On the basis of source of raw materials used:

• Agro based: cotton, woollen, jute, silk textile, rubber and sugar, tea, coffee, edible oil.
• Mineral based: iron and steel, cement, aluminium, machine tools, petrochemicals.
According to their main role:

• Basic or key industries are those which supply their products as raw materials to manufacture other goods e.g. iron and steel and copper smelting, aluminum smelting.
• Consumer industries that produce goods for direct use by consumers – sugar, toothpaste, paper, sewing machines, fans etc.