Question

What was the two-fold motive behind the systematic de-industrialisation affected by the British in pre-independent India?

Answer 1

The following is the two-fold motive behind the systematic de-industrialisation affected by the British:

(i) Making India a supplier of raw materials:

The main motive of the British Government was to make India a mere supplier of cheap raw materials to feed its own rapidly expanding industries.

(ii) Making India a market for finished goods:

Another important objective of the British Government in de-industrialising the Indian economy was to use India as a large and growing market to sell the finished goods produced by the British industries so that their industries would not face a demand shortage.