Question

Statement: India became an agricultural colony of Britain. How?

Answer 1

Instructions: The answer to this question can be approached in the following way:

1. Describe the impact of the policies that were introduced by the British.
2. Mention the factors that led to the decline of the Indian industries.
3. Describe the shift towards agriculture.

Solution:

• During the 18th century, the British introduced various policies which hampered the process of urbanisation.
• Later, the economic policies adopted by the British led to the development of cities and transformed the Indian economy into a colonial economy.
• Trading policies of the British imposed restrictions and heavy duties on the Indian goods that were imported into Britain and the rest of Europe.
• The Industrial Revolution and the British policies destroyed the Indian industrial base which was mainly based on handicraft production.
• As a result, craftsmen and artisans lost their livelihood and towns lost their importance.
• People started shifting towards the agricultural sector, due to which India became an agricultural colony of the British.