Jute plays an important role in the economies of South Asian countries. In India alone it sustains some four million families. Jute: Regional Focus summarizes the jute sector in countries like India, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Thailand, Myanmar, and Brazil. Starting from raw material availability, it mentions the consumption, production, export, and import of jute fibre and products. It also highlights the problems afflicting the jute sector like a stagnant yield, the lack of improvement in quality, the unremunerative price paid to the growers, the rising cost of production, the considerable competition from the synthetic sector, the demand erosion, the obsolescence of machinery, uneconomic working, etc. The book also discusses the competitive strength of jute against synthetics, possibilities of cost reduction, jute in relation to the environment, and the achievements of the International Jute Organisation. It also offers an insight into the implications of regional cooperation among the jute producing countries. It identifies the components of regional cooperation and investigates its importance and indispensability with reference to critical issues in the jute sector, as well as highlights the specific areas where some jute producing countries have contributed significantly. Certain examples where India has performed well in the field of diversification are given too.

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Before the advent of synthetic fibers and cargo containers, jute sacks were the preferred packaging material of global trade, transporting the world's grain, cotton, sugar, tobacco, coffee, wool, guano, and bacon. Jute was the second-most widely consumed fiber in the world, after cotton. While the sack circulated globally, the plant was cultivated almost exclusively by peasant smallholders in a small corner of the world: the Bengal delta. This book examines how jute fibers entangled the delta's peasantry in the rhythms and vicissitudes of global capital. Taking readers from the nineteenth-century high noon of the British Raj to the early years of post-partition Pakistan in the mid-twentieth century, Tariq Omar Ali traces how the global connections wrought by jute transformed every facet of peasant life: practices of work, leisure, domesticity, and sociality; ideas and discourses of justice, ethics, piety, and religiosity; and political commitments and actions. Ali examines how peasant life was structured and restructured with oscillations in global commodity markets, as the nineteenth-century period of peasant consumerism and prosperity gave way to debt and poverty in the twentieth century. A Local History of Global Capital traces how jute bound the Bengal delta's peasantry to turbulent global capital, and how global commodity markets shaped everyday peasant life and determined the difference between prosperity and poverty, survival and starvation.

Introduction Economics is often regarded as the backbone of a nation's policy-making and development. Its principles and applications impact every aspect of society, from individual choices to global trade policies. For Civil Service Exam aspirants, a thorough understanding of economics is indispensable, as it equips you with the knowledge to analyze and address the pressing issues facing our country and the world. The Importance of Economics in Civil Services Economics forms a crucial part of the Civil Service Exam syllabus, reflecting its importance in governance and administration. As future civil servants, you will be required to make informed decisions that can influence economic growth, social welfare, and overall national development. Hence, a solid grasp of both basic and advanced economic concepts is essential. Basic Concepts We begin with the fundamentals of economics, laying a strong foundation for more advanced topics. Key concepts such as supply and demand, market equilibrium, and the role of prices in an economy are explained in a straightforward manner. You will learn about different types of markets, including perfect competition, monopoly, and oligopoly, and how they function. National Income and Economic Indicators Understanding how to measure an economy’s performance is critical. We cover essential economic indicators like Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Gross National Product (GNP), inflation, and unemployment rates. These indicators provide insights into the health of an economy and are vital for policy-making. Money and Banking The role of money in the economy, the functioning of banks, and the significance of financial markets are explored in detail. You will learn about monetary policy, the workings of the Reserve Bank of India, and how financial institutions influence economic stability and growth. Public Finance This section delves into government revenue and expenditure, focusing on fiscal policy and its implications for the economy. Topics such as taxation, public debt, and budget deficits are discussed to provide an understanding of how governments manage economic resources. International Trade and Finance In an increasingly globalized world, understanding international economics is crucial. We discuss trade theories, balance of payments, exchange rates, and the impact of globalization on national economies. The roles of international organizations like the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are also covered. Economic Development and Planning Economic development is a major goal for any government. This part of the book examines the strategies and policies aimed at achieving sustainable development. Issues such as poverty, inequality, and environmental sustainability are addressed, along with the role of planning in economic development. Contemporary Economic Issues The final chapters focus on current economic challenges and trends. Topics like digital economy, climate change, and economic reforms are discussed to provide a contemporary perspective. Understanding these issues is crucial for aspiring civil servants who will be at the forefront of addressing them. Conclusion This book aims to provide a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to economics, tailored specifically for Civil Service Exam aspirants. By bridging basic and advanced topics, it prepares you to tackle the economic questions in the exam with confidence. More importantly, it equips you with the knowledge to contribute effectively to the economic development and welfare of our society. I hope this book serves as a valuable resource in your preparation and inspires you to delve deeper into the fascinating world of economics. Nitin Arora

Dundee had an interesting role to play in the jute trade, but the main player in the story of jute was Calcutta. This book follows the relationship of jute to empire, and discusses the rivalry between the Scottish and Indian cities from the 1840s to the 1950s and reveals the architecture of jute's place in the British Empire. The book adopts significant fresh approaches to imperial history, and explores the economic and cultural landscapes of the British Empire. Jute had been grown, spun and woven in Bengal for centuries before it made its appearance as a factory-manufactured product in world markets in the late 1830s. The book discusses the profits made in Calcutta during the rise of jute between the 1880s and 1920s; the profits reached extraordinary levels during and after World War I. The Calcutta jute industry entered a crisis period even before it was pummelled by the depression of the 1930s. The looming crisis stemmed from the potential of the Calcutta mills to outproduce world demand many times over. The St Andrew's Day rituals in Calcutta, begun three years before the founding of the Indian Jute Mills Association. The ceremonial occasion helps the reader to understand what the jute wallahs meant when they said they were in Calcutta for 'the greater glory of Scotland'. The book sheds some light on the contentious issues surrounding the problematic, if ever-intriguing, phenomenon of British Empire. The jute wallahs were inextricably bound up in the cultural self-images generated by British imperial ideology.