2026

The Progress of the Indian Tea Industry in 75 Years of Independence

Author(s): Pintu Sarkar

Abstract

The tea industry has occupied a central position in India’s agricultural and industrial landscape for more than one and a half centuries. Since Independence in 1947, the industry has undergone profound structural, economic, technological, and social transformations. From a colonial plantation-based export-oriented system, Indian tea has evolved into a largely domestically driven, diversified, and globally competitive agro-industry. This paper examines the progress of the Indian tea industry over the last seventy-five years, focusing on changes in production, area expansion, ownership patterns, labour relations, technological advancement, policy interventions, domestic consumption, exports, and emerging challenges such as climate change and global competition. Using secondary data from government reports, Tea Board publications, and scholarly studies, the article highlights both achievements and persistent constraints, and discusses future prospects for sustainable growth.