Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence ( only point wise notes)

Unit - 5

Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence

* The sole purpose of the British colonial rule in India was to reduce the country to being a feeder economy for Great Britain’s own rapidly expanding modern industrial base.

* Conditions in the Indian economy on the eve of independance

(i) Law level of economic development : the colonial govt, never made any sincere attempt to estimate India’s national and percapita income.

The estimates given by Dr. Rao - growth of GDP was only 2% while the growth of percapita output was just 1/2 (0.5) percent.

(ii) Backward agricultural sector : Due to

A. Land tenure system - Zamidari system, Mahalwari system and Ryotwari system.

B. Forced commercialisation of Agriculture

C. Partitian of the country.

(iii) Less developed Industrial sector

A. De-industrialisation - decline of Indian handicraft industry.

B. Capital good industries were lacking

C. Limited operation of public sector

D. Discriminatory tarrif policy.

(iv) Unfavourable foreign trade :

(A) Net exporter of raw material and importer of finished good.

B. Britain had monopoly control on foreign trade.

C. Drain of India’s wealth.

(v) Adverse demographic condition :

A. High death rate - 40 per thousand.

B. High infant martality rate - 18 per thousand.

C. Mass Illiteracy - 83% illiterate.

D. Low life expectancy - 32 years

E. Low standard of living - people used to spend 80% to 90% of their

income on basic needs.

(vi) Under developed infrastructure :

Abscence of good roads, electricity generation, health, education and communication. However some efforts have been made to develop basic infrastructure like roads, railway ports, water transportpost & telegraph by the British rulars. The main motive was not to provide basic amenties to the Indian people but for their colonial interest.

(vii) More dependence on primary sector

* Largest share of work force which was 72% was engaged in agriculture.

* 10% marufacturing while 18% warkforce were engaged in service sector.

* Some positive side-effects of the British rule in India :

A. Provide transport facilities, largly in terms of railway.

B. Development of ports.

C. Provision of post and telegraph service.

D. British Govt. left a base of a strong and efficient administrative set up.

ONE MARK QUESTIONS

1. What was the infant mortality rate of India during British rule?

2. State the life expectancy in India during British rule.

3. What do you mean by infant mortality rate?

4. Give the name of one economist who estimated India’s per

capital income during colonial period.

5. What is meant by commercialisation of agriculture?

6. What was the motive behind the de-industrialisation by the

colonial Govt. in India?

7. Which industries were adiversly affected due to partition.

8. What does the export surplus mean?

9. What percentage of India’s working population was engaged in

secondary and tertiary sector during British rule?

3/4 MARKS QWESTIONS

1. Mention four features of India’s agriculture on the eve of

independence.

2. What were the objectives of the British Govt. in bringing about

infrastructural change in the Indian economy.

3. How would you explain the drain of wealth during the British rule.

4. Discuss occupational structure of Indian economy at the time of

independence.

5. State three main features of Indian economy at the time of

independence.

6. Mention the state of Indian industries on the eve of independence.

6 MARKS QUESTIONS

1. Critically appraise some of the shortfalls of the industrical policy

pursucs by the British colonial administration.

2. What were the main causes of India’s agricultural stagnation

during the colonial period.

3. Give a quantitative appraisal of India’s demographic profile during

the colonial period.

4. Were there any positive contribution made by the British in India?

Discuss.

ANSWER OF ONE MARK QUESTIONS

1. Infant mortality rate was 18 per thousand.

2. Life expactancy was 32 years.

3. Infant mortality rate means number of deaths of children below the

age of one year per thousand live birth.

4. Dada Bhai Nauroji, & Prof V.K.R.V. Rao.

5. Commercialisation of agriculture means production of crops for

sale in the market rather than for self - consumption.

6. (i) To get raw materials from India at cheap rate.

(ii) To sell British manufactured goods in Indian market at high

prices.

7. Jute and textile industries.

8. When export of a country is more than import.

9. 10% in secondary sector and 18% in tertiary sector.