SAIL steel plant in West Bengal was established with the help of which country?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:
The SAIL (Steel Authority of India Limited) steel plant located in West Bengal, which is the Durgapur Steel Plant (DSP), was established with significant technical and financial assistance from the United Kingdom. This was part of India's ambitious Second Five-Year Plan (1956–1961), which prioritized the development of heavy industries, including steel. The Durgapur plant's establishment in the late 1950s was a major collaboration between the Indian government and a British consortium known as the Indian Steelworks Construction Company (ISCON). This collaboration reflects the historical relationship and economic ties between the two nations during that period of industrial expansion in India.

The incorrect option is 1 (Japan): Japan has been a major partner in steel technology globally, but it was not the country that collaborated on the establishment of the Durgapur Steel Plant in West Bengal.

The incorrect option is 2 (USSR): The USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) played a crucial role in establishing another major steel plant during the same era: the Bhilai Steel Plant in Chhattisgarh. While the USSR was vital to India's industrialization, it was not the partner for the West Bengal plant.

The incorrect option is 3 (USA): While the USA provided assistance in various sectors of India's economy, it was not the key collaborator in establishing the Durgapur Steel Plant. The Rourkela Steel Plant, established around the same time, was set up with the assistance of West Germany.