Introduction:-
The Indian economy before the arrival of the British was an independent, self-reliant and prosperous economy. The advent of the British who uses the vibrant economy's resources to their advantage had gradually turned the Indian economy into a underdeveloped economy with stagnant agricultural sector and slow industrial growth rate.
Features of the Indian Economy on the eve of Independence:-
The Indian Economy on the eve of Independence was dominated by the following features :
1. Stagnant economy -
The Indian economy during that period witnessed slow or negligible growth rate resulting in high unemployment, massive poverty etc.
2. Backward economy -
Indian economy of that period was basically backward and per capita income was very low.
3. Agricultural backwardness -
The agricultural sectors are totally backward, primitive in nature, and dependent on monsoon and hence agricultural productivity is very low.
4. Industrial backwardness -
The industrial sectors are also very backward with minimal basic and heavy industries.
Agricultural Sector on the eve of Independence:-
a. Low agricultural productivity -
The overall agricultural productivity in that period was very low.
b. Dependence on rainfall -
The agricultural sector is mainly dependent on rainfall due to non-availability of proper irrigation facilities.
c. Small and fragmented land holding -
The average land holdings is small and fragmanted which resulted in poor yields .
d. Commercialisation of agriculture -
There is forced commercialisation of agriculture. The cultivators are forced to shift from food crop to cash crops.
Demographic profile during British rule :-
1) Birth rate and death rate
Both birth rate and death rate were very high, about 48 and 40 per thousand.
The state of high birth rate and high death rate explains the state of widespread poverty found in the country.
2) Infant death
Infant mortality rate means the death rate of children under 1 year of age.
This was also very high, it was around 218 per thousand, currently it is 34000.
High infant mortality rates are related to extreme poverty and indicate less developed health services
3) life expectancy
Life expectancy means the average life span of a person
She was only 32 years old at that time
Presently it has increased to 68 years
Low life expectancy reflects lack of health care facilities and lack of awareness.
4) Literacy rate
Literacy rate means people who can read and write
At that time it was about 16%. This is also a sign of social and economic backwardness. Female literacy was only 7%.
This is an indicator of gender discrimination found in the society.
Industrial area at the time of independence:-
Decline of handicrafts-
India's handicraft industry, before British rule
Was famous all over the world for its quality
This industry declined due to British rule.
This happened because of the policies of the British government
State's discriminatory tariff policy
Under this policy:-
Raw materials were exported from India without export duty
British industrial products were imported into India without import duty
Heavy duties imposed on export of Indian handicraft products
The quantity of British goods increased more in the Indian market, the sale of Indian handicraft goods started decreasing.
result of this
Handicrafts declined in India:-
1) Extinction of royal courts
Before the British rule, different parts of the country were ruled by Nawabs, Kings and Emperors. They patronized Indian handicrafts due to which Indian handicrafts gained international fame.
The beginning of British rule was the end of native royal courts, as a result, handicrafts began to decline.
2) Arrival of Railways in India
With the arrival of railways in India, the market size of low cost British goods started increasing and the market of high cost Indian goods started shrinking, as a result handicrafts declined.
3) Competition from goods made by machines
Britain's machine-made goods had very low production costs.
Handicraft items made in India could not stand up to their competition.
The quality of goods manufactured by machines was much higher than that of Indian handicraft goods.
Positive impact of British rule in India:-
1) New employment opportunities
The expansion of railways and roads provided many new opportunities for economic and social development.
2) Control famine
Due to the expansion of means of transport, fertilizers started being delivered quickly to drought affected areas and famines were controlled.
3) Monetary system of exchange
An important change in the Indian economy was that the barter system was replaced by the currency exchange system.
This made large-scale production convenient
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