Consider the following statements regarding the agro-based industries in India: 1. The first successful textile mill was established in Madras. 2. The first jute mill was set up near Kolkata. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[A] 1 only

[B] 2 only

[C] Both 1 and 2

[D] Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: B

Notes:

In ancient India, cotton textiles were produced with hand spinning and handloom weaving techniques.

After the 18th century, power-looms came into use. Our traditional industries suffered a setback during the colonial period because they could not compete with the mill-made cloth from England.
The first successful textile mill was established in Mumbai in 1854. The two world wars were fought in Europe, India was a British colony.

There was a demand for cloth in U.K. hence; they gave a boost to the development of the cotton textile industry.
The first jute mill was set up near Kolkata in 1859 at Rishra.
After Partition in 1947, the jute mills remained in India but three-fourth of the jute producing area went to Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan).

Source: NCERT – XII Fundamental of Human Geography