Agriculture in Pre-British India

Questions and Answers

What was the primary purpose of declaring nine PSUs as navaratnas in 1996?

To enhance operational efficiency and global competitiveness (correct)

To allow 100% foreign ownership in these enterprises

To reduce the employment opportunities in these companies

To increase government control over public sector undertakings

Which of the following was NOT one of the original navaratna companies?

Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) (correct)

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC)

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL)

National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)

What was a key outcome of granting navaratna status to the PSUs?

Improved performance and profitability of these companies (correct)

The immediate privatization of these enterprises

A decrease in accountability to stakeholders

Increased governmental oversight on operations

What do scholars suggest about the government's action concerning navaratna companies?

Disinvestment was used rather than facilitating their global expansion Signup and view all the answers

What has the government decided regarding navaratna companies in recent years?

To allow them to expand globally and manage resources independently Signup and view all the answers

What crops were mentioned as being exported abundantly from seventeenth century Bengal?

Rice and sugar Signup and view all the answers

Which industry category was exclusively owned by the state during the Second Five Year Plan?

Public sector industries Signup and view all the answers

What was a key feature of the licensing system for industries during the Second Five Year Plan?

New industries required government licenses Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary aim of promoting industries in backward regions?

To promote regional equality Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the fish availability in Bengal described by Bernier?

Profusion of various kinds Signup and view all the answers

How did the state control the private sector industries despite allowing some to operate independently?

Through stringent licensing requirements Signup and view all the answers

Which category of industries required state responsibility for starting new units?

Supplementary private industries Signup and view all the answers

Who were the well-known figures in King Vikramaditya's court referred to as the Navaratnas?

Eminent persons in art, literature, and knowledge Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Agriculture in Seventeenth Century Bengal

Seventeenth-century Bengal described as richer than Egypt by French traveller Bernier.
Significant exports included cottons, silks, rice, sugar, and butter.
Self-sufficient in essentials: production of wheat, vegetables, grains, poultry, and fish.
Extensive waterway network including canals for navigation and irrigation created from the Ganges.

Industrial Policy and the Second Five Year Plan

The Second Five Year Plan aimed to establish a socialist structure.
Industries classified into three categories:
- State-owned industries.
- Industries where the private sector supplements state efforts.
- Remaining industries primarily within the private sector but regulated by the government.
Licensing system required for starting new industries, promoting economic equality by offering licenses in backward regions.
Existing industries needed licenses for expansion or diversification, controlling overall production to match economic needs.

Navaratnas and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)

The concept of navaratnas derived from the historical Nine Jewels of King Vikramaditya, focusing on excellence in various fields.
In 1996, nine PSUs were designated as navaratnas to enhance efficiency and competitiveness in a liberalized market.
Navaratnas granted increased managerial and operational autonomy to improve profitability, alongside 97 mini ratnas.
Original navaratna companies: IOC, BPCL, HPCL, ONGC, SAIL, IPCL, BHEL, NTPC, VSNL; later included GAIL and MTNL.
PSUs established in the 1950s-1960s aimed to ensure self-reliance, provide infrastructure, and create employment.
Granting navaratna status led to improved performance, but critics suggest partial privatization through disinvestment hindered expansion.
Current government focus on retaining navaratnas in the public sector to promote global competitiveness and self-sufficient resource generation.

Description

Explore the rich agricultural landscape of Bengal during the seventeenth century as described by the French traveller Bernier. This quiz covers key exports such as cotton, silk, and rice, alongside livestock and freshwater resources that reflected the area's prosperity. Test your knowledge of this historical period and its contributions to agriculture.