India on The Eve of Independence
Q1 . What was the focus of the economic policies pursued by the colonial government in India? What were the impacts of these policies? Ans. 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. Impact of these policies (i) British rule ruined the agriculture sector and handicrafts and transformed India into a supplier of raw materials. (ii) Indian agriculture was affected by colonial rule when the farmers were forced to grow commercial crops instead of food grains. (iii) The British programmed systematic deindustrialization leading to the downfall of the handicraft industry, and with the lack of investment, other industries also failed to develop. (iv) The money that Indian goods earned from foreign trade were not invested in the Indian economy; it was used for serving the British army and expanding their...