Analyse the factors for the highly decentralised cotton textile industry in India. (UPSC 2013)

Cotton textile industry in India is highly decentralised because both raw material and production have become less location-bound. It has spread from old coastal centres to inland clusters and village-based units.

• Raw material: Cotton is a pure, non-weight-losing raw material, so mills need not stay near cotton fields.
• Technology: Artificial humidifiers removed the earlier coastal advantage.
• Power: Wider electricity networks supported powerlooms in small towns and rural areas.
• Labour: Skilled weavers and cheap labour were already available in many regions.
• Structure: Decline of composite mills shifted output to small, flexible units.

Thus, market demand, lower costs and flexible technology have made cotton textiles spatially dispersed across India.