Small scale industries are defined differently in various countries and over time. In India, a small scale industry has fixed assets of less than Rs. 10 million. They employ less than 50 workers if power-driven, or less than 100 without power. Small industries have advantages like close supervision, more employment, and easy management. Their disadvantages include high production costs, outdated techniques, and difficulty accessing loans. They are typically labor-intensive, flexible, and use local resources and raw materials. Small industries play an important role in India's socio-economic development and account for a large portion of employment.