Classification of Industries

Based on the source of raw material:

  • Agro-based: cotton, woollen, jute, silk textile, rubber and sugar, tea, coffee, and edible oil.
  • Mineral-based: iron and steel, cement, aluminium, machine tools, petrochemicals.

Based on their main role:

  • Basic or key industries are those which supply raw materials to manufacture other goods e.g. iron and steel and copper smelting, aluminium smelting.
  • Consumer industries are those which produce goods directly for consumers – sugar, toothpaste, paper, sewing machines, fans etc.

Based on capital investment:

  • A small-scale industry is classified based on the maximum investment allowed on the assets of a unit .
  • This limit has changed over the period. 
  • At present, the maximum investment allowed is rupees one crore.
  • large-scale industries are those that require big infrastructure , huge manpower , raw material and large capital investment .
  • Industries with assets of more than 10 crores are considered large-scale industries.

Based on ownership:

  • The public sector is owned and operated by government agencies
  • For Example,
    • BHEL, SAIL etc.
  • Private sector industries are owned and operated by individuals or a group of individuals
  • For Example, 
    • TISCO, Bajaj Auto Ltd., and Dabur Industries.
  • Joint sector industries are jointly run by the state and individuals or a group of individuals.  
  • For Example,
    • Oil India Ltd. (OIL)
  • Cooperative sector industries are owned and operated by the producers or suppliers of raw materials, workers or both. They pool resources and share the profits or losses proportionately. 
  • For example,
    • Sugar industry in Maharashtra
    • Coir industry in Kerala.

Based on the bulk and weight of raw material and finished goods:

  • Heavy industries such as iron and steel
  • Light industries use light raw materials and produce light goods such as electrical goods industries .
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