UPSC Prelims 2018 Question:

Economically, one of the results of the British rule in India in the 19th century was the

Explanation:

• • Colonialism destroyed the Indian agrarian economy which led to the impoverishment of peasantry. While the British retained much of the Mughal land revenue system of Todar Mal, they made some drastic changes to raise the share of revenue collected enormously.

• Economic Impact of British rule:

• • Ruin of handicrafts industry: Charter Act of 1813 allowed one-way free trade and Machine made cheap goods flooded the Indian market. India was only a raw materials supplier.
    
    
  • Deindustrialisation led to unemployment of Artisans and they turned to villages and chose agriculture as their new profession. This resulted in in overburdened agriculture sector and ultimate poverty. 
    
    
  • Commercialisation of Indian Agriculture began in the 2nd half of the 19th century. Jute, cotton, groundnut, oilseeds, sugarcane, tobacco were the major commerical crops in demand in the international market. 
    
    

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: History | Economic Impact of British Rule