ASSIGNMENT 1 – INDIAN ECONOMY ON THE EVE OF INDEPENDENCE
Q1. Arrange the following events of India before the independence in chronological order:
a. The opening of Suez canal
b. Introduction of the railways
c. Second stage of demographic transition
d. Incorporation of the Tata Iron and Steel Company.
Q2.. During the second half of the 19th century, the cotton textile mills, mainly dominated by Indians, were located in (i)____________________________, while jute mills dominated by the foreigners were mainly concentrated in(ii)______________________.
Q3. During the British colonial rule, the various social development indicators were not encouraging. The overall literacy rate was(i)_____________________. Out of this, the female literacy level was at a negligible low of about (ii)________________.
Q4. Assertion(A):- Britishers adopted discriminatory tariff policy in Industrial sector.
Reason (R):- India observed systematic de-industrialization during the British rule in India.
a) Both Assertion(A) and Reason (R )is the correct explanation of Assertion(A).
b) Both Assertion(A) and Reason (R )is not the correct explanation of Assertion(A).
c) Assertion(A) is true but Reason (R) is false.
d) Assertion(A) is false but Reason (R) is true.
Q5 _________ refers to a system of political and social relations between two countries, of which one is the ruler and other it’s colony.
(a) Colonialism ( b) Secularism ( c) Capitalism ( d) Socialism
Q6. Read the following statements carefully and choose the correct alternative from the following:
Statement 1: Export surplus generated during the colonial period was used to meet the expenses incurred by offices set up by the Colonial Indian government in Britain
Statement 2: India suffered large trade deficit in the colonial period.
Alternatives:
(a)Both the statements are true (b) Both the statements are false
(c)Statement 1 is true and statement 2 is false (d) Statement 2 is true and statement 1 is false.
Q7.Critically appraise some of the shortfalls of the industrial policy pursued by the British colonial administration.
Q8. Due to its quality, Indian indigo was in great demand in Britain . In 1810 almost 95% of the indigo imported into Britain was from India. Indigo production became a very profitable business and many Britishers became indigo planters. They advanced loans to peasants at high rate and forced them to cultivate indigo in 25% of their land. They paid a low price for the indigo. As the indigo plant had deep roots, it exhausted the soil fertility and the land was unfit for rice cultivation.
Do you think that the above practices of the British were justified?
Q9. “The introduction of the railways in India was considered as one of the most important contributions of the British. However, the social benefits, which the Indian people gained owing to the introduction of the railways were outweighed by the county’s huge economic loss.”
Do you agree with the above statement? Give reason.
Q10. Underscore some of India’s most crucial challenges at the time of independence.
Q11 . Read the following case study and answer the questions that follows:
According to historical GDP estimates by economist Angus Maddison, India’s GDP during the British Raj grew in absolute terms but declined in relative share to the world.
The role and scale of British imperial policy on India’s relative decline in global GDP remains a topic of debate among economists, historians and politicians. Many commentators argue the effect of British rule was highly negative, that Britain engaged in a policy of deindustrialisation in India for the benefit of British exporters, leaving Indians relatively poorer than before British Rule. Others argue that Britain’s impact on India was either broadly neutral or positive, and that India’s declining share of global GDP was due to other factors, such as new mass production technologies being invented in Europe.
(a)What was the state of Indian economy before the arrival of Britishers and after the arrival of the Britishers?
(b)State the position of Indian agriculture on the eve of independence.
