Indian Economic Development

Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence

Question:

The traditional handicraft industries were mined under the British mle. Do you agree with this view? Give reasons in support of your answer.

Answer:

The main cause of exploitation of traditional handicraft industries was de-industrialisation introduced by British rulers in India. They got raw materials from India at cheap rates and reduced India to a mere exporter of raw materials to the British industries. They sold British manufactured goods in Indian market at higher prices.
It resulted in decline of world famous traditional handicrafts. Britishers followed discriminatort tariff policy. It allowed free export of raw materials from India and free import of British final goods to India, but placed heavy duty on the export of Indian handicrafts. In this way, Indian . markets were full of manufactured goods from Britain which were low priced. Indian handicrafts 1 started losing both domestic market and export market. Ultimately, the handicraft industry declined.

previuos
next

Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence

Q 1.

Name some notable economists who estimated India’s per capita income during the colonial period.

Q 2.

What was the focus of the economic policies pursued by the colonial government in India? What were the impacts of these policies?

Q 3.

Which is regarded as the defining year to mark the demographic transition from its first to the second decisive stage?

Q 4.

When was India’s first official census operation undertaken?

Q 5.

What were the main causes of India’s agricultural stagnation during the colonial period?

Q 6.

Give a quantitative appraisal of India’s demographic profile during the colonial period.

Q 7.

Name some modem industries which were in operation in our country at the time of independence.

Q 8.

Critically appraise some of the shortfalls of the industrial policy pursued by the British. colonial administration.

Q 9.

Underscore some of India’s most crucial economic challenges at the time of independence.

Q 10.

Highlight the salient features of India’s pre-independence occupational structure.

Q 11.

The traditional handicraft industries were mined under the British mle. Do you agree with this view? Give reasons in support of your answer.

Q 12.

What was the two-fold motive behind the systematic de-industrialisation effected by the British in pre-independent India?

Q 13.

What objectives did the British intend to achieve through their policies of infrastructure development in India?

Q 14.

Were there any positive contributions made by the British in India? Discuss.

Q 15.

What do you understand by the drain of Indian wealth during the colonial period?

Q 16.

Indicate the volume and direction of trade at the time of independence.