Class 8 Social Science Notes Chapter 5 (Industries) – Resource and Development (Geography) Book

Alright class, let's get straight into Chapter 5: Industries. This is a crucial chapter, not just for your Class 8 understanding, but also because concepts related to economic activities, industrial locations, and major industries frequently appear in various government exams. Pay close attention to the classifications, factors influencing location, and the specific case studies.

Chapter 5: Industries - Detailed Notes for Government Exam Preparation

1. Introduction: What is an Industry?

• Secondary Activity: Industry refers to economic activity concerned with the processing of raw materials and manufacturing of goods in factories. This falls under secondary activities, which transform primary products (obtained directly from nature) into more valuable finished products.
  • Example: Cotton (Primary Product) -> Yarn/Cloth (Secondary Activity/Industrial Product). Iron Ore (Primary) -> Steel (Secondary).
• Value Addition: Industries add value to raw materials.

2. Classification of Industries:

Industries can be classified on different bases:

• (A) Based on Raw Materials:

  • Agro-based Industries: Use plant and animal-based products as raw materials.
    • Examples: Cotton textiles, Sugar industry, Vegetable oil, Food processing, Dairy products, Leather industry.
  • Mineral-based Industries: Use mineral ores as raw materials. These are often feeder industries (their products are used as raw materials by other industries).
    • Examples: Iron and Steel industry, Cement industry, Aluminium smelting, Petrochemicals.
  • Marine-based Industries: Use products from the sea or oceans as raw materials.
    • Examples: Fish oil manufacturing, Seafood processing.
  • Forest-based Industries: Utilize forest produce as raw materials.
    • Examples: Paper industry, Pharmaceuticals (from medicinal plants), Furniture making, Buildings (using timber).

• (B) Based on Size: Refers to the amount of capital invested, number of people employed, and volume of production.

  • Small-Scale Industries: Use lesser capital and technology. Often produce goods by hand (artisanal) or with small machines. Employ fewer people.
    • Examples: Cottage or household industries like pottery, basket weaving, handicrafts. Also includes silk weaving, food processing (small units).
  • Large-Scale Industries: Require huge capital investment, superior technology, and large workforce. Produce large volumes.
    • Examples: Iron and Steel plants, Automobile manufacturing, Heavy machinery.

• (C) Based on Ownership:

  • Private Sector Industries: Owned and operated by individuals or a group of individuals.
    • Examples: Reliance Industries, Tata Group companies, Bajaj Auto.
  • Public Sector Industries (State-owned): Owned and operated by the government.
    • Examples: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).
  • Joint Sector Industries: Owned and operated jointly by the state (government) and individuals or a group of individuals.
    • Examples: Maruti Udyog Limited (at its inception, though ownership structure has changed over time). Oil India Ltd.
  • Cooperative Sector Industries: Owned and operated by the producers or suppliers of raw materials, workers, or both. Resources are pooled, and profits/losses are shared.
    • Examples: AMUL (Anand Milk Union Limited), Sudha Dairy, Lijjat Papad.

3. Factors Affecting the Location of Industries:

The location of industries is influenced by several geographical and non-geographical factors:

• Availability of Raw Material: Industries are often located near the source of raw materials, especially if they are bulky or perishable (e.g., Sugar mills near sugarcane fields, Iron & Steel near ore mines).

• Land: Availability of suitable flat land for setting up factories.

• Water: Essential for many industrial processes (cooling, washing, power generation). Industries often locate near rivers or other water sources.

• Labour: Availability of skilled and unskilled labour at competitive wages.

• Power: Uninterrupted supply of electricity is crucial for running machinery. Proximity to power plants or coal fields can be advantageous.

• Capital: Availability of funds for investment in land, machinery, raw materials, etc.

• Transport: Efficient transport network (road, rail, water, air) is needed for moving raw materials to the factory and finished goods to the market. Ports are vital for export/import.

• Market: Proximity to markets reduces transportation costs of finished goods. Densely populated areas provide large markets.

• Government Policies: Favourable government policies like subsidies, tax benefits, infrastructure development in specific areas (e.g., Special Economic Zones - SEZs) attract industries.

• Industrialisation & Urbanisation: Industrial development often leads to the growth of towns and cities. Cities provide markets, labour, banking, insurance, transport, and other services to industries.

• Industrial Clusters/Regions: Industries often locate close to each other to take advantage of shared infrastructure and services. This leads to the formation of industrial regions.

4. Industrial System:

An industrial system consists of three stages:

• Inputs: Raw materials, land, labour, capital, transport, power, infrastructure.
• Processes: Activities that convert raw materials into finished products (e.g., ginning, spinning, weaving, dyeing, printing in cotton textile industry; smelting in iron & steel industry).
• Outputs: The finished product, income earned (profit), and sometimes waste products.

5. Industrial Regions:

Areas where a number of industries locate close to each other and share the benefits of their proximity.

• Major Industrial Regions of the World: Eastern North America, Western and Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Eastern Asia.
• Major Industrial Regions of India:
  • Mumbai-Pune Cluster
  • Bangalore-Tamil Nadu Region
  • Hugli (Hooghly) Region (around Kolkata)
  • Ahmedabad-Baroda Region
  • Chottanagpur Industrial Belt (rich in minerals)
  • Vishakhapatnam-Guntur Belt
  • Gurgaon-Delhi-Meerut Region
  • Kollam-Thiruvananthapuram Industrial Cluster

6. Distribution of Major Industries:

Focus on three key industries: Iron and Steel, Cotton Textile, and Information Technology.

• (A) Iron and Steel Industry:

  • 'Backbone' or 'Feeder' Industry: Its products (steel) are used as raw material for many other industries (heavy machinery, tools, transport equipment, construction).
  • Inputs: Iron ore, Coking coal, Limestone (as flux), Manganese, Labour, Capital, Site, Water, Power, Transport.
  • Process: Smelting - Iron ore is melted in a Blast Furnace along with limestone and coke. Molten iron is refined to make steel. Alloying elements (like nickel, chromium, manganese) can be added to make alloy steel.
  • Location Factors: Traditionally located near raw materials (iron ore, coal, limestone) and water sources. Now, proximity to ports (for import/export) and markets is also important.
  • Major Global Producers: China, Japan, USA, Russia, Germany.
  • Major Centres in India: Located mainly in the Chota Nagpur plateau region due to rich mineral deposits.
    • Bhilai (Chhattisgarh)
    • Durgapur, Burnpur (West Bengal)
    • Jamshedpur, Bokaro (Jharkhand)
    • Rourkela (Odisha)
    • Other important centres: Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Salem (Tamil Nadu), Bhadravati & Vijayanagar (Karnataka).
  • Case Study: Jamshedpur (TISCO - Tata Iron and Steel Company):
    • Established in 1907 at Sakchi (renamed Jamshedpur).
    • Reasons for Location:
      • Close to the confluence of Subarnarekha and Kharkai rivers (water supply).
      • Near Kalimati railway station on the Bengal-Nagpur railway line (transport).
      • Proximity to iron ore mines (Noamundi, Badampahar), coal fields (Jharia, Raniganj), manganese (Keonjhar), and limestone/dolomite deposits.
      • Kolkata port nearby provided a large market and export facility.
      • Government initiatives supported its establishment.
  • Case Study: Pittsburgh (USA):
    • Major steel city, known as the 'Rust Bowl' when the industry declined.
    • Reasons for Location:
      • Raw material (coal) available locally.
      • Iron ore imported from Minnesota mines via Great Lakes shipping (cheap transport).
      • Ohio, Monongahela, and Allegheny rivers provided water and transport routes.

• (B) Cotton Textile Industry:

  • One of the oldest industries in the world. Mechanized during the Industrial Revolution in Britain (18th century).
  • Raw Material: Cotton (a natural fibre). Others include wool, silk, jute, flax (natural) and nylon, polyester, acrylic, rayon (man-made).
  • Location Factors: Historically, humid climate (prevented thread breakage), water (for dyeing), raw cotton availability, labour, power, transport, market. Now, humidity can be artificially created. Proximity to market and cheap labour/power are very important.
  • Major Global Producers: India, China, Japan, USA.
  • India's History: Renowned for high-quality cotton textiles (Muslins of Dhaka, Chintzes of Masulipatnam, Calicos of Calicut, Gold-wrought cotton of Burhanpur/Surat/Vadodara). Declined during British rule due to competition from mill-made cloth from England.
  • First successful mechanised mill: Mumbai, 1854.
    • Reasons for Mumbai: Warm, moist climate; Port for importing machinery & exporting textiles; Availability of raw cotton from nearby regions; Skilled labour.
  • Spread in India: Initially concentrated in Maharashtra and Gujarat (favourable climate, raw material). Now dispersed across the country.
  • Important Centres: Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Kanpur, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Puducherry, Panipat.
  • Case Study: Ahmedabad (Gujarat):
    • Located on the banks of the Sabarmati river. First mill established in 1859.
    • Often called the 'Manchester of India'.
    • Reasons for Growth: Proximity to cotton-growing areas of Gujarat; Humid climate (initially); Flat terrain; Skilled and semi-skilled labour; Well-developed road and rail network; Proximity to Mumbai port.
  • Case Study: Osaka (Japan):
    • Known as the 'Manchester of Japan'.
    • Reasons for Growth: Extensive plain land; Warm humid climate; River Yodo (water); Easily available labour; Port facilities.
    • Dependence: Completely depends on imported raw cotton (from Egypt, India, China, USA).
    • Modern Trend: Cotton industry declined, replaced by other industries like iron & steel, machinery, shipbuilding, automobiles, electrical equipment, cement.

• (C) Information Technology (IT) Industry:

  • Deals with the storage, processing, and distribution of information.
  • Emerging or 'Sunrise' Industry.
  • Location Factors: Resource availability (skilled manpower), Cost effectiveness, Infrastructure (reliable power, connectivity), Pleasant living environment, Access to markets, Government support.
  • Major Global Hubs:
    • Silicon Valley, California (USA): Named after the silicon used in semiconductor chips. World's leading IT hub.
    • Bengaluru, Karnataka (India): Known as the 'Silicon Plateau'.
  • Reasons for Silicon Valley/Bengaluru:
    • Presence of high-quality educational institutions and research centres.
    • Pleasant climate and clean environment.
    • Good access, connectivity, and infrastructure.
    • Availability of experienced and skilled managers and workforce.
    • Supportive government policies (esp. IT Policy of Karnataka for Bengaluru).
    • Large pool of technical talent at relatively lower costs (esp. Bengaluru).
  • Other IT Hubs in India: Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Gurgaon, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Chandigarh.

7. Industrial Disasters and Risk Reduction Measures:

• Industries, especially those handling hazardous materials, pose a risk of accidents.
• Example: Bhopal Gas Tragedy (December 3, 1984): Leakage of highly poisonous Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) gas from the Union Carbide pesticide factory, killing thousands. A major technological disaster.
• Risk Reduction Measures:
  • Densely populated residential areas should be located far away from industrial zones.
  • People living near industries should be aware of hazardous material storage and emergency plans.
  • Fire warning and fighting systems should be improved.
  • Storage capacity of toxic substances should be limited.
  • Pollution dispersion qualities in industries should be improved.
  • Regular safety audits and strict implementation of safety regulations.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. The conversion of iron ore into steel is an example of which type of economic activity?
   (a) Primary Activity
   (b) Secondary Activity
   (c) Tertiary Activity
   (d) Quaternary Activity

2. Which of the following is an example of an Agro-based industry?
   (a) Cement Industry
   (b) Sugar Industry
   (c) Iron and Steel Industry
   (d) Paper Industry

3. AMUL (Anand Milk Union Limited) in Gujarat is a prime example of which sector of industry based on ownership?
   (a) Private Sector
   (b) Public Sector
   (c) Joint Sector
   (d) Cooperative Sector

4. Which of the following factors is MOST crucial for the location of an Aluminium Smelting industry?
   (a) Proximity to Market
   (b) Availability of Cheap Power
   (c) Availability of Skilled Labour
   (d) Pleasant Climate

5. The process of extracting metals from their ores by heating beyond the melting point is known as:
   (a) Weaving
   (b) Smelting
   (c) Ginning
   (d) Refining

6. Which city in India is often referred to as the 'Manchester of India'?
   (a) Mumbai
   (b) Coimbatore
   (c) Ahmedabad
   (d) Kanpur

7. TISCO (Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited) is located in which Indian city?
   (a) Rourkela
   (b) Bhilai
   (c) Bokaro
   (d) Jamshedpur

8. Silicon Valley, a major global IT hub, is located in which country?
   (a) India
   (b) Japan
   (c) USA
   (d) Germany

9. The Bhopal Gas Tragedy in 1984 involved the leakage of which poisonous gas?
   (a) Carbon Monoxide
   (b) Sulphur Dioxide
   (c) Methyl Isocyanate (MIC)
   (d) Chlorine

10. Which of the following is NOT considered a major industrial region in India?
    (a) Mumbai-Pune Cluster
    (b) Chottanagpur Industrial Belt
    (c) Thar Desert Region
    (d) Hugli Region

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. (b) Secondary Activity
2. (b) Sugar Industry
3. (d) Cooperative Sector
4. (b) Availability of Cheap Power (Smelting is energy-intensive)
5. (b) Smelting
6. (c) Ahmedabad
7. (d) Jamshedpur
8. (c) USA
9. (c) Methyl Isocyanate (MIC)
10. (c) Thar Desert Region

Remember to revise these points thoroughly. Understanding the 'why' behind industrial locations and classifications is key for tackling application-based questions in exams. Good luck with your preparation!