MP Board · Class 10 · Social Science · History: The Age of IndustrialisationWhy did industrial production in India increase during the First World War? Explain the factors responsible for this growth.

The First World War created a dramatically new situation for Indian industries. Before the war, British mills dominated the Indian market. However, during the war, British factories became busy producing goods for the war needs of the army. Consequently, Manchester imports into India declined sharply. This sudden vacuum in the Indian market provided a golden opportunity for Indian factories to supply the home market. As the war prolonged, Indian factories were also called upon to supply war needs such as jute bags, cloth for army uniforms, tents, leather boots, horse and mule saddles, and a host of other items. \nNew factories were set up, and old ones ran multiple shifts to meet the soaring demand. Many new workers were employed, and everyone was made to work longer hours. Over the war years, industrial production boomed. After the war, Manchester could never recapture its old position in the Indian market. Unable to modernize and compete with the US, Germany, and Japan, the economy of Britain crumbled after the war. Within India, local industrialists gradually consolidated their position, substituting foreign manufactures and capturing the home market. This period marked a significant turning point for the Indian industrial class as they moved from being small-scale producers to major suppliers for the domestic and military markets.