question_answer

Explain three reasons for the decline of Indian textile industry by the end of 19th century.

Answer:

Following points are needed to be discussed:

(i) As cotton industry developed in England, the industrial groups pressurised the government to impose import duties on cotton textiles so that their own goods could be sold in their home market without facing any competition from outside. This affected Indian textiles because India was the largest exporter of textiles to England.

(ii) Secondly British industrialists persuaded East India Company to sell British manufactures in Indian markets.

As the British goods flooded the markets, Indian textiles industry was hit hard. Indian hand made goods could not compete with fine machine made goods. Handmade goods were more expensive than machine made goods which were easier to sell.

(iii) Thirdly, there was a great scarcity of good quality raw cotton in India as these were exported to England for their factories. Indian textiles began to decline because weavers were unable to pay such high price for the raw cotton.

From an exporter of textiles, India became an exporter of raw cotton.