Economic Impact of British Rule on India

31. Before the permanent settlement the peasants enjoyed :

Before the permanent settlement the peasants enjoyed :

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customary occupancy rights.
only tenancy rights.
high rent demands.
revenue collecting rights.
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Before the formalization of land rights under systems like the Permanent Settlement, peasants often held customary rights, including occupancy rights (sometimes referred to as ryoti rights), which allowed them to cultivate the land as long as they paid their share of revenue/rent. These rights were based on tradition and long-standing practice, though they varied regionally and could be precarious depending on the ruling authority. The Permanent Settlement often undermined or abolished these traditional customary rights by vesting full ownership in the zamindars.
Pre-colonial agrarian systems often recognized the cultivator’s right to the land they tilled, contingent upon payment of revenue. The state claimed a share of the produce (revenue), but the cultivator usually retained hereditary occupancy rights.
The Permanent Settlement, by making zamindars owners and elevating their status, often reduced the peasants to mere tenants-at-will, losing their traditional security of tenure and customary rights enjoyed prior to the formalization of the zamindari system under the British.

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32. According to the passage, the permanent settlement vested :

According to the passage, the permanent settlement vested :

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revenue collecting rights to zamindars.
land ownership rights to the state.
land ownership rights to zamindars.
customary rights to peasants.
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According to the Permanent Settlement, introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793, the zamindars were recognized as the proprietors or owners of the land. They were given ownership rights, which were heritable and transferable, in contrast to their previous position which was often that of revenue collectors or intermediaries with more limited rights.
The Permanent Settlement established a fixed revenue demand that zamindars had to pay to the state, irrespective of the actual collection from the peasants. Failure to pay the fixed amount by the sunset date (Sunset Law) led to the auctioning of the zamindari. This system aimed to ensure a stable revenue for the company and create a loyal class of landowners.
While the zamindars were granted land ownership rights, the rights of the actual cultivators (ryots) were not clearly defined and were often neglected, leading to their exploitation by the zamindars through arbitrary rent increases and evictions. The Permanent Settlement was primarily implemented in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.

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33. Consider the following statements : 1. The Indian cities like Dacca,

Consider the following statements :

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  • 1. The Indian cities like Dacca, Murshidabad and Surat were known all over the world as centers of trade and industry in the pre-colonial period.
  • 2. Such centers of trade and industry went down in the face of foreign competition in the colonial period.
  • 3. Indian artisans, manufacturers and weavers were provided alternative employment by the British Indian government after the decline of these centers of trade.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct ?

1 and 2
2 and 3
3 only
1 only
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The question asks for the *not correct* statement(s). Statement 1 is correct as cities like Dacca (textiles, especially muslin), Murshidabad (silk), and Surat (port trade) were indeed major centers of trade and industry globally in the pre-colonial period. Statement 2 is correct; these centers and traditional Indian industries faced decline due to British policies like discriminatory tariffs, competition from machine-made British goods, and loss of court patronage. Statement 3 is incorrect; the British Indian government did not provide alternative employment to the displaced artisans and weavers. The decline of traditional industries led to mass de-industrialization, forcing people back to agriculture, which was already under immense pressure.
– Pre-colonial India had flourishing urban centers and export-oriented industries.
– Colonial policies led to the decline of these traditional industries and urban centers.
– The British administration did not facilitate the transition of the displaced workforce to new industries or provide significant alternative employment, resulting in de-industrialization and ruralization.
The decline of Indian handicrafts and industries is a key aspect of the economic impact of British rule, often referred to as “de-industrialization.” This process contributed to the impoverishment of India and the strain on its agricultural sector.

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34. Maize was introduced into India via

Maize was introduced into India via

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America and England
Africa and Spain
France and Russia
Portugal and Italy
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The correct answer is D) Portugal and Italy.
Maize (corn) is indigenous to the Americas. It was introduced to the rest of the world, including India, following the Columbian Exchange. European trading powers, particularly the Portuguese, were instrumental in bringing new crops from the Americas to Asia.
Maize was cultivated in the Americas for thousands of years before being introduced to the Old World after Columbus’s voyages. Portuguese traders and colonizers established routes to India in the early 16th century and were active in the global exchange of plants and animals. While maize spread through various routes, the Portuguese maritime network facilitated its arrival in Asia, including India. Italy was also one of the earliest European countries to adopt maize cultivation after its introduction from the Americas, contributing to its spread within Europe and beyond through trade networks.

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35. The first cotton mill in British India which began production in 1856

The first cotton mill in British India which began production in 1856 was set up by

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Ghanshyam Das Birla
Jamnalal Bajaj
Ambalal Sarabhai
C. N. Davar
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The correct answer is D) C. N. Davar.
The first successful cotton mill in India was the Bombay Spinning and Weaving Mill, established by Cowasjee Nanabhoy Davar in Bombay (now Mumbai).
C. N. Davar founded the Bombay Spinning and Weaving Mill in 1854, and it began production in 1856. This marked the beginning of the modern textile industry in India. The other options represent prominent figures in Indian industry, but they are associated with later periods or different ventures. Ghanshyam Das Birla, Jamnalal Bajaj, and Ambalal Sarabhai were leading industrialists during the Swadeshi movement and the early to mid-20th century.

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36. Which of the following statements about the first Indian Factory Act p

Which of the following statements about the first Indian Factory Act passed in 1881 is/are correct ?

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  • 1. The Act dealt primarily with the problem of child labour.
  • 2. The Act laid down that children between 7 years and 12 years of age would not work for more than 9 hours a day.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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Both statements are correct regarding the first Indian Factory Act of 1881.
The Act of 1881 was the first legislation in British India aimed at improving labour conditions, primarily focusing on child labour.
Specifically, the Act prohibited the employment of children below the age of 7 in factories. It limited the working hours for children between 7 and 12 years of age to a maximum of 9 hours per day. It also mandated four holidays per month for children and required fencing off dangerous machinery.

37. What was the consequence of Permanent Settlement on rural society in B

What was the consequence of Permanent Settlement on rural society in Bengal ?

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The zamindars invested capital and enterprise to improve agriculture along lines of British yeoman farmers
A group of rich peasants known as jotedars succeeded in consolidating their position in the villages
The ryots prospered as a result of fixed revenue levy imposed on them
The system of Collectorate introduced by the Company for exercising supervisory control on zamindars failed to take off
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The Permanent Settlement (1793) fixed the land revenue in Bengal, granting proprietary rights to the zamindars. This system, however, often led to absenteeism among zamindars and the growth of intermediaries. A significant consequence was the rise in power and influence of a class of rich peasants and village headmen, known as jotedars, especially in North Bengal. Jotedars controlled large tracts of land, often subletting to poorer peasants, and wielded considerable authority in the villages, often challenging the zamindars’ power.
The Permanent Settlement significantly restructured land relations and social hierarchy in Bengal, leading to the emergence of new power centers like the jotedars.
Option A is incorrect as zamindars generally did not invest in agricultural improvement; their primary interest was revenue extraction. Option C is incorrect; ryots often suffered from high rents and eviction under the new system. Option D is incorrect; the Collectorate system became a powerful instrument of British administration for revenue collection and control.

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38. Which of the following features of the Permanent Settlement of 1793 is

Which of the following features of the Permanent Settlement of 1793 is/are correct?
1. The Permanent Settlement vested Land ownership rights in the peasants
2. The Permanent Settlement vested land ownership rights in the Zamindars
3. The Zamindars had to pay a fixed amount of rent by a particular date
4. The Zamindars benefited hugely from the Permanent Settlement while the peasants suffered
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1 only
2 and 3 only
4
1, 2 and 3
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The correct option is B) 2 and 3 only.
1. Statement 1 is incorrect: The Permanent Settlement of 1793, introduced by Lord Cornwallis in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, vested land ownership rights in the Zamindars, not the peasants.
2. Statement 2 is correct: The Permanent Settlement made Zamindars the proprietors of the land in their area.
3. Statement 3 is correct: Zamindars were required to pay a fixed amount of land revenue to the British government by a specified date, failing which their zamindari could be auctioned (the ‘Sunset Clause’).
4. Statement 4 is correct in describing the consequence: The Zamindars, now landowners, benefited hugely by extracting high rents from the peasants (tenants) while paying a fixed, often lower, amount to the state. The peasants, reduced to tenants, suffered from high rents, insecurity of tenure, and lack of rights. However, when identifying the *features* of the settlement itself, statements 2 and 3 which define the structure of ownership and revenue payment are more directly describing the system’s design. Statement 4 describes the resulting impact/outcome. Given the options, B containing the core structural features is the most appropriate answer if the question focuses on the system’s design.
The Permanent Settlement aimed to ensure a stable revenue flow for the British East India Company and create a loyal class of landlords (Zamindars) who would support the British rule. However, it had significant adverse effects on the peasantry.

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39. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

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List-I
(System/Category)		List-II
(Description)
A. Upari1. Peasants directly responsible for the payment of revenue
B. Pattadar2. Category of tenancy tenure held under the Marathas
C. Mirasidar3. Gifts of land or land revenue
D. Inam lands4. Co-parcenary title holder and designated revenue payer in southern India
2 1 4 3
2 4 1 3
3 4 1 2
3 1 4 2
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The correct matching is A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3.
– **A. Upari:** This term refers to a class of temporary tenants or cultivators, particularly prevalent in the Maratha region and under Maratha rule, who cultivated land that did not belong to them permanently. They held a category of tenancy tenure. This matches with List-II Description 2 (Category of tenancy tenure held under the Marathas).
– **B. Pattadar:** A Pattadar is a landholder who possesses a ‘patta’, a document issued by the government acknowledging ownership or occupancy rights and often specifying the land revenue to be paid. Pattadars were directly responsible for paying revenue on the land recorded in their name. This matches with List-II Description 1 (Peasants directly responsible for the payment of revenue).
– **C. Mirasidar:** Mirasidars were a class of hereditary proprietors or co-parceners of village land in southern India, particularly in the Tamil country, during the pre-British and early British periods. They held traditional rights in the village lands and were collectively or individually responsible for paying the land revenue. This matches with List-II Description 4 (Co-parcenary title holder and designated revenue payer in southern India).
– **D. Inam lands:** Inam refers to a grant of land or land revenue, often made by rulers as a reward or for services, to individuals, religious institutions, or service holders. These lands were often exempted from or assessed at a reduced rate of land tax. This matches with List-II Description 3 (Gifts of land or land revenue).
These terms represent different categories of landholding, tenure, and revenue responsibility that existed in various parts of India before and during the British colonial period. The British surveyed and categorized these systems, often implementing reforms like the Ryotwari system (where revenue was collected directly from the cultivators/ryots, many of whom became Pattadars or existing Mirasidars) or modifying existing arrangements.

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40. Which of the following statements are correct ? 1. British ‘trade su

Which of the following statements are correct ?

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  • 1. British ‘trade surplus’ with India in the nineteenth century meant that the value of British exports to India was much higher than the value of British imports from India.
  • 2. India played a crucial role in the late-nineteenth-century world economy by helping Britain balance its deficits.
  • 3. Britain grew opium in India and exported it to China and, therefore, for a while after the 1820s, opium became India’s single largest export.
  • 4. The nineteenth century saw export of Indian raw materials decline, and that of manufactured goods increase.

Select the answer using the code given below :

1 and 2 only
3 and 4 only
1, 2, 3 and 4
1, 2 and 3 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
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Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct. Statement 4 is incorrect.
– **Statement 1:** British ‘trade surplus’ with India in the nineteenth century meant that the value of British exports to India was much higher than the value of British imports from India. This statement is generally considered correct when “trade surplus” is interpreted as the overall financial flow or balance of payments, including visible and invisible trade, as well as remittances and ‘home charges’. While Britain often imported more goods *from* India than it exported *to* India in visible trade, the overall economic relationship resulted in a significant ‘drain’ of wealth from India to Britain, effectively a surplus for Britain.
– **Statement 2:** India played a crucial role in the late-nineteenth-century world economy by helping Britain balance its deficits. This is correct. India’s large trade surplus with countries like China and other parts of the world, primarily through the export of raw materials and opium, generated foreign exchange that was remitted to Britain to cover Britain’s own trade deficits with countries like the US and in Europe.
– **Statement 3:** Britain grew opium in India and exported it to China and, therefore, for a while after the 1820s, opium became India’s single largest export. This is largely correct. Opium cultivation in India was promoted and controlled by the British East India Company and later the British government. The export of opium to China, especially after the 1820s, became hugely profitable and constituted a significant portion of India’s export revenue, arguably becoming the single largest commodity export during certain periods.
– **Statement 4:** The nineteenth century saw export of Indian raw materials decline, and that of manufactured goods increase. This is incorrect. The 19th century was characterized by the deindustrialization of India, particularly its traditional textile industry, due to competition from British manufactured goods and colonial policies. Consequently, exports of Indian manufactured goods declined, while exports of raw materials (cotton, jute, indigo, tea, etc.) increased significantly to feed British industries.
The economic relationship between Britain and India in the 19th century was a key aspect of colonial exploitation. The “drain of wealth” from India to Britain occurred through various mechanisms, including favorable trade balances for Britain (overall financial flows), remittances, salaries and pensions of British officials, and profits of British businesses. This asymmetrical relationship was fundamental to the functioning of the global British economy.

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