Which of the following industries was most affected by the 'deindustrialisation' of India in the 19th century? (a) Silk manufacture (b) Cotton textiles (c) Iron and steel (d) Woolen manufacture

The 19th-century 'deindustrialisation' of India primarily affected the cotton textile industry. Historically, India held a global monopoly on textile production from 1500 BC to 1500 AD. However, the Industrial Revolution in Britain and subsequent colonial policies led to its ruin [1]. British manufacturers lobbied for heavy duties on Indian textiles while forcing India to accept British machine-made goods with minimal tariffs [5]. This made Indian handloom products increasingly uneconomic compared to cheaper British factory goods. By the mid-19th century, India lost its vast export markets and much of its domestic market to British imports [6]. While other sectors like silk, wool, and iron also suffered [2], the scale of the cotton textile decline was the most significant, as it had been the backbone of India's pre-colonial economy and world trade.

Sources

1. [1] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: The Colonial Era in India > LET'S EXPLORE > p. 100
2. [5] https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history-project-ap/xb41992e0ff5e0f09:unit-5-revolutions/xb41992e0ff5e0f09:5-4global-industrialization/a/read-imperialism-and-de-industrialization-in-india
3. [6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De-industrialisation_of_India
4. [2] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 11: Economic Impact of the British Rule > Ruin of Artisans and Craftsmen > p. 183