Class No.

4 (Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence)

Objective:

After the class/ content you will become familiar with the objectives of the British to develop infrastructure in
India. (15 Min)

Infrastructure develops under colonial regime:

Basic infrastructure such as railways, ports, water transport, posts and telegraphs were developed.
However, the real motive behind this development was not to provide basic amenities to the people but to
serve various colonial interests.

(A) Objective to build Roadways:

(i) The roads were built to serve the purpose of mobilising the army within India.

(ii) Roads were built to transport raw material from the countryside to the nearest railway station or port.
It becomes easy for British to send raw material to England or other foreign destinations.

(iii) There always remained an acute shortage of all-weather roads to reach out to the rural areas.
Therefore, people mostly living in these areas suffered during rainy season, natural calamities and
famines.

(B) Objective to build Railways:

The British introduced the railways in India in 1850 and it is considered as one of their most important
contributions.

Positive Impact of Railways:

(i) It enabled people to undertake long distance travel and thereby break geographical and cultural barriers.

(ii) It fostered commercialisation of Indian agriculture.

(iii) The volume of India’s exports expanded.

Negative Impact of Railways:

(i) Due to commercialisation in agriculture, there was adverse effect in the self-sufficiency of the village
economy.

(ii) Although volume of India’s exports expanded but its benefits rarely accrued to the Indian people.

(C) Building Waterways:

1. Colonial government took measures for developing inland trades and sea lanes.

2. It was proved uneconomical as in the case of the Coast Canal on the Orissa coast.
(D) Introduction of Electric telegraph and postal services:

1. It was an expensive system to serve the purpose of maintaining law and order.

2. The postal services serving a useful public purpose but remained inadequate.

At the time of Independence, Infrastructure facilities, including the famed railway network, needed
upgradation, expansion and public orientation.

Try These: (Indian Economic Development, NCERT, Page 14) (10-15 min)

1. What objectives did the British intend to achieve through their policies of infrastructure development in
India?
2. Were there any positive contributions made by the British in India? Discuss.

Also do the ‘Worksheet 1’ based on chapter 1 of the book ‘Indian Economic Development’ (10- 15 minutes)

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 Worksheet 1

Chapter 1: Indian Economy on the eve of Independence

Time: 10-15 min.

True or False Questions

1 About 75% of the country’s population lived mostly in villages and derived livelihood directly or
indirectly from agriculture.
2 Capital goods industry produced machine tools which are in turn, used for producing articles for current
consumption.
3 First census was conducted in 1881 during British India period.

4 Match the following:

Column A Column B
(a) Gross Domestic Product (i) depositing specified sums of revenue
were fixed, failing which the
zamindars were to lose their rights
(b) Muslin (ii) Dr Rajendra Prasad
(c) Revenue settlement (iii) Type of cotton textile
(d) ‘India Divided’ was written by (iv) The money value of all final goods and
services produced within the economy in a
year
(e)‘Economic History of India’ was written by (v) Ramesh Chandra Dutt
(vi) Dadabhai Naoroji
5 What percent of India’s population was dependent on agriculture on the eve of independence?
(a) 75% (b) 50% (c) 85% (d) 65%
Fill in the blanks:
6 The second stage of demographic transition began after ________. (1921/ 1930)
7 Growth rate of ____________ sector was very small in GDP. (agriculture / industrial)
8 The Tata Iron and Steel Company was incorporated in ________. (1910/ 1907)
9 Choose the statements which truly state about infrastructural condition on the eve of India’s
independence.
(a) Roads were constructed by Britishers primarily for movement of army.
(b) Railways were introduced in 1820.
(c) Indian exports expanded during this period.
(d) Britishers took measures to develop inland trade and sea routes.
(e) Postal services were adequately developed
(f) Electric telegraph system was introduced
Assertion and Reasons:
10 Assertion: Britishers destroyed indigenous handicraft market in India
Reason: India was made market for British manufactured products
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
(e) Both A and R are false.
11 Assertion: During British rule, India saw huge drain of wealth
Reason: India generated large export surplus during the period
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
c) A is true but R is false.
d) A is false but R is true.
e) Both A and R are false.
12 Assertion: During the British colonial rule in India, Britishers built roads extensively to cover the nation.
Reason: Roads were built by Britishers primarily to mobilise army.
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
c) A is true but R is false.
d) A is false but R is true.
e) Both A and R are false.
13 Read the following statements relating to industrial sector during British rule and state the correct
sequence of these statements.
(i) Cheap imports of British manufactured goods increased in the country.
(ii) The growth rate of Industrial sector was very small.
(iii) India was reduced to be mere exporter of raw material.
(iv) India faced shortage of locally made goods.
14 Read the following statements relating to demographic condition of India during British Rule. State the
correct sequence of these statements.
(i) Overall mortality rate was very high
(ii) Water and airborne diseases were rampant
(iii) Public health services were either unavailable or were inadequate
(iv) Infant mortality was at alarming level
15 Which of the following statements is not true about India’s economic development during British rule?
a) Handicraft products were well known worldwide.
b) Agriculture was the main source of livelihood
c) India transformed into supplier and consumer of finished industrial products
d) Per capita income grew by half percent in the first half of twentieth century
16 Commercialisation of agriculture during British rule led to :
a) More production of food crops
b) Improvement in the economic condition of farmers
c) More production of crops used by Britishers as raw material
d) The aggregate area under cultivation expanded
17 Which of the following statements correctly characterize the condition of Indian Agricultural condition on
the eve of independence?
(a) About 75% of the population was directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture.
(b) Sector was experiencing stagnation
(c) Aggregate area under cultivation was contracting
(d) Agricultural productivity became low in absolute terms
(e) Irrigation facilities were well developed.
(f) Cash crops were more produced.
(g) Fertilizers were excessively used.
18 Which of the following statements correctly characterize demographic condition of India on the eve of
independence?
(a) Second stage of transition began after 1910.
(b) Rate of population growth was high during the first and second stage.
(c) Literacy level was less than 16%.
(d) Water and air borne diseases were rampant.
(e) Mortality rate was low
(f) Life expectancy was 44 years.

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