During colonial rule, the area of operation of the public sector remained very limited. Which of the following was NOT one of the fields to which it was confined?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Iron and steel
The very limited area of the public sector was a drawback of colonial industry. It covered the railways, power generation, communications, ports and some departmental undertakings.
Option (1) Railways — True. The railways were in the public sector.
Option (2) Power generation — True. Power generation was one of these fields.
Option (3) Ports — True. Ports were one of these fields.
Option (4) Iron and steel — False. Iron and steel was not among these fields. The iron and steel industries that came up in the twentieth century lay outside the public sector’s limited area.
NCERT (2026-27): “1.4 Industrial Sector … The establishment of a few manufacturing units here and there was no substitute to the near wholesale displacement of the country’s traditional handicraft industries. Furthermore, the growth rate of the new industrial sector and its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or Gross Value Added remained very small. Another significant drawback of the new industrial sector was the very limited area of operation of the public sector. This sector remained confined only to the railways, power generation, communications, ports and some other departmental undertakings.” |