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Humid climate, ready market and availability of cheap and skilled labour are the conditions conducive for the production of cotton cloth. Which of the following states of India will have the highest cotton cloth production?
Explanation
Maharashtra is the leading producer of cotton cloth in India, contributing approximately 39% of the country's total production [1]. The state's dominance is driven by favorable geographical and economic factors, including a humid maritime climate, proximity to major markets, and the availability of cheap, skilled labor [5]. Mumbai, often referred to as the 'Cottonopolis of India,' houses a high concentration of mills, while other significant centers include Sholapur, Pune, and Nagpur [1]. Although Gujarat is a major textile hub with significant production in cities like Surat and Ahmedabad, Maharashtra remains the primary leader in overall cotton textile output [3]. The industry's location is strategically influenced by the availability of raw cotton from the black soil belt, access to sea ports for export, and historical capital investment in the region [5].
Sources
- [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > Maharashtra > p. 14
- [4] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > COTTON TEXTILE INDUSTRY > p. 9
- [5] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 10: Locational Factors of Economic Activities > Cotton Textile Industry in India > p. 33
- [2] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 12: Understanding Markets > Aggregator: > p. 260
- [3] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > Distribution and Production of Cotton Goods Statewise > p. 10