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Consider the following towns of India : 1. Bhadrachalam 2. Chanderi 3. Kancheepuram 4. Karnal Which of the above are famous for the production of traditional sarees/fabric?
Explanation
Chanderi is a town in Madhya Pradesh known for its traditional Chanderi[1] sarees[2], and Chanderi sarees are famous all over the world[3]. Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu is recognized as a major silk textile center[5], renowned for its traditional Kanchipuram silk sarees.
However, Bhadrachalam (in Telangana) is primarily known as a temple town and pilgrimage center, not for saree production. Similarly, Karnal in Haryana is not traditionally associated with saree or fabric manufacturing—it is better known for agricultural research and the production of Basmati rice.
Therefore, only Chanderi and Kancheepuram (options 2 and 3) are famous for traditional saree production, making option B the correct answer.
Sources
- [4] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > Distribution > p. 26
- [5] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > Distribution > p. 25
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis is a classic 'Place vs. Product' question sitting at the intersection of Art & Culture and Economic Geography. It rewards general awareness of GI Tags and traditional craft clusters. The difficulty is low because the correct options (Chanderi, Kancheepuram) are the most famous examples in Indian textiles, while the distractors have very distinct, non-textile identities.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Which of the above are famous for the production of traditional sarees/ fabric? ... The correct answer is B."
Why this source?
- Explicitly states the UPSC question and gives the correct answer as option B (2 and 3 only).
- Identifies Chanderi and Kancheepuram as the towns famous for traditional sarees, thereby excluding Bhadrachalam.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Correct Answer: B"
Why this source?
- Shows the same question and lists the "Correct Answer: B."
- The solution begins by naming Chanderi (and implies Kancheepuram), supporting that Bhadrachalam is not among the towns famous for sarees.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"#2 is right because official Madhya Pradesh Ashoknagar ... "Chanderi sarees are famous all over the world""
Why this source?
- Explains why option with Chanderi and Kancheepuram is correct, citing Chanderi sarees' fame.
- By endorsing 2 and 3 only, it implicitly excludes Bhadrachalam from being famous for traditional sarees/fabrics.
- Explicitly states the UPSC question and gives the correct answer as option B (2 and 3 only).
- Identifies Chanderi and Kancheepuram as the towns famous for traditional sarees, thereby excluding Bhadrachalam.
- Shows the same question and lists the "Correct Answer: B."
- The solution begins by naming Chanderi (and implies Kancheepuram), supporting that Bhadrachalam is not among the towns famous for sarees.
- Explains why option with Chanderi and Kancheepuram is correct, citing Chanderi sarees' fame.
- By endorsing 2 and 3 only, it implicitly excludes Bhadrachalam from being famous for traditional sarees/fabrics.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > Distribution > p. 26
Strength: 5/5
“In West Bengal, the main centres of silk textile are Basawa, Bishenpur, Chak-Islampur, Kolkata, and Madhu-Ghat (Maldah District). In Andhra Pradesh, silk textile is concentrated in Anantapur, Chittor, Karimnagar, Vishakhapatnam, and Warangal. In Bihar, Bhagalpur; in Jharkhand, Hazaribagh and Ranchi; in Assam, Barpeta, Goalpara, Kamrup, Nalbari, and Naogaon are known for silk textile. In Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Kancheepuram, Nilgiri, Salem, and Tirunelveli; while in Madhya Pradesh, Balghat, Bastar, Bilaspur, Raigarh, and Surguja are the silk textile centres. Silk textile is also concentrated in Anantnag, Baramulla, Doda, Jammu, Riasi, Srinagar, and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir. India is one of the important exporters of silk textile.”
Why relevant
Gives a specific list of silk textile centres in Andhra Pradesh (Anantapur, Chittor, Karimnagar, Vishakhapatnam, Warangal), implying textile fame in the state is concentrated in known towns.
How to extend
A student could check whether Bhadrachalam appears on similar official or textbook lists of textile centres in Andhra Pradesh or regional maps; absence would weaken the claim.
Exploring Society:India and Beyond. Social Science-Class VI . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 8: Unity in Diversity, or 'Many in the One' > Textiles and Clothing > p. 128
Strength: 4/5
“Every region and community in India has developed its own styles of clothing and dresses. Yet, we notice a commonality in some traditional Indian dresses, irrespective of the material used. An obvious example is the plain length of cloth called the sari, a type of clothing worn in most parts of India and made from different fabrics — mostly cotton or silk, but nowadays synthetic fabrics too. Banarasi, Kanjivaram, Paithani, Patan Patola, Muga or Mysore are some of the famous types of silk saris. There are many more kinds of cotton saris. Altogether, this unstitched piece of cloth comes in hundreds of varieties.”
Why relevant
Lists well-known sari types and their associated places (e.g., Banarasi, Kanjivaram, Paithani), illustrating that famous sarees are usually tied to particular named centres.
How to extend
Compare lists of famous saree-producing towns with Bhadrachalam; if Bhadrachalam is not associated with a named sari type, it is less likely to be widely famous for sarees.
Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 12: Understanding Markets > Aggregator: > p. 260
Strength: 4/5
“Fig. 12.20. Mall Fig. 12.21. Grocery store Let's explore the chain of supply in physical markets for the textile market in Surat, Gujarat — Asia's oldest textile market, and the city famously known as a textile hub. The Surat textile market consists of thousands of factories manufacturing cotton and synthetic textiles. In the case of cotton textiles, raw cotton is received here through cotton mandī s from nearby states like Maharashtra, as well as from other parts of Gujarat. It is transformed into finished fabric or garments after processing at various stages — weaving on power looms, dyeing in processing units and so on.”
Why relevant
Uses Surat as an example of a major, well-known textile hub, showing that textile production fame is typically associated with large, named industrial or market centres.
How to extend
A student could assess whether Bhadrachalam has comparable textile market infrastructure or historical trade prominence (e.g., mills, power-loom clusters) to known hubs like Surat.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 16: The Coming of the Europeans > Cotton Manufactures > p. 246
Strength: 3/5
“India also had a strong manufacturing base and was particularly famous for the variety of cotton fabrics produced at various centres across the country. Weaving was the second most important economic activity in the country, supported by subsidiary activities like spinning and dyeing. Manufacturing - that is, handicraft production - was carried on both in urban and rural areas. Luxury crafts, like metalwork were urban based. Weaving was mostly done in rural areas.”
Why relevant
Explains that India had many regional centres producing cotton fabrics and that weaving was spread across rural areas, implying one should look for documented production centres to claim fame.
How to extend
Use this rule to seek documentary evidence (textbook lists, trade records, local industry mentions) that Bhadrachalam functions as such a recognised production centre.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Emergence of State and Empire > Crafts and Goods > p. 57
Strength: 3/5
“Many crafts producing a variety of manufactures flourished in the economy. We can categorise the products as utilitarian or functional, and luxurious and ornamental. Spinning and weaving, especially of cotton fabrics, relying on the universal availability. ٨ of cotton throughout India, were the most widespread occupations outside of agriculture. A great variety of cloth was produced in the country, ranging from the coarse fabrics used by the ordinary people for everyday use, to the very fine textures worn by the upper classes and the royalty. The Arthasastra refers to the regions producing specialised textiles - Kasi (Benares), Vanga (Bengal), Kamarupa (Assam), Madurai and many others.”
Why relevant
Notes historical references (Arthashastra) that associate specific regions with specialised textiles, indicating the common pattern of tying textile fame to named regions.
How to extend
Extend by checking historical or cultural sources for any traditional association between Bhadrachalam and a specialised textile to support or refute the claim.
Gives a specific list of silk textile centres in Andhra Pradesh (Anantapur, Chittor, Karimnagar, Vishakhapatnam, Warangal), implying textile fame in the state is concentrated in known towns.
A student could check whether Bhadrachalam appears on similar official or textbook lists of textile centres in Andhra Pradesh or regional maps; absence would weaken the claim.
Lists well-known sari types and their associated places (e.g., Banarasi, Kanjivaram, Paithani), illustrating that famous sarees are usually tied to particular named centres.
Compare lists of famous saree-producing towns with Bhadrachalam; if Bhadrachalam is not associated with a named sari type, it is less likely to be widely famous for sarees.
Uses Surat as an example of a major, well-known textile hub, showing that textile production fame is typically associated with large, named industrial or market centres.
A student could assess whether Bhadrachalam has comparable textile market infrastructure or historical trade prominence (e.g., mills, power-loom clusters) to known hubs like Surat.
Explains that India had many regional centres producing cotton fabrics and that weaving was spread across rural areas, implying one should look for documented production centres to claim fame.
Use this rule to seek documentary evidence (textbook lists, trade records, local industry mentions) that Bhadrachalam functions as such a recognised production centre.
Notes historical references (Arthashastra) that associate specific regions with specialised textiles, indicating the common pattern of tying textile fame to named regions.
Extend by checking historical or cultural sources for any traditional association between Bhadrachalam and a specialised textile to support or refute the claim.
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