ASSIGNMENT

CHPATER – 1: INDIAN ECONOMY ON THE EVE OF INDEPEDENCE

1. India entered the …………………….stage of demographic transition after 1921.
a. Fourth b. Second c. First d. Third
2. Give the names of the economists who estimated India’s per capital Income during
colonial period.
3. State any one positive contribution made by the British in India.
4. Define Life Expectancy.
5. First official census in India was conducted in year…………………..
6. Opening of Suez Canal in …………………….
a. 1869 b. 1907 c. 1884 d. 1912
7. Which of the following statements is true?
a. On the eve of Independence, Indian economy was not stagnant.
b. Literacy rate in India was high in 1947.
c. Britishers introduced English as a medium of language because they wanted to uplift the
social status of Indians.
d. There was slow growth of modern industries in India with limited number of capital
goods industry.
8. The exports surplus during the British rule was used to:
a. Import invisible items.
b. Make payments for expenses incurred by an office setup by the colonial government in
Britain.
c. Meet the expenses on War fought by the British Government.
d. All of the above.
9. Match the following:
Column – I Column – II
1. Set up of TISCO a. Production of crops for self-consumption
2. Subsistence Farming b. 1932
3. Start of TATA Airlines c. Output produced per hectare of land
4. Productivity of land d. 1907
10. Assertion (A): On the eve of Independence, Indian Economy was backward, stagnant and
underdeveloped.
Reason (R): India experienced colonial exploitation of more than 200 years.
a. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explanation of
Assertion (A).
b. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and reason (R) is not the correct explanation
of Assertion (A).
c. Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.
d. Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.
11. Assertion (A): Indian Agriculture was characterized by high productivity and production.
Reason (R): There was prevalence of Zamindari system in Indian Agriculture.
a. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explanation of
Assertion (A).
b. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and reason (R) is not the correct explanation
of Assertion (A).
 c. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are false.
d. Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.
12. Assertion (A): Farmers were forced to produce crops with the purpose of sale in the market
rather than self-consumption.
Reason (R): Indigo was required by textile Industry in Britain.
a. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explanation of
Assertion (A).
b. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and reason (R) is not the correct explanation
of Assertion (A).
c. Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.
d. Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.
13. Assertion (A): Britishers adopted discriminatory tariff policy in industrial sector.
Reason (R): India observed systematic de-inustrialization during the British rule in India.
a. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explanation of
Assertion (A).
b. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and reason (R) is not the correct explanation
of Assertion (A).
c. Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.
d. Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.
14. Assertion (A): During the colonial rule, efforts were made by British Government for the
development of economic infrastructure like roads, canals and railways in India.
Reason (R): The elements of economics infrastructure reduced the cost of transportation
between India and Britain.
a. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explanation of
Assertion (A).
b. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and reason (R) is not the correct explanation
of Assertion (A).
c. Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.
d. Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.
15. Assertion (A): India enjoyed trade surplus during the colonial rule.
Reason (R): During colonial rule, India had good trade relations with various countries of
the world.
a. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explanation of
Assertion (A).
b. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and reason (R) is not the correct explanation
of Assertion (A).
c. Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.
d. Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.
16. Assertion (A): Prior to British rule, India was known as Golden Sparrow.
Reason (R): During the colonial rule, the trade surplus generated in India and its already
existing wealth was drained by britishers.
a. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explanation of
Assertion (A).
b. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and reason (R) is not the correct explanation
of Assertion (A).
c. Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.
 d. Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.
17. Match the following:
Column – I Column – II
1. Opening of Suez Canal a. 1921
2. Introduction of railways in India. b. 1881
3. Year of great divide c. 1850
4. First official census d. 1869
18. If Britain was the ruling imperial power, India, was it’s?
a) Colony b) Territory c) Neighbor d) Superpower
19. Prior to the establishment of British rule, which of the following was True for the
Indian economy: –
a) India had an independent economy and flourishing markets
b) Livelihood of Indian people was mainly based on agriculture
c) Indian Handicrafts, textile industries and metallic work enjoyed a worldwide
market
d) All of the above
20. Name of person who made the most notable attempt to calculate India’s national
income during the British rule in India on the eve of independence.
a) A.O Hume b) Dadabhai Naoroji
c) Surendra Nath Bonnerji d) Mahatma Gandhi
21. The most predominant sector of the Indian Economy prior to independence was?
a) Agriculture b) Industry c) Service sector d) Trade sector
22. The main reason for stagnation in the agricultural sector during the British rule was?
a) Technological deceleration b) Problems of irrigation facilities
c) Land Settlement systems d) De-industrialization
23. The first Census year of British India was?
a) 1991 b) 1947 c) 1881 d) 1757
24. De-industrialization was a major setback pertaining to which Indian Industry?
a) Coal b) Handicrafts c) Iron and Steel d) Cotton textiles
25. Production of large amount of cash crops for the purpose of export, is termed as?
a) Commercialization of Agriculture b) Commencement of Agriculture
c) Commercialization of Industries d) The great Indian Diaspora
26. Apart from Cotton which other textile industry saw its advancement in parts of
India during the British rule?
a) Jute b) Sugar c) Paper d) Tea
27. TISCO was established in India in the year?
a) 1917 b) 1817 c) 1907 d) 1807
28. During the period prior to the Independence, which of the following country was
India’s largest trading partner?
a) Britain b) China c) Brazil d) America
29. Which was the year of ‘great Divide’ for India?
a) 1996 b) 1930 c) 1856 d) 1921
30. The year 1853 was important in the history of India for?
a) Introduction of Road b) Introduction of Railway
c) Introduction of ships d) Introduction of Bullock carts.
 31. With reference to Industrial sector state the correct combination of statements.
1. British wanted to reduce India to a mere supplier of raw materials
2. India was a market for British finished goods.
3. Improvement was the basis of Indian Economy due to the improvement of
Industries
a) 1 only b) 1 and 2 only c) All of the above d) 3 only

Fill in the Blanks

1. Prior to Independence, India was an _______.
2. The _________ (Agriculture/ External) sector had the largest share of workforce.
3. The opening of the _________ facilitated British trade with India after the year
_________.
4. _________ (Handicrafts/ Coal) Industry suffered the most due to de-
industrialization.
5. The book written by Dadabhai Naoroji was ________.
6. The introduction of _________ saw the drain of profits from small farmers to
Zamindars in Bengal.
7. Trading structure with Britain had an adverse effect on India’s _______.
8. 1881 was the first ________ (census year/ year of great divide) for India.
9. One of the Social development Indicators, __________ (literacy rate/ infant
mortality rate) was at 16% on the eve of Independence.
10. A system of political and social relations between two countries of which one is the
ruler and the other is its colony is referred to as _________.

State whether the statements are true or false and correct the wrong statements.

a) The main motive behind De-industrialization was to improve India’s economic condition.
b) Commercialization of cash crops added to the improvement in the conditions of the small
farmers.
c) Social development Indicators like Life expectancy rate and Infant mortality rates were
seen deteriorating during the time prior to Indian independence.
d) The East India Company established power in Bengal after the First Battle of Panipat in
1526.
e) Small amount of exports was done to countries like China and Ceylon apart from large
amounts going to Britain.
f) The rulers wanted to establish a market for German finished goods in India.