With reference to the infrastructure developed by the British, consider the following statements: 1. The roads built primarily served the purpose of drawing out raw materials from the countryside. 2. There was an abundance of all-weather roads to reach rural areas during the rainy season. 3. The inland waterways always proved to be more economical than the railways. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Option The correct option is 1 only Explanation Under the British colonial regime, basic infrastructure such as railways, ports, water transport, posts, and telegraphs was developed. However, the primary objective behind this development was not to provide basic amenities to the Indian people but to serve various colonial interests, such as the mobilization of the army and the extraction of resources. Statement-wise Analysis - Statement 1 is Correct: The roads constructed during the British period were primarily designed to serve colonial economic and strategic interests. Their main purpose was to facilitate the movement of the army within India and to draw out raw materials from the countryside to the nearest railway station or port for export to Britain. - Statement 2 is Incorrect: There remained an acute shortage of all-weather roads to reach rural areas, especially during the rainy season. As a result, people living in these areas suffered grievously during natural calamities and famines due to a lack of connectivity. - Statement 3 is Incorrect: While measures were taken to develop inland trade and sea lanes, they were far from satisfactory. The inland waterways proved to be uneconomical in many instances compared to the rapidly expanding railway network. For example, the Coast Canal on the Orissa coast was constructed at a huge cost but failed to compete with the railways running parallel to it and was eventually abandoned. Key Takeaway Key Takeaway: British infrastructure development in India was inherently colonial in nature, prioritizing the export of raw materials and strategic military movement over internal connectivity or the welfare of the rural population.

With reference to the infrastructure… - NCERT Class 11 Economics MCQ

NCERT Class 11 Economics — Chapter 1: Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence

mcqmedium

With reference to the infrastructure developed by the British, consider the following statements:

The roads built primarily served the purpose of drawing out raw materials from the countryside.
There was an abundance of all-weather roads to reach rural areas during the rainy season.
The inland waterways always proved to be more economical than the railways.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

NCERT textbook question

From NCERT Indian Economic Development · Page 11

Options

A1 and 3 only
B1 only
C1, 2 and 3
D2 only

Did you get this right?

Solution

Correct Option

The correct option is

1 only

Explanation

Under the British colonial regime, basic infrastructure such as railways, ports, water transport, posts, and telegraphs was developed. However, the primary objective behind this development was not to provide basic amenities to the Indian people but to serve various colonial interests, such as the mobilization of the army and the extraction of resources.

Statement-wise Analysis

Statement 1 is Correct: The roads constructed during the British period were primarily designed to serve colonial economic and strategic interests. Their main purpose was to facilitate the movement of the army within India and to draw out raw materials from the countryside to the nearest railway station or port for export to Britain.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: There remained an acute shortage of all-weather roads to reach rural areas, especially during the rainy season. As a result, people living in these areas suffered grievously during natural calamities and famines due to a lack of connectivity.
Statement 3 is Incorrect: While measures were taken to develop inland trade and sea lanes, they were far from satisfactory. The inland waterways proved to be uneconomical in many instances compared to the rapidly expanding railway network. For example, the Coast Canal on the Orissa coast was constructed at a huge cost but failed to compete with the railways running parallel to it and was eventually abandoned.

Key Takeaway

Key Takeaway: British infrastructure development in India was inherently colonial in nature, prioritizing the export of raw materials and strategic military movement over internal connectivity or the welfare of the rural population.

Your note

More from Chapter 1: Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence

The "invisible items" in the context of India's balance of payments during the colonial period referred to:

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With reference to the industrial sector during the colonial period, consider the following statements: 1. The decline of indigenous handicraft industries created massive unemployment in India. 2. The cotton textile mills were mainly dominated by foreigners and located in Bengal. 3. The jute mills were mainly dominated by Indians and located in western India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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With reference to the agricultural sector under British rule, consider the following statements: 1. The agricultural sector experienced absolute stagnation with no growth in the aggregate area under cultivation. 2. The stagnation was caused mainly by the land settlement systems introduced by the colonial government. 3. Low levels of technology and negligible use of fertilisers contributed to low productivity. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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The primary motive of the colonial government’s policy of systematically de-industrialising India was:

easy

With reference to the railways, consider the following statements: 1. It restricted people from undertaking long-distance travel. 2. It adversely affected the self-sufficiency of village economies. 3. It fostered the commercialisation of Indian agriculture. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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