Question

Which one of the following manufacturing industries provides employment to millions in India?
a. Iron and Steel
b. Petroleum
c. Cotton-textile
d. Cement

Answer 1

Hint:
India is the world's leading producer of jute and shares 63% of the global textile and apparel industry. India is second in global garment manufacturing and second in the production of silk and cotton as well.

Complete solution:
The textile industry accounts for 14 percent of industrial production and 4 percent of GDP. With 45 million people working, the textile industry is one of the country's main sources of job growth. The industry accounts for almost 13 per cent of India's overall export earnings.
Traditionally, the textile industry in India, after agriculture, is the only industry that has created enormous jobs for both skilled and unskilled textile workers. The textile industry continues to be India's second-largest job-generating market. It provides over 40 million people in the country with direct jobs. The share of textiles in total exports from April to July 2010 was 11.04 %, according to the Ministry of Textiles.

The Indian textile industry was pegged at US$55 billion during 2009-2010, 64 % of which was domestic service demand. In 2010, all of India had 2,500 textile weaving plants and 4,135 textile finishing factories. India was ranked as the fourth most promising market for apparel retailers in 2009, according to AT Kearney's 'Retail Apparel Index'.

Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Note:
Policy and coordination of the man-made fibre, cotton, jute, silk, wool industries, decentralisation of the power loom industry, promotion of exports, planning and economic research, finance and promotion of the use of information technology are the main functions of the Ministry of Textiles. The Ministry is currently headed by Smriti Irani, who since 5 July 2016, has been the Minister of Textiles.