Which of the following factors was not considered significant during industrialisation in independent India?

The correct option is: Presence of a large cooperative sector

During the early post-independence period, India's industrial planning was heavily guided by state-led development models, primarily articulated through the Five-Year Plans and the Industrial Policy Resolution of 1956.

The key priorities and factors considered significant during this phase of industrialisation included:
1. Development of heavy and machine-making industries: Under the Mahalanobis model, building a strong capital goods sector (like steel, power, and machine tools) was considered critical for achieving self-reliance.
2. Expansion of the public sector: The state was designated to command the "控制高地" (heights of the economy) to guide development, allocate resources, and prevent the concentration of private wealth.
3. Role of coastal cities for trading purpose: Historically and strategically, integration with global markets and trade networks through ports and coastal infrastructure remained an important consideration for resource mobilization and exchange.

In contrast, while the cooperative sector (such as dairy cooperatives like AMUL) played a vital role in rural development and specific agricultural/allied industries, the presence of a large cooperative sector was not considered a primary driving force or a significant structural factor in the macro-level planning of heavy industrialisation in independent India.