Question

Why was the industrial growth slow till the first world war?

Answer 1

India was asked to produce the war things in first. Before the war Britain decreased their imports from India. so industrial growth got slow. But during the war, the Britain industry got slow and India got a chance to groom 

Answer 2

l The war created a dramatically new situation, with the British mills busy with war production to meet the needs of the army.

l Manchester imports into India declined. Indian mills had a vast home market to supply.

l As the war continued, Indian factories were called upon to supply war needs like jute bags, cloth for uniform, boots, etc.

l Unable to modernise and compete with the US, Germany and Japan, the economy of Britain crumbled after the war.

l Cotton production collapsed and exports of cotton cloth from Britain fell dramatically.

l Within the colonies, local industrialists gradually consolidated their position substituting foreign manufacturers and capturing the home market.