Why did india and china fall behind in the industrial revoltion/?

India and China were extremely conservative societies at the turn of the 19th century, and that is the main reason why they fell behind in the Industrial Revolution.

The Industrial Revolution was based on the rising power of the middle classes and merchants, whose entrepreneurial spirit was its engine. However, Indian society was burdened and locked by the strict and rigid caste system, which disabled social mobility and circulation of capital.

On the other hand, China, which had been the most progressive society in the world up until the beginning of the early modern age, now had great difficulties in coping with the new challenges. First of all, it was geographically isolated; secondly, it was satisfied in lulled into its self-sufficiency, seeing no reason to challenge the status quo. It would only start comprehensive internal reforms at the beginning of the 20th century, when there was no other choice.