UPSC Prelims 2020 Q23: Modern History – British Administration & Economic Policies
- (a) Indian handicrafts were ruined.
- (b) Machines were introduced in the Indian textile industry in large numbers.
- (c) Railway lines were laid in many parts of the country.
- (d) Heavy duties were imposed on the imports of British manufactures.
Answer: (a) Indian handicrafts were ruined.
Explanation
Industrial Revolution Impact on India (First Half 19th Century): Primary Effect
| Impact | Magnitude | Correct? |
|---|---|---|
| Indian handicrafts were ruined | MASSIVE | YES |
| Machines introduced in Indian textile industry | Some limited use | NO - machines were introduced LATER |
| Railway lines laid | Post-1850s expansion | NO - limited in first half |
| Heavy duties on British imports | Rare in British India | NO - opposite occurred |
Industrial Revolution in Britain (1760-1840) directly destroyed Indian textile handicrafts through:
- British manufactured goods (cheaper, uniform, large-scale) undercut Indian hand-woven textiles
- East India Company imposed tariffs on Indian cloth while British cottons entered duty-free
- Indian spinners + weavers (especially in Bengal, Dacca) were systematically ruined
- India transformed from net exporter to importer of textiles
Answer: (a) Indian handicrafts were ruined.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. The primary impact of Industrial Revolution on India (1800-1850) was the destruction of Indian handicraft textile industry.
- (b) Incorrect. Machines were not introduced in Indian industry in first half of 19th century.
- (c) Incorrect. Railways were laid mainly after 1850s under British strategic/commercial interests.
- (d) Incorrect. British imposed duty on Indian cloth, not the reverse.
Key point
Industrial Revolution -> India handicraft collapse: EIC/Britain imported machine-made cottons duty-free; imposed high tariffs on Indian cloth exports. India's cloth share in world trade fell from ~25% (1750) to <1% (1900). Economic devastation of artisans.
Remember
The primary impact of the Industrial Revolution on India during the first half of the nineteenth century was the ruin of Indian handicrafts, particularly the textile industry. British machine-made goods displaced Indian hand-woven textiles, and tariff policies further devastated Indian artisans and producers.
Common mistakes
- Assuming industrialization helped India. British industrialization was predatory - used India as raw material source + captive market for finished goods.
- Confusing technology transfer (machines) with economic impact. Technology was NOT transferred to India; instead, British goods strangled Indian production.
- Missing the de-industrialization thesis - India's share of world GDP fell from ~23% (1750) to ~4% (1950) due to colonial extraction.
Exam tip
Colonial economic theory: Britain followed mercantilist policies - India supplied raw cotton, jute, indigo; Britain sold finished goods. India's textile exports declined from Rs 50 crore (1800) to Rs 5 crore (1850). This structured inequality lasted 200 years.
Sources
- Amartya Sen - The Argumentative Indian (Chapter on India's Economic History)
- Angus Maddison - The World Economy: Historical Statistics