NCERT QUESTIONSAND ANSWERS chapter 1
Q. 1. What was the focus of the economic policies pursued by the colonial government in India?
What were the impacts of these policies?
Ans. The economic policies pursued by the Colonial Government in India, were concerned more with
the protection and promotion of their own economic interests, than with the development of
the Indian economy.
Impact of these policies
• They transformed the country into supplier of raw material and consumer of finished products
from Britain
• Insignificant growth of GDP(NI, and Per Capita income)
• Lack of industrialization etc
Q.2 Name some notable economists who estimated India’s per capita income during the colonial
period.
Ans. Dadabhai Naoroji, V.K.R.V. Rao, William Digby, Findlay Shirras and R.C. Desai.
Q. 3. What were the main causes of India’s agricultural stagnation during the colonial period?
Ans. A) Zamindari system of revenue settlement
● The stagnation in the agricultural sector was caused mainly because of the various systems of
land settlement or revenue settlement that were introduced by the British government ,
particularly the zamindari system which was implemented in the Bengal presidency comprising
parts of India’s present day eastern states.
● The profit accruing out of the agriculture sector went to the Zamindars instead of the
cultivators. However, nothing was done to improve the condition of agriculture
● The main interest of the zamindars was to collect the rent regardless of the economic condition
of the cultivators. This caused immense misery and social tension among the cultivators.
● To a very large extent, the terms of revenue settlement were responsible for the zamindars to
adopt such an attitude, eg. dates for depositing sums of revenue were fixed, failing which
zamindars were to lose their rights.
B) Commercialisation of agriculture It means production of crops for sale in the market
rather than for self-consumption.
● During the British rule, farmers were given higher price for producing cash crops like cotton or
jute. However, this did not improve the economic condition of farmers because instead of
producing cash crops which would be used by the British Industries.
C) Lack of irrigation facilities and low levels of technology
● Low levels of technology, lack of irrigation facilities and negligible use of fertilizers were
responsible for low productivity
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D) Lack of resources/Scarcity of investment
Despite some progress made in irrigation, India’s agriculture was starved of investment in
terracing, flood-control, drainage and desalination of soil. While a small section of farmers
changed their cropping pattern from food crops to commercial crops, a large section of tenants,
small farmers and sharecroppers neither had resources and technology nor had incentive to
invest in agriculture
Q. 4 Name some modern industries which were in operation in our country at the time of
independence?
Ans. Iron and Steel company (TISCO), sugar, cement, chemical and paper industries
Q. 5 What was the two-fold motive behind the systematic deindustrialization effected by the
British in pre-independent India?
Ans. (i) To get raw materials from India at cheap rates to be used by upcoming modern industries in
Britain; (ii0 To sell finished products of British industries in Indian market at higher prices.
Q. 6. The traditional handicrafts industries were ruined under the British rule. Do you agree with
this view? Give reasons in support of your answer.
Ans. Yes, I agree with this view. British Government systematically destroyed Indian handicraft
industries in order to serve their following two-fold motive;
(i) To get raw materials from India at cheap rates to be used by upcoming modern industries in
Britain;
(ii) To sell finished products of British industries in Indian market at higher prices.
Colonial government enforced discriminatory tariff policy, which allowed free export of raw
materials from India and free import of final goods of British Industry to India. But, heavy duty
was imposed on the export of Indian handicrafts. As a result, Indian markets were full of
finished goods from Britain, which led to the decline of Indian handicrafts, both in the domestic
market as well as the export market.
Q. 7. What objectives did the British intend to achieve through their policies of infrastructure
development in India?
Ans. The infrastructure facilities during British rule were very poor. Some efforts were made
to develop basic infrastructure like roads, railways, ports, water transport, posts and
telegraphs. But, the main motive behind such infrastructural development was to serve various
colonial interests
The roads that were built, primarily served the interests of mobilizing the army and shifting raw
materials from the countryside to the nearest railway station or the port to send the these to
England or other foreign destinations
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Q. 8. Critically appraise some of the shortfalls of the industrial policy pursued by the British
colonial administration.
1. Slow progress; The progress of the modern industry remained very slow
(i) De- industrialization – Decline of handicraft Industry: British Government systematically
destroyed Indian handicraft industries and no modern industrial base was allowed to come up.
The primary motive of British rule behind the de- industrialization was two-fold:
(a) To get raw materials from India at cheap rates to be used by upcoming modern industries in
Britain’
(b) To sell finished products of British industries in Indian market at higher prices. The two-fold
policy of British rule was enforced to ensure the maximum advantage of their home country
2. Lack of capital goods industry: There was hardly any capital goods industry to help promote
further industrialization in India. Capital goods industry means industries which can produce
machine tools which are, in turn, used for producing articles for current consumption.
3. No substitute to the county’s traditional handicraft industries.: the establishment of few
manufacturing units was no substitute to the near wholesale displacement of the countrys’
traditional handicraft industries.
4. Low growth rate: The growth rate of the new industrial sector and its contribution to the GDP
remained very small.
5. Limited area of operation of the Public sector: This public sector remained only to the railways
power generation, communication. Ports and some other departmental undertakings
Q. 9. What do you understand by the drain of Indian wealth during the colonial period?
Ans. Drain of Indian wealth during the Colonial period means that national product of India was used
by the British government for development of their own country and not for India. India’s
foreign trade generated large export surplus. However, there was drain of such surplus into
Britain. India’s export surplus was used:
(i) To make payments for expenses incurred by an office set up by the colonial government in
Britain.
(ii) To meet expenses on war fought by the British government.
(iii) To import invisible items
.
Q.10 Which is regarded as the defining year to mark the demographic transition from its first to
the second decisive stage?
Ans. 1921 is the defining year.
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Q.11 Give a quantitative appraisal of India’s demographic profile during the colonial period.
Ans. After the year 1921 which is regarded as the defining year to mark the demographic
transition from the first to the second decisive stage, the overall literacy level was less than
16%. Out of this female literacy level was at a negligible low of about 7%.
b) The infant mortality rate was quite alarming almost 218 per thousand in contrast to the
present 40 per thousand.
c) Life expectancy was also low 44 years in contrast to the present 68 years
In the absence of reliable data it is difficult to specify the extent of poverty at that time but
there is no doubt that extensive poverty prevailed in India during the colonial period.
Q,12 Highlight the salient features of India’s pre-independence occupational structure?
Ans. Little sign of change : During the colonial period, the occupational structure of India
showed little sign of change.
1. Predominance of Primary Occupation: The agriculture sector accounted for the largest
share of workforce with approximately 75%. The manufacturing and service sectors accounted
for the remaining 25%.
2. Regional Variation: Another striking aspect was the growing regional variation.
The states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal
witnessed a decline in dependence of workforce on the agricultural sector with a
commensurate increase in the manufacturing and service sector.
However, during the same time, there had been an increase in the share of workforce in
agriculture in states such as Orissa, Rajasthan and Punjab.
Q.13 Underscore some of India’s most crucial economic challenges at the time of independence?
Ans. Some of India’s most crucial economic challenges at the time of independence were;
● The agricultural sector was saddled with surplus labour combined with low productivity..
● The industrial sector was crying for modernisation, diversification, capacity building and
increased public investment.
● Foreign trade was oriented to feed the Industrial revolution in Britain.
● Infrastructure facilities including the railway network needed upgradation and expansion
● Prevalence of rampant poverty and unemployment required welfare orientation of public
economic policy
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Q.14 When was India’s first official census operation undertaken?
Ans. The First official census was undertaken in the year 1881.
Q.15 Indicate the volume and direction of trade at the time of independence?
Ans. The volume and direction of trade at the time of independence is discussed as under;
(i) Exporter of Primary Products and Importer of Finished Goods: India became an exporter of
primary products such as raw silk, cotton, wool, sugar, indigo, jute, etc. and an importer of
finished consumer goods like cotton, silk and woolen clothes and capital goods like machinery,
produced in the British Industries.
(ii) Monopoly Control of British Rule: British Government maintained a monopoly control over
India’s exports and Imports.
More than ½ India’s foreign trade was restricted to Britain while the rest was allowed with few
other countries like China, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Persia (Iran).
Q.16 Were there any positive contributions made by the British in India? Discuss.
1.Construction of modern roads:Roads constructed in India prior to the advent of the British
rule were not fit for modern transport. There always remained an acute shortage of all-weather
roads to reach out to rural areas during the rainy season. As a result, people living in these
areas suffered badly during natural calamities and famines.The British constructed modern
roads in India.
2 The railways affected the structure of the Indian economy in two important ways.
i) Railways enabled people to undertake long distance travel. It broke geographical and cultural
barriers and promoted national integration.
(ii) It enhanced commercialization of Indian agriculture, which adversely affected the
comparative self-sufficiency of the village economies in India
Along with development of roads and railways the colonial dispersion also took measures for
developing the inland trade and sea lines.
C) It also introduced the electric telegraph and the postal services in India which served a
useful public service.
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EXTRA QUESTIONS
1.For Which industries was India particularly well known during the British Rule and why?
India was well known for its handicraft industries in the field of cotton and silk textiles,
metal and precious stone works etc. these products enjoyed a worldwide market because
of
● The reputation of the fine quality of material used
● High standards of craftsmanship.
2. How was the Zamindari system of revenue settlement responsible for poor condition of he
cultivators?
Under the Zamindari system
● The profit accruing out of the agriculture sector went to the Zamindars instead
of the cultivators. However, nothing was done to improve the condition of
agriculture
● The main interest of the zamindars was to collect the rent regardless of the
economic condition of the cultivators. This caused immense misery and social
tension among the cultivators
3.How did railways affect the structure of the Indian economy?
Railways enabled people to undertake long distance travel. It broke geographical and cultural
barriers and promoted national integration
But on other hand it fostered commercialization of agriculture which adversely affected the self
sufficiency of the village economies in India.
Undoubtedly the volume of India’s exports expanded but its benefits rarely accrued to the thus
Indian people. Thus, the social benefits which the Indian people gained due to the introduction
of the railways outweighed by the countries economic loss.
