MCQs on economic impact of British rule – Modern Indian History
Q1. Which of the following is not a reason for the decline of the Indian economy under British rule?
a) Deindustrialization
b) Drain of wealth
c) Introduction of new technologies
d) Agricultural stagnation
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Correct Answer: c) Introduction of new technologies
Explanation: The introduction of new technologies is not a reason for the decline of the Indian economy under British rule. Instead, it is argued that British policies such as deindustrialization and the drain of wealth contributed to the decline.
Q2. Who propounded the theory of “Economic Drain of India” during British imperialism?
a) W. B. Bannerji
b) Dadabhai Naroji
c) Gandhiji
d) Jawaharlal Nehru
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Correct Answer: b) Dadabhai Naroji
Explanation: Dadabhai Naroji was a prominent Indian nationalist who propounded the theory of “Economic Drain of India” during British imperialism, which argued that India’s wealth was being drained to Britain.
Q3. Which of the following was not a major industry in India during British rule?
a) Textiles
b) Iron and steel
c) Agriculture
d) Jute
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Correct Answer: b) Iron and steel
Explanation: Iron and steel were not major industries in India during British rule. Instead, the British focused on exporting raw materials such as cotton and jute.
Q4. Which of the following was not a consequence of the British land revenue system in India?
a) Peasant indebtedness
b) Landlessness
c) Agricultural growth
d) Poverty
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Correct Answer: c) Agricultural growth
Explanation: The British land revenue system in India did not lead to agricultural growth. Instead, it led to peasant indebtedness, landlessness, and poverty.
Q5. Which of the following was not a feature of the Indian economy on the eve of independence?
a) High literacy rate
b) High infant mortality rate
c) High life expectancy rate
d) High female literacy rate
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Correct Answer: b) High infant mortality rate
Explanation: The Indian economy on the eve of independence did not have a high infant mortality rate. Instead, it had a high literacy rate, high life expectancy rate, and high female literacy rate.
Q6. Which of the following was not a policy of the British rulers in India for industrialization?
a) Making India an importer of both primary and finished goods
b) Making India an exporter of both primary and finished goods
c) Making India an importer of primary goods from Britain and an exporter of finished goods to Britain
d) Encouraging the growth of Indian industries
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Correct Answer: d) Encouraging the growth of Indian industries
Explanation: The British rulers in India did not encourage the growth of Indian industries. Instead, they focused on making India an importer of primary goods from Britain and an exporter of finished goods to Britain.
Q7. Which of the following was not a consequence of the British policy of deindustrialization in India?
a) Unemployment
b) Poverty
c) Industrial growth
d) Agricultural stagnation
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Correct Answer: c) Industrial growth
Explanation: The British policy of deindustrialization in India did not lead to industrial growth. Instead, it led to unemployment, poverty, and agricultural stagnation.
Q8. Which of the following was not a consequence of the British policy of commercialization of agriculture in India?
a) Landlessness
b) Peasant indebtedness
c) Agricultural growth
d) Poverty
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Correct Answer: c) Agricultural growth
Explanation: The British policy of commercialization of agriculture in India did not lead to agricultural growth. Instead, it led to landlessness, peasant indebtedness, and poverty.
Q9. Which of the following was not a consequence of the British policy of railway construction in India?
a) Economic growth
b) Urbanization
c) Agricultural growth
d) Social change
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Correct Answer: c) Agricultural growth
Explanation: The British policy of railway construction in India did not lead to agricultural growth. Instead, it led to economic growth, urbanization, and social change.
Q10. Which of the following was not a consequence of the British policy of free trade in India?
a) Industrial growth
b) Unemployment
c) Poverty
d) Drain of wealth
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Correct Answer: a) Industrial growth
Explanation: The British policy of free trade in India did not lead to industrial growth. Instead, it led to unemployment, poverty, and drain of wealth.
Q11. Which of the following was not a consequence of the British policy of land settlement in India?
a) Peasant indebtedness
b) Landlessness
c) Agricultural growth
d) Poverty
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Correct Answer: c) Agricultural growth
Explanation: The British policy of land settlement in India did not lead to agricultural growth. Instead, it led to peasant indebtedness, landlessness, and poverty.
Q12. Which of the following was not a consequence of the British policy of education in India?
a) Social change
b) Economic growth
c) Political awareness
d) Agricultural growth
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Correct Answer: d) Agricultural growth
Explanation: The British policy of education in India did not lead to agricultural growth. Instead, it led to social change, economic growth, and political awareness.
Q13. Which of the following was not a consequence of the British policy of forest conservation in India?
a) Environmental degradation
b) Deforestation
c) Tribal displacement
d) Forest conservation
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Correct Answer: d) Forest conservation
Explanation: The British policy of forest conservation in India did not lead to forest conservation. Instead, it led to environmental degradation, deforestation, and tribal displacement.
Q14. Which of the following was not a consequence of the British policy of taxation in India?
a) Drain of wealth
b) Peasant indebtedness
c) Poverty
d) Economic growth
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Correct Answer: d) Economic growth
Explanation: The British policy of taxation in India did not lead to economic growth. Instead, it led to drain of wealth, peasant indebtedness, and poverty.
Q15. Which of the following was not a consequence of the British policy of railway construction in India?
a) Economic growth
b) Urbanization
c) Social change
d) Agricultural growth
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Correct Answer: d) Agricultural growth
Explanation: The British policy of railway construction in India did not lead to agricultural growth. Instead, it led to economic growth, urbanization, and social change.
Q16. Which of the following was not a consequence of the British policy of commercialization of agriculture in India?
a) Landlessness
b) Peasant indebtedness
c) Agricultural growth
d) Poverty
Show Answer
Correct Answer: c) Agricultural growth
Explanation: The British policy of commercialization of agriculture in India did not lead to agricultural growth. Instead, it led to landlessness, peasant indebtedness, and poverty.
Q17. Which of the following was not a consequence of the British policy of education in India?
a) Social change
b) Economic growth
c) Political awareness
d) Agricultural growth
Show Answer
Correct Answer: d) Agricultural growth
Explanation: The British policy of education in India did not lead to agricultural growth. Instead, it led to social change, economic growth, and political awareness.