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Why did the Indian iron smelting industry decline in the nineteenth century?
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[tex] \large \sf \underline{ \underline{ Question \: :}}[/tex]
Why did the Indian iron smelting industry decline in the nineteenth century?
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Answer:
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Explanation:
The decline of the Indian iron smelting industry in the nineteenth century can be attributed to several factors:
1. Colonial Policies: The British colonial government imposed policies that favored the importation of cheap iron and steel from Britain. This led to a decline in demand for locally produced iron.
2. Technological Advancements: The Industrial Revolution in Europe brought about significant advancements in iron production techniques, such as the use of blast furnaces and steam-powered machinery. India, with its traditional methods of iron smelting, could not compete with the efficiency and scale of the new technologies.
3. Depletion of Forests: Traditional iron smelting in India relied heavily on charcoal produced from forests. As the demand for iron increased, the forests were overexploited, leading to deforestation. This scarcity of wood for charcoal production further hindered the industry's growth.
4. Competition from Imported Goods: The availability of cheap imported iron and steel from Britain flooded the Indian market, making it difficult for local iron smelters to compete on price and quality.
5. Lack of Infrastructure: The lack of proper transportation infrastructure, such as railways and canals, made it challenging for iron smelters in India to transport their products to distant markets.
These factors combined to weaken the Indian iron smelting industry, leading to its decline in the nineteenth century.
Verified answer
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Import of steel ingots from Britain gradually led to decline or the Indian iron smelting industry in the nineteenth century. The new forest laws were also responsible for this because finding wood and charcoal was becoming more difficult. New forest laws also restricted the smelters' access to iron ore mines.