Question

In which two states in India has the cotton textile industry developed the most?
A. Maharashtra and Bihar
B. Gujarat and Bihar
C. Maharashtra and Gujarat
D. West Bengal and Gujarat
E. None of these

Answer 1

Hint: The capital of the state which holds the first rank in cotton textile production is known as cottonopolis of India or Manchester of India and the state has about 122 cotton mills. The second rank holder state in the cotton textile sector has about 130 cotton textile mills.

Complete Answer:
Maharashtra has about 122 cotton textile mills in its organised sector and it thus is the largest cotton producing state of India. Mumbai, which is the state capital has about 59 out of these 122 mills. It is also known as cottonopolis of India or Manchester of India. These textile industries have the advantage of the availability of cheap hydel power, nearness to the port of Mumbai and the local cotton.

Bihar - Cotton textile industries are mainly found in Patna, Gaya and their adjoining areas and Bihar cotton is not grown on a very large scale. Thus the state contributes a little less in the cotton growing and cotton textile production sector of India.

Gujarat - It has about 130 cotton textile mills out of which 70 are located in Ahmedabad only. Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara and Bhavnagar are also important centres. Availability of cheap labour and the location of the cotton belt has resulted in the opening of such a large number of cotton textile mills and all of this has maintained Gujarat’s second rank in production.

West Bengal - Here also there are many mills in the district of Chaubis Pargana, Hooghly and Howrah. Kolkata is the most important centre of the cotton textile industry in West Bengal.

Thus we can conclude that the correct answer is option C.

Note: - First modern cotton textile industry was set up in Fort Gloster located in Howrah in the year 1818. But it could not survive.
- Cotton is known as White Gold of India because of its shine and purity.
- Coimbatore of Tamil Nadu is known as the Manchester of South India and Tamil Nadu, followed by Maharashtra stands in first place in the production of cotton yarn in the country.