Why were relatively few warships built in other colonies compared with India?
Short answerIndia had exceptional timber and yards, but local rulers prioritized large land frontiers and often purchased outside naval support instead of maintaining major fleets.
NotesIndia possessed high-quality shipbuilding timber and capable yards that produced vessels admired by the Royal Navy. The limiting factor was not an absence of craft knowledge. Many Indian rulers faced extensive land borders and concentrated manpower on armies rather than permanent blue-water fleets. They could hire Europeans or buy ships for maritime needs, while Britain saw the sea as the most likely route by which an external enemy would threaten India.