Which steel plant in India was started in 1965 with technical collaboration from West Germany?

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: Rourkela Steel Plant

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The development of the steel industry is a key part of India's industrialisation story, and many early public sector steel plants were set up with foreign collaboration. This question asks you to identify which specific plant was started around 1965 with West German assistance. Remembering these collaborations helps connect geography with economic history and industrial location.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The options list four well known steel plants Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Durgapur and Rourkela.
  • The question mentions the year 1965 and West German collaboration as identifying clues.
  • We assume the standard historical account in which Rourkela was built with West German assistance.
  • The other plants had different partners or were started in different years.


Concept / Approach:
In the early plan periods, India set up integrated steel plants at Bhilai, Rourkela and Durgapur with foreign collaboration from the Soviet Union, West Germany and the United Kingdom respectively. Bokaro and Jamshedpur have their own distinct histories and associations. The correct approach is to match Rourkela, located in present day Odisha, with West German assistance, while remembering that Durgapur was linked with British assistance and Bhilai with Soviet help.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Jamshedpur is a private sector plant established by the Tata group long before the mid nineteen sixties, so it does not fit the clue about a plant started in 1965 with foreign collaboration.Step 2: Remember that Bokaro Steel Plant was planned later with Soviet assistance and does not match the West German link mentioned in the question.Step 3: Note that Durgapur Steel Plant in West Bengal was set up with British collaboration, not West German support, so it can also be ruled out.Step 4: Recognise that Rourkela Steel Plant in Odisha is the one associated with West German collaboration and aligns with the time frame given, making it the correct choice.


Verification / Alternative check:
Standard economic geography texts clearly list Rourkela as an integrated steel plant set up with West German assistance. Timeline charts that summarise major steel plants and their collaborators repeat this association. Cross checking several such sources ensures that you are remembering the correct pairing of plant and foreign partner.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Jamshedpur Tata Steel Plant is not correct because it predates the public sector collaboration era and is linked with private enterprise rather than a specific foreign government partnership in the nineteen sixties. Bokaro Steel Plant is associated with later cooperation with the Soviet Union, not West Germany. Durgapur Steel Plant was developed with British collaboration and therefore does not fit the description in the question.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes memorise only the names of steel plants without carefully linking them to their foreign collaborators or years of establishment, which leads to confusion between Rourkela, Durgapur and Bhilai. Another pitfall is to assume that all major early public sector plants had Soviet collaboration, which is not accurate. Creating a small summary table of steel plants, locations, years and collaborators is a practical way to avoid such mistakes.


Final Answer:
The steel plant in India that was started in 1965 with West German collaboration is the Rourkela Steel Plant.

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