Industrial development on an organised basis started in India more than half a century back. The major industries consisted of cotton textiles, jute, cement, sugar,  paper,  iron  and  steel  and  glass. Cotton  textiles  was  the most  important industry  and  in  1950  contributed  more than  one-third  to  the  total  industrial development in the organised sector. Today, its share has come down to 11 percent with the growth of other industries, both in the public and private sectors.

The process of industrial development received a new impetus after Independence.  The index of industrial production rose from 100 in 1951 to 356 in 1975. This development  was  brought  about  not  so much by the multiplication of traditional industries as by the establishment of new industries. Industrial production got diversified and  a  number  of  industries involving both large capital and advanced technical skills came into being. India is among the first ten largest industrialist countries  in  the  world.

Since the major objective of industrialisation is to make economic development self-reliant, considerable accent is placed on the production of equipment and machinery. Parallel progress has also taken  place  in  design engineering  and know-how. Machinery, both mechanical and electrical, now constitutes a substantial part of industrial output. Simultaneously, industries producing transport equipment, electronics, light engineering, chemicals and a variety of consumer goods, have come into being.

The development of industry has made it possible for India to absorb foreign technology and, what is more, evolve a technology of its own. As a result, Indian industry has been able to set up joint ventures in more than 22 countries.

The total number of registered factories today (employing 50 or more workers with the aid of power or 100 or more workers without the aid of power) would be  over 16,500. The  productive   capital is about Rs. 18,000 crores and provides employment to over 5.1 million workers. The ex-factory value of  output  exceeds Rs.  24,000 crores.

The Fifth Five Year Plan sets out an ambitious programme for industrial development. On an average, it is estimated that industrial production will go up by  8.5 per cent annually.

The  Posts  &  Telegraphs  Department feels proud to bring out a special postage stamp  on  Indian  Industries.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India