Chapter 1: Indian Economy on The Eve of Independence
Economics - Indian Economic Development • Class 11
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Chapter Analysis
Intermediate16 pages • EnglishQuick Summary
The chapter discusses the state of the Indian economy on the eve of independence in 1947. It highlights the economic exploitation by British colonial rule, focusing on transforming India into a supplier of raw materials and consumer of British goods. The chapter examines the stagnant agricultural sector, the collapse of handicraft industries, and the failure to develop a robust industrial base. It also addresses India's infrastructure and foreign trade deficits resulting from colonial policies.
Key Topics
- •Economic exploitation under British rule
- •Stagnation of agriculture in colonial India
- •Collapse of handicraft industries
- •Lack of industrial development
- •Infrastructure development under colonial policies
- •Foreign trade policies and their impact
- •Drain of wealth during colonial period
- •Demographic and occupational changes
Learning Objectives
- ✓Understand the state of India's economy on the eve of independence
- ✓Analyze the impact of British economic policies on Indian society
- ✓Identify the major sectors affected by colonial rule
- ✓Evaluate the lasting economic challenges inherited from British rule
- ✓Recognize the relationship between historical economic policies and present development
- ✓Critically appraise colonial achievements and their motives in India
Questions in Chapter
What was the focus of the economic policies pursued by the colonial government in India? What were the impacts of these policies?
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Name some notable economists who estimated India’s per capita income during the colonial period.
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What were the main causes of India’s agricultural stagnation during the colonial period?
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Name some modern industries which were in operation in our country at the time of independence.
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What was the two-fold motive behind the systematic de-industrialisation effected by the British in pre-independent India?
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The traditional handicrafts industries were ruined under the British rule. Do you agree with this view? Give reasons in support of your answer.
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What objectives did the British intend to achieve through their policies of infrastructure development in India?
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Critically appraise some of the shortfalls of the industrial policy pursued by the British colonial administration.
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What do you understand by the drain of Indian wealth during the colonial period?
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Which is regarded as the defining year to mark the demographic transition from its first to the second decisive stage?
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Give a quantitative appraisal of India’s demographic profile during the colonial period.
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Highlight the salient features of India’s pre-independence occupational structure.
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Underscore some of India’s most crucial economic challenges at the time of independence.
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When was India’s first official census operation undertaken?
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Indicate the volume and direction of trade at the time of independence.
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Were there any positive contributions made by the British in India? Discuss.
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Additional Practice Questions
Discuss the main economic challenges faced by India post-independence.
mediumAnswer: Post-independence, India faced massive poverty, unemployment, and low agricultural productivity. The industrial sector required modernization and diversification, and there was a need for robust infrastructure development.
How did British policies affect India's infrastructure?
mediumAnswer: British policies focused on developing infrastructure to serve colonial interests, such as extracting resources and maintaining control, rather than improving public welfare.
Analyze the impact of the railways introduced during British rule in India.
mediumAnswer: The railways facilitated resource extraction and enhanced colonial supply chains but adversely affected the economic self-sufficiency of local communities.
Explain the concept of 'drain of wealth' in the context of colonial India.
hardAnswer: The 'drain of wealth' refers to the transfer of Indian wealth to Britain through high taxes, export surplus policies, and economic manipulation without compensatory return benefits.
Evaluate the legacy of British economic policies on post-independence India's economic structure.
hardAnswer: The legacy includes a distorted economic structure heavily reliant on raw materials, lack of industrial development, and a weakened agricultural base that required massive post-independence reforms.