The First World War (WWI) was a conflict that had a significant impact on the world’s economy. The industrial production in India, a British colony at the time, was also significantly affected by the war. In this article, we will look at the industrial production in India before WWI and how it increased during the war.
Industrial Production in India Pre-WWI
Prior to WWI, India’s industrial production was largely focused on the production of cotton goods and textiles. This was due to the fact that India had an abundance of raw cotton and a large number of skilled workers who specialized in the production of textiles. As such, cotton goods and textiles made up a large portion of India’s industrial production before the war.
India’s Increased Production During WWI
When WWI began, the demand for cotton goods and textiles increased significantly. This was due to the fact that the war had disrupted the supply of cotton goods and textiles from Europe to other parts of the world. As a result, India was able to capitalize on this situation by increasing its production of cotton goods and textiles. This led to a significant increase in industrial production in India during WWI.
In addition to this, the war also led to an increase in demand for other goods such as metals, food grains, and ammunition. India was able to capitalize on this situation by producing these goods as well. This further contributed to the increased industrial production in India during WWI.
In conclusion, India’s industrial production increased significantly during WWI due to the increased demand for cotton goods and textiles, as well as other goods such as metals, food grains, and ammunition. This had a significant impact on the economy of India, as it allowed the country to capitalize on the disruption of supply from Europe and increase its production of goods.