Describe the main features of chemical industry in India.
The main features are as follows : It is fast growing and diversifying industry. Its contribution to GDP is approximately 3 per cent. It is the third largest in Asia and twelfth in the world in size. It has both large and small scale manufacturing units. Rapid growth in both organic and inorganic sectors. It has its own consumer market because basic chemicals are used for producing other chemicals that are used for industrial application, agriculture or directly for consumer markets. Organic chemicals include petrochemicals, which are used for manufacturing of synthetic fibres, synthetic rubber, plastics, dye stuffs, drugs and pharmaceuticals. Organic chemical plants are located near oil refineries and petrochemical plants because petrochemicals are heavy organic chemicals which are difficult to transport to other places. The inorganic chemical industry manufactures fertilisers, plastics, paints, adhesives, soaps, detergents and paper etc. These products are used by people all over the country and can 1 be produced by small inorganic chemical industries spread all over the country.
