Indian Economic Development

Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence

Question:

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

Answer:

During the British rule, some basic infrastructure was developed in the form of railways, water transport, ports, post and telegraph, etc. However, the real intention behind these developments 1 was to serve their own colonial interest.
The main motives of British rulers behind the development of infrastructure in India were:

  1.  To have effective control and administration over the vast Indian territory. For this, Britishers linked important administrative and military centres through railway lines.
  2.  To earn profits through foreign trade. For this they linked railways with major ports and the marketing centres (or Mandies).
  3.  To create an opportunity for profitable investment of British funds in India.
  4. To mobilise army within India and carrying out raw materials through roads to the nearest railway station or to the port to send it to Britain.
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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.