Indian Workforce Trends in Early 20th Century

India was considered the least important part of the British Empire according to Victor Alexander Vruce.

The primary objective of the book 'Indian Economic Development' is to focus only on the future prospects of the Indian economy.

India's present-day economy is solely a result of recent developments and has no historical roots.

The British colonial rule in India aimed to develop the country's industrial base by utilizing its resources.

The stagnation in the agricultural sector was mainly caused by the introduction of advanced irrigation systems by the colonial government.

Under the zamindari system, the profit from agriculture went to the cultivators instead of the zamindars.

Zamindars were primarily concerned with improving the economic condition of the cultivators.

The revenue settlement terms were not a factor in influencing the attitude of zamindars towards agriculture.

The use of fertilizers and advanced technology helped alleviate the plight of farmers during colonial rule.

There was a significant focus on investing in terracing, flood-control, and drainage in Indian agriculture during colonial rule.

A large section of tenants, small farmers, and sharecroppers had resources and technology to invest in agriculture during colonial rule.

The primary motive behind de-industrializing India under colonial rule was to boost India's own industrial growth.

India's handicraft industries flourished under colonial rule.

Colonial India was allowed to develop a strong modern industrial base.

The Indian economy under British colonial rule was primarily focused on developing its manufacturing industries.

India's agriculture sector was the main livelihood for about 75% of the population during British colonial rule.

The French traveller Bernier described Bengal in the seventeenth century as being richer than Egypt and having abundant exports like cottons and silks.

The decline of indigenous handicraft industries in India led to an increase in the production of locally made goods.

The modern industrial development in India during the 19th century was primarily focused on setting up iron and steel industries.

Daccai Muslin was a type of silk textile originated in Bengal, now the capital city of India.

The Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO) was established before the Second World War.

The colonial government made sincere attempts to accurately estimate India's national and per capita income.

India had a well-established capital goods industry to support industrialization before the Second World War.

India's growth of aggregate real output during the first half of the twentieth century was more than two per cent per year.

The public sector in India during the pre-independence era was involved in various industries including railways, power generation, and communications.

The agricultural sector in pre-British India experienced significant growth and prosperity due to the abundance of resources.

India's foreign trade during the colonial period was characterized by a large import surplus.

India's economy was mainly agrarian during the British colonial rule, with a majority of the population living in urban areas.

Agricultural stagnation in India was not a common phenomenon under British colonial rule.

Britain had a monopoly control over more than half of India's foreign trade during the colonial period.

The Suez Canal opening had no impact on intensifying British control over India's foreign trade.

India transformed into a major exporter of finished industrial products during British colonial rule.

'Daccai Muslin' was known for its exquisite quality as a type of metal textile originated in Bengal.

India primarily exported primary products like raw silk and cotton during the colonial period.

India imported mainly capital goods from Britain and other countries during the colonial period.

India's economy experienced vigorous growth during the first half of the twentieth century under British colonial rule.

The export surplus generated during the colonial period had a positive impact on India's economy.

India traded extensively with countries like China, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and Persia (Iran) during the colonial period.

The Suez Canal was opened in 1869 to provide a direct trade route between European or American ports and Indian ports.

The export surplus during British rule in India resulted in the flow of gold and silver into the country.

The total literacy level in India during the colonial period was over 20%.

Life expectancy in colonial India was around 45 years.

Public health facilities were widely available and adequate for the population during British rule in India.

The infant mortality rate during the colonial period was about 218 per thousand.

India experienced high population growth during the first stage of demographic transition before 1921.

Extensive poverty prevailed in India during the colonial period, contributing to a worsening population profile.

Famines rarely occurred in India before independence.

The occupational structure of India showed significant changes across different industries and sectors during the colonial period.

The primary objective of the Suez Canal was to connect ports in Europe with those in Africa.

The second stage of demographic transition in India began after 1921 with a rapid increase in population growth.

The industrial sector in pre-independence India was in need of modernisation, diversification, and increased public investment.

Foreign trade in pre-independence India was mainly focused on supporting the Industrial Revolution in France.

The agricultural sector in pre-independence India was thriving and experiencing rapid growth.

Pre-independence India saw a significant boost in public health facilities and a decrease in mortality rates.

The British colonial regime in India made genuine efforts to develop a modern industrial base and support local handicraft industries.

The independent Indian government had to start economic planning from scratch due to the lack of infrastructure initiatives by the British colonial regime.

The agricultural sector had the largest share of the workforce during the colonial period.

The railway system introduced by the British in India was primarily intended to benefit the Indian people.

The introduction of railways in India led to a decrease in self-sufficiency of village economies.

The postal services in colonial India were considered highly efficient and met all public needs adequately.

The Coast Canal on the Orissa coast was a successful project that effectively competed with the railways.

The British rule in India resulted in surplus labor and high agricultural productivity by the time of independence.

During the colonial period, regions like Orissa, Rajasthan, and Punjab saw an increase in workforce dependency on agriculture.

The British administration aimed to develop modern roads in India to enhance civilian transportation.

The British introduced electric telegraph and postal services in India primarily for economic development purposes.

The railway system introduced by the British in India had no impact on the structure of the Indian economy.

The social benefits gained by Indians from the introduction of railways outweighed the economic losses experienced.

The British administration in India was solely focused on providing basic amenities to the people through infrastructure development.