : Textile industry
(b) Yokohama : Ship building
(c) Pittsburgh : Iron and steel
(d) Houston : Automobile
20. Match List I with List II and answer by using the codes given below the lists. UPPSC (Maini) 2005
| List I (Centres) | List II (Industries) |
| A. Anshan | 1. Cutlery |
| B. Glasgow | 2. Paper |
| C. Ottawa | 3. Ship building |
| D. Sheffield | 4. Iron and steel |
Codes
(a) 1 2 3 4
(b) 4 3 2 1
(c) 3 4 1 2
(d) 2 3 1 4
21. Which one of the following pair(s) is/are correctly matched? UP RO/ARO (Pre) 2016
Industrial regions Locations
(a) Lorren industrial region Italy
(b) Ruhr industrial region Germany
(c) Bristal industrial region France
(d) Saxony industrial region United Kingdom
22. Which one of the following pair(s) is/are not correctly matched? UPPSC (Pre) 2015
Industries Locations
(a) Paper : Ontario
(b) Cotton textiles : Detroit
(c) Chemical : Texas
(d) Motor car : Nagoya
23. Which one of the following pair(s) is/are not correctly matched? UPPSC (Main) 2013
(a) Ruhr industrial region : Germany
(b) Flanders industrial region : Belgium and France
(c) Scotland industrial region : Sweden
(d) New England industrial region : USA
24. Which one of the following pair(s) is/are not correctly matched? UPPSC (Main) 2016
(a) Cleveland : Iron and steel
(b) Detroit : Motor vehicle
(c) Mesabi range : Coal field
(d) Philadelphia : Ship building
25. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists.
| List I (industrial regions) | List II (Countries) |
| A. Kinki | 1. China |
| B. Canton | 2. Japan |
| C. Lorraine | 3. Brazil |
| D. Belo Horizonte | 4. France |
Codes
(a) 2 1 4 3
(b) 2 1 3 4
(c) 3 2 1 4
(d) 4 3 2 1
Know Right Answer
1. (c)
2. (b)
3. (b)
4. (c)
5. (c)
6. (c)
7. (b)
8. (b)
9. (c)
10. (c)
11. (d)
12. (b)
13. (a)
14. (d)
15. (c)
16. (d)
17. (d)
18. (d)
19. (d)
20. (b)
21. (b)
22. (b)
23. (c)
24. (c)
25. (a)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
FAQ 1: What are the key factors influencing the location of major industries globally?
Answer: The location of major industries is influenced by several factors:
- Raw Materials: Industries tend to be located near the source of raw materials to minimize transportation costs. For example, steel industries are often situated near iron ore deposits.
- Market Proximity: Industries locate close to the market to reduce distribution costs. This is particularly true for industries producing consumer goods.
- Labor Availability: The availability of skilled and unskilled labor plays a crucial role. Industries often thrive in areas with a skilled workforce or areas with an abundance of cheap labor.
- Transportation: Access to transportation, such as ports, highways, and railroads, is vital for the movement of raw materials and finished products. Proximity to transportation hubs is advantageous.
- Energy Resources: Industries that require substantial energy resources, such as power plants and heavy industries, tend to be located near energy sources like coal mines or hydroelectric power stations.
FAQ 2: What are the major industrial regions in the world and their characteristics?
Answer: Several major industrial regions exist globally, each with unique characteristics:
- Ruhr Valley, Germany: Known for its heavy industries like coal and steel. It benefits from proximity to major European markets and excellent transportation infrastructure.
- Rust Belt, USA: Historically known for steel production, it has diversified into various industries. Its decline is associated with deindustrialization.
- Kansai, Japan: Centered around Osaka, it is a major industrial region with a focus on electronics, automobiles, and shipbuilding. It benefits from a skilled workforce and technological innovation.
- Pearl River Delta, China: A global manufacturing hub, known for its electronics and textile industries. It has seen rapid industrialization and urbanization.
FAQ 3: How has globalization impacted the industrial landscape of the world?
Answer: Globalization has significantly influenced the industrial landscape:
- Outsourcing: Many industries have outsourced production to countries with lower labor costs, leading to the emergence of new industrial centers, especially in Asia.
- Supply Chain Integration: Globalization has led to integrated global supply chains, with different components of a product being manufactured in different countries, based on efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
- Technology Transfer: Globalization facilitates the transfer of technology across borders, allowing industries to adopt advanced methods and improve productivity.
- Market Expansion: Companies now have access to a global market, allowing them to expand their customer base and diversify their operations.
- Environmental Concerns: Globalization has led to increased awareness of environmental issues, prompting industries to adopt sustainable practices and adhere to international environmental standards.
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