Question

Which of the following were reasons for the decline in the competitiveness of Indian textiles in the world market in the early 19th century?

• A. The industrialised textiles from Britain flooded the world markets, as production of these textiles became cheaper and faster for the British.
• B. The Indian weavers wanted to work in the upcoming service industry.
• C. The British imposed heavy duties on the Indian textiles making them much more expensive than the British textiles.
• D. The quality of the textiles produced in India was inferior to the British textiles.

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (C)

The British imposed heavy duties on the Indian textiles making them much more expensive than the British textiles.

With the invention of some machines like the spinning jenny, textiles were produced in large quantities, making them cheaper. British cloth started to flood the domestic as well as the international markets. Heavy duties were imposed on Indian textiles and traders could no longer afford to buy these textiles.