Question

The most prosperous Indian Industry was the _____industry.
A. Textile
B. Steel
C. Food
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: During the early centuries, there was textile trading in India. Archaeological surveys and studies have shown that for as long as four thousand years ago, the inhabitants of Harappa were acquainted with weaving and spinning cotton.

Complete step by step answer:
In India, the textile industry was the most prosperous. Indian woollen and silk products were also in enormous demand worldwide, and this industry created large jobs for both skilled and unqualified labor. There were major exports of Indian cotton to the western countries during the late 17th and 18th centuries to meet the needs of the European industries during the industrial revolution, apart from the domestic requirements at the Indian Ordnance Factories. With British imports of cheap foreign goods, the textile industry fell down. The cotton textile industry was responsible for much of the foreign trade of the empire. In the early 18th century, Bengal had a 25 per cent share of the global textile trade. In the 18th century, Bengal cotton textiles became the most important manufactured goods in world trade, consumed worldwide from the Americas to Japan. The most important centre of cotton production was the Bengal Subah province, particularly around its capital city of Dhaka.
So, the correct answer is Option A.

Note: In the tombs of Fostat, Egypt, a block of printed and resist-dyed fabric originating from Gujarat has been discovered. This indicates that in mediaeval times, Indian exports of cotton textiles were mainly to Egypt or the Nile Civilization.