NCERT Solutions Class 11 Economics Chapter 1 Indian Economy On The Eve Of Independence
NCERT Solutions Class 11 Economics Chapter 1 Indian Economy On The Eve Of Independence: National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) Class 11 Economics Chapter 1 Solutions – Indian Economy On The Eve Of Independence.
Board |
NCERT |
Class |
11 |
Subject |
Economics |
Chapter |
1 |
Chapter Name |
Indian Economy On The Eve Of Independence |
Topic |
Exercise Solutions |
1.) What was the focus of the economic policies pursued by the colonial government in india? What were the impacts of these policies?
Ans.
Under the colonial dispensation, the economic policies of the government were concerned more with the protection and promotion of British economic interests than with the need to develop the economic condition of the colonised country and its people. The economic policies pursued by the colonial government in India were concerned more with the protection and promotion of the economic interests of their home country than with the development of the indian economy. Such policies brought about a fundamental change in the structure of the indian economy — transforming the country into supplier of raw materials and consumer of finished industrial products from britain.
The british policies had the following impacts on india:
1.) The time india won its independence, the impact of the two-century long british colonial rule was already showing on all aspects of the indian economy.
2.) the agricultural sector was already saddled with surplus labour and extremely low productivity.
3.) the industrial sector was crying for modernisation, diversification, capacity building and increased public investment.
4.foreign trade was oriented to feed the industrial revolution in britain. Infrastructure facilities, including the famed railway network, needed upgradation, expansion and public orientation. 5.prevalence of rampant poverty and unemployment required welfare orientation of public economic policy. In a nutshell, the social and economic challenges before the country were enormous.
2.) Name some notable economists who estimated india’s per capita income during the colonial period.
Ans.
The colonial government never made any sincere attempt to estimate india’s national and per capita income. Some individual attempts which were made to measure such incomes yielded conflicting and inconsistent results.
Among the notable estimators — dadabhainaoroji, williamdigby, findlayshirras, v.k.r.v. Rao and r.c. Desai — it was rao, whose estimates during the colonial period was considered very significant.
3.) What were the main causes of india’s agricultural stagnation during the colonial period?
Ans.
The main causes of india’s agricultural stagnation during the colonial period as following : land revenue system , lock of resources and commercialisation of agriculture.the agricultural sector continued to experience stagnation and deterioration despite the fact that the largest section of indian population depended on it for sustenance.
1.) Sector continued to experience stagnation and, not infrequently, unusual deterioration. Agricultural pro-ductivity became low though, in absolute terms, the sector experienced some growth due to the expansion of the aggregate area under cultivation. This stagnation in the agricultural sector was caused mainly because of the various systems of land settlement that were introduced by the colonial government. Particularly, under the zamindari system which was implemented in the then bengal presidency comprising parts of india’s present-day eastern states, the profit accruing out of the agriculture sector went to the zamindars instead of the cultivators. However, a considerable number of zamindars, and not just the colonial government, did nothing to improve the condition of agriculture.
2.) The main interest of the zamindars was only to collect rent regardless of the economic condition of the cultivators; this caused immense misery and social tension among the latter. To a very great extent, the terms of the revenue settlement were also responsible for the zamindars adopting such an attitude; dates for depositing specified sums of revenue were fixed, failing which the zamindars were to lose their rights.
3.) Besides this, low levels of technology, lack of irrigation facilities and negligible use of fertilisers, all added up to aggravate the plight of the farmers and contributed to the dismal level of agricultural productivity. There was, of course, some evidence of a relatively higher yield of cash crops in certain areas of the country commercialisation of agriculture.
4.) Name some modern industries which were in operation in our country at the time of independence.
Ans.
The rule of the british-india government led to the collapse of india’s world famous handicraft industries without contributing, in any significant manner, to its replacement by a modern industrial base. Cotton textile, jute textile, sugar industries, cement industries and paper industries were operational in india , raw silk, cotton, wool, sugar, indigo, jute .
5.) What was the two-fold motive behind the systematic de-industrialisation effected by the british in pre-independent india ?
Ans.
The main two fold motive behind the systematic de-industrialisation affected by the british : making india a supplier of raw materials, making india a market for finished goods .the primary motive of the colonial government behind this policy of systematically de-industrialising india was two-fold. The intention was,
**first – to reduce india to the status of a mere exporter of important raw materials for the upcoming modern industries in britain and,
**second – to turn India into a sprawling market for the finished products of those industries so that their continued expansion could be ensured to the maximum advantage of their home country — Britain. In the unfolding economic scenario, the decline of the indigenous handicraft industries created not only massive unemployment in India but also a new demand in the indian consumer market, which was now deprived of the supply of locally made goods. This demand was profitably met by the increasing imports of cheap manufactured goods from Britain.
6.) The traditional handicrafts industries were ruined under the british rule. Do you agree with this view? Give reasons in support of your answer.
Ans.
Yes, we agree with the above statement that the traditional handicrafts industries were ruined under the britishrule . The following are the reasons in favour of the statements : discriminatory tariff policy , competition from machine made britain goods , emergence of new class , disappearance of princely state . The rule of the british-india government led to the collapse of india’s world famous handicraft industries without contributing, in any significant manner, to its replacement by a modern industrial base.
India had an independent economy before the advent of the british rule. Though agriculture was the main source of livelihood for most people, yet, the country’s economy was characterised by various kinds of manufacturing activities. India was particularly well known for its handicraft industries in the fields of cotton and silk textiles, metal and precious stone works etc. As in the case of agriculture, so also in manufacturing, india could not develop a sound industrial base under the colonial rule. Even as the country’s world famous handicraft industries declined, no corresponding modern industrial base was allowed to come up to take pride of place so long enjoyed by the former. The primary motive of the colonial government behind this policy of systematically deindustrialising india was two-fold. The intention was, first, to reduce india to the status of a mere exporter of important raw materials for the upcoming modern industries in britain and, second, to turn india into a sprawling market for the finished products of those industries so that their continued expansion could be ensured to the maximum advantage of their home country — britain. In the unfolding economic scenario, the decline of the indigenous handicraft industries created not only massive unemployment in india but also a new demand in the indian consumer market, which was now deprived of the supply of locally made goods. This demand was profitably met by the increasing imports of cheap manufactured goods from britain.
The establishment of a few manufacturing units here and there was no substitute to the near wholesale displacement of the country’s traditional handicraft industries. Furthermore, the growth rate of the new industrial sector and its contribution to the gross domestic product (gdp) or gross value added remained very small. Another significant drawback of the new industrial sector was the very limited area of operation of the public sector.
7.) What objectives did the british intend to achieve through their policies of infrastructure development in india?
Ans.
One cannot disagreed with that under the british rule, there was significant change in the infrastructural development in the country . Some efforts were made by the colonial regime to improve infrastructure facilities but these efforts were spiced with selfish motives. However, the independent indian government had to built on this base through planning.
Under the colonial regime, basic infrastructure such as railways, ports, water transport, posts and telegraphs did develop. However, the real motive behind this development was not to provide basic amenities to the people but to subserve various colonial interests. Roads constructed in india prior to the advent of the british rule were not fit for modern transport. Naturally, therefore, people mostly living in these areas suffered grievously during natural calamities and famines. R. The postal services, on the other hand, despite serving a useful public purpose, remained all through inadequate. The industrial sector was crying for modernisation, diversification, capacity building and increased public investment. Foreign trade was oriented to feed the industrial revolution in britain. Infrastructure facilities, including the famed railway network, needed upgradation, expansion and public orientation. Hence the infrastructural development was not the growth and development of the indian economy but to serve their own interest.
8.) Critically appraise some of the shortfalls of the industrial policy pursued by the british colonial administration.
Ans.
The industrial policy pursued by the british colonial administration suffered from the following shortfalls : de-industrialisation , handicrafts industries bad impacts , lack of capital goods industry , limited role of public sector the country’s world famous handicraft industries declined, no corresponding modern industrial base was allowed to come up to take pride of place so long enjoyed by the former. The primary motive of the colonial government behind this policy of systematically deindustrialising india was two-fold. The intention was, first, to reduce india to the status of a mere exporter of important raw materials for the upcoming modern industries in britain and, second, to turn india into a sprawling market for the finished products of those industries so that their continued expansion could be ensured to the maximum advantage of their home country — britain. In the unfolding economic scenario, the decline of the indigenous handicraft industries created not only massive unemployment in india but also a new demand in the indian consumer market, which was now deprived of the supply of locally made goods. This demand was profitably met by the increasing imports of cheap manufactured goods from britain. The near wholesale displacement of the country’s traditional handicraft industries. Furthermore, the growth rate of the new industrial sector and its contribution to the gross domestic product (gdp) or gross value added remained very small.
Another significant drawback of the new industrial sector was the very limited area of operation of the public sector. This sector remained confined only to the railways, power generation, communications, ports and some other departmental undertakings.
9.) What do you understand by the drain of indian wealth during the colonial period?
Ans.
The most important characteristic of india’s foreign trade throughout the colonial period was the generation of a large export surplus. But this surplus came at a huge cost to the country’s economy. Several essential commodities—food grains, clothes, kerosene etc. — were scarcely available in the domestic market. Furthermore, this export surplus did not result in any flow of gold or silver into india. Rather, this was used to make payments for the expenses incurred by an office set up by the colonial government in britain, expenses on war, again fought by the british government, and the import of invisible items, all of which led to the drain of indian wealth. The british rule drained out indian wealth for the fulfilment of its own interests. The sole motive of britain to conquer india was to own a perennial source of cheap raw materials to feed its own industrial base in britain.
10.) Which is regarded as the defining year to mark the demographic transition from its first to the second decisive stage?
Ans.
The year 1921 is regarded as the defining year of to make the demographic transition from its first to second decisive stage. Every ten years such census operations were carried out. Before 1921, india was in the first stage of demographic transition. The second stage of transition began after 1921. However, neither the total population of india nor the rate of population growth at this stage was very high.
11.) Give a quantitative appraisal of india’s demographic profile during the colonial period.
Ans.
1921, india was in the first stage of demographic transition. The second stage of transition began after 1921. However, neither the total population of india nor the rate of population growth at this stage was very high.
The various social development indicators were also not quite encouraging. The overall literacy level was less than 16 per cent.the female literacy level was at a negligible low of about seven per cent. No wonder, the overall mortality rate was very high and in that, particularly, the infant mortality rate was quite alarming—about 218 per thousand in contrast to the present infant mortality rate of 33 per thousand. Life expectancy was also very low—32 years in contrast to the present 69 years.
In the absence of reliable data, it is difficult to specify the extent of poverty at that time but there is no doubt that extensive poverty prevailed in india during the colonial period which contributed to the worsening profile of india’s population of the time.
The largest share of workforce, which usually remained at a high of 70-75 per cent while the manufacturing and the services sectors accounted for only 10 and 15-20 per cent respectively.
12.) Highlight the salient features of india’s pre-independence occupational structure.
Ans.
Highlights the salient features of indias pre independence occupational structure is predominance of agriculture , lack of opportunities in industry , unequal distribution of all sectors , regional issue. The occupational structure of india, i.e., distribution of working persons across different industries and sectors, showed little sign of change. The agricultural sector accounted for the largest share of workforce, which usually remained at a high of 70-75 per cent while the manufacturing and the services sectors accounted for only 10 and 15-20 per cent respectively. Another striking aspect was the growing regional variation.
Parts of the then madras presidency (comprising areas of the present-day states of tamilnadu, andhrapradesh, kerala and karnataka), bombay and bengal witnessed a decline in the dependence of the workforce on the agricultural sector with a commensurate increase in the manufacturing and the services sectors. However, there had been an increase in the share of workforce in agriculture during the same time in states such as orissa, rajasthan and punjab.
A large section of india’s population did not have basic needs such as housing
13.) Underscore some of india’s most crucial economic challenges at the time of independence.
Ans.
The time india won its independence, the impact of the two-century long british colonial rule was already showing on all aspects of the indian economy. The agricultural sector was already saddled with surplus labour and extremely low productivity. The industrial sector was crying for modernisation, diversification, capacity building and increased public investment. Infrastructure facilities, including the famed railway network, needed upgradation, expansion and public orientation.
The agricultural sector accounted for the largest share of workforce, which usually remained at a high of 70-75 per cent while the manufacturing and the services sectors accounted for only 10 and 15-20 per cent respectively.
The country’s growth of aggregate real output during the first half of the twentieth century was less than two per cent coupled with a meagre half per cent growth in per capita output per year. Large scale unemployment and underemployment .
14.) When was india’s first official census operation undertaken?
Ans.In 1881, India’s first official census operation was undertaken.
15.) Indicate the volume and direction of trade at the time of independence.
Ans.
trade and tariff pursued by the colonial government adversely affected the structure, composition and volume of India’s foreign trade. Consequently, India became an exporter of primary products such as raw silk, cotton, wool, sugar, indigo, jute etc. and an importer of finished consumer goods like cotton, silk and woollen clothes and capital goods like light machinery produced in the factories of Britain. For all practical purposes, Britain maintained a monopoly control over India’s exports and imports. India’s foreign trade was restricted to Britain while the rest was allowed with a few other countries like China, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Persia (Iran). The opening of the Suez Canal further intensified British control over India’s foreign trade.
16.) Were there any positive contributions made by the British in India?
Discuss.
Ans – The positive contribution made by British in India as follows.
The British introduced the railways in India in 1850 and it is considered as one of the their most 2important contributions. The railways affected the structure of the Indian economy in two important ways. On the one hand it enabled people to undertake long distance travel and thereby break geographical and cultural barriers while, on the other hand, it fostered commercialisation of Indian agriculture which adversely affected the self-sufficiency of the village economies in India. The volume of India’s exports undoubtedly expanded but its benefits rarely accrued to the Indian people. The social benefits, which the Indian people gained owing to the introduction of the railways, were thus outweighed by the country’s huge economic loss. Along with the development of roads and railways, the colonial dispensation also took measures for developing the inland trade and sea lanes. However, these measures were far from satisfactory.