Class 8 Geography: Chapter - Industries

Class 8 Geography: Chapter - Industries

This chapter introduces students to the concept of industries, their classification, factors influencing their location, the industrial system, and major industrial regions, with case studies of key industries like iron and steel, cotton textile, and information technology.

Important Terms:

 * Industry: An economic activity concerned with the production of goods, extraction of minerals, or the provision of services.

 * Manufacturing: The process of converting raw materials into finished products of more value to people. Also referred to as secondary activities.

 * Raw Materials: Basic materials used in an industry that are transformed into finished products.

 * Inputs: All the resources required to produce a product, including raw materials, labour, land, capital, power, transport, and other infrastructure.

 * Processes: The various activities involved in transforming raw materials into finished products (e.g., spinning, weaving, smelting).

 * Outputs: The final product and the income earned from its sale.

 * Agro-based Industries: Industries that use plant and animal-based products as their raw materials (e.g., food processing, cotton textile, dairy).

 * Mineral-based Industries: Industries that use mineral ores as their raw materials (e.g., iron and steel industry).

 * Marine-based Industries: Industries that use products from the sea and oceans as raw materials (e.g., seafood processing, fish oil).

 * Forest-based Industries: Industries that use forest produce as raw materials (e.g., pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, furniture).

 * Small-scale Industries: Industries characterized by less capital investment, less technology, and often products manufactured by hand (e.g., cottage industries, pottery, basket weaving).

 * Large-scale Industries: Industries characterized by large capital investment, superior technology, and production of large volumes of goods (e.g., automobiles, heavy machinery).

 * Private Sector Industries: Industries owned and operated by individuals or groups of individuals.

 * Public Sector Industries: Industries owned and operated by the government.

 * Joint Sector Industries: Industries jointly owned and operated by the state and individuals or a group of individuals.

 * Cooperative Sector Industries: Industries owned and operated by the producers or suppliers of raw materials, workers, or both.

 * Industrial Regions: Areas where a large number of industries are concentrated due to favourable factors.

 * Sunrise Industries: Emerging industries with high growth potential, such as Information Technology, wellness, hospitality, and knowledge industries.

 * Smelting: The process of extracting metals from their ores by heating them beyond their melting point.

 * Basic Industry/Feeder Industry: An industry whose products are used as raw materials for other industries (e.g., iron and steel industry).

Summary:

The chapter "Industries" delves into the world of manufacturing and economic activities. It begins by defining industry as an economic activity focused on producing goods, extracting minerals, or providing services.

Industries are primarily classified based on:

 * Raw Materials:

   * Agro-based: Uses plant and animal products (e.g., food processing, cotton textiles).

   * Mineral-based: Uses mineral ores (e.g., iron and steel).

   * Marine-based: Uses products from the sea (e.g., fish oil).

   * Forest-based: Uses forest produce (e.g., paper).

 * Size:

   * Small-scale: Low capital, less technology, often hand-made products (e.g., cottage industries).

   * Large-scale: High capital, advanced technology, mass production (e.g., automobiles).

 * Ownership:

   * Private Sector: Owned by individuals/groups.

   * Public Sector: Owned by government.

   * Joint Sector: Owned jointly by state and individuals/groups.

   * Cooperative Sector: Owned and operated by producers/suppliers/workers.

The industrial system comprises inputs (raw materials, labour, land, capital, power, transport), processes (activities converting inputs to outputs), and outputs (finished products, revenue).

The location of industries is influenced by the availability of raw materials, land, water, labour, power, capital, transport, and market. Governments often provide incentives to encourage industrial development in backward areas.

Industrial regions emerge when industries cluster together, benefiting from shared infrastructure and resources. Major industrial regions worldwide include eastern North America, western and central Europe, eastern Europe, and eastern Asia. In India, examples include the Mumbai-Pune cluster and the Hugli region.

The chapter then discusses the distribution of major industries:

 * Iron and Steel Industry: Considered the backbone of modern industry as it provides raw material for many other industries. Key inputs are iron ore, coal, and limestone. Important centres include Jamshedpur (India), Pittsburgh (USA), and others.

 * Cotton Textile Industry: One of the oldest industries, it uses cotton as its raw material. Important centres include Mumbai and Ahmedabad in India, and Osaka in Japan.

 * Information Technology (IT) Industry: A sunrise industry, it deals with the storage, processing, and distribution of information. Major hubs include Silicon Valley (California, USA) and Bangalore (India), both benefiting from skilled labour, pleasant climate, and good infrastructure.

NCERT Questions and Answers:

Q1. What is meant by the term 'industry'?

A1. The term 'industry' refers to an economic activity that is concerned with the production of goods, extraction of minerals or the provision of services. For example, the iron and steel industry (production of goods), coal mining industry (extraction of coal), and tourism industry (provision of services).

Q2. Which are the main factors which influence the location of an industry?

A2. The main factors influencing the location of an industry are:

* Availability of raw material

* Land

* Water

* Labour

* Power

* Capital

* Transport

* Market

Q3. Which industry is often referred to as the backbone of modern industry and why?

A3. The iron and steel industry is often referred to as the backbone of modern industry. This is because:

* Almost everything we use is either made of iron or steel or has been made with tools and machinery of these metals.

* Ships, trains, trucks, and automobiles are made largely of steel.

* Even the safety pins and the needles you use are made from steel.

* Oil wells are drilled with steel machinery. Steel pipelines transport oil.

* Minerals are mined with steel equipment.

* Farm machines are mostly steel.

* Large buildings have steel frameworks.

Q4. Why did the cotton textile industry rapidly expand in Mumbai?

A4. The cotton textile industry rapidly expanded in Mumbai due to the following favourable conditions:

* Warm and moist climate, ideal for cotton cultivation and spinning.

* Availability of a port for importing machinery and exporting finished goods.

* Availability of raw cotton from the nearby hinterland.

* Availability of skilled and cheap labour.