India's Economy Before Independence

India's economy primarily relied on agriculture, with the majority of its workforce engaged in farming.

Around 70% of India's workforce was employed in agriculture before independence.

Lord Dalhousie, a British Governor-General, is credited with the development and expansion of the Indian railway system.

Small-scale, home-based industries that were prevalent in India's industrial sector before independence.

British colonial policies in India were designed to benefit the British economy, often at the expense of India's development.

Dadabhai Naoroji, a prominent Indian nationalist, argued that British rule led to a drain of wealth from India, hindering its economic progress.

The introduction of railways in India began in 1853, marking a significant step towards modernizing transportation.

India exported primarily raw materials, such as agricultural products, before independence, signifying a dependence on primary industries.

The British land revenue system was designed to extract maximum revenue from India, often at the expense of farmers.

Cottage and handicraft industries, like textiles and weaving, suffered greatly during British rule due to competition from British manufactured goods.

The Ryotwari system, implemented in Madras and Bombay, aimed to collect revenue directly from individual farmers.

India's industrialization was hampered by British policies that favored British industries and restricted Indian industrial growth.

Subsistence agriculture involves farming solely for self-consumption, meaning farmers grow food primarily to feed themselves and their families.

Most of India's foreign trade under British rule was conducted through sea routes, connecting India to British markets.

The British prioritized education that would create clerks for administrative purposes, rather than promoting a broad understanding of knowledge.

Cotton was a major commercial crop during British rule, due to demand for raw materials in British textile industries.

The British aimed to make India a source of raw materials (like cotton, jute, spices) and a market for their manufactured goods, ensuring a flow of wealth back to Britain.

The British prioritized the extraction of raw materials and the development of agricultural infrastructure (like plantations) to benefit British industries, neglecting Indian industrial growth.

The British established a system where Indian goods faced high tariffs, while British goods entered India freely, hindering Indian industrial development.

The British introduced railways to India, mainly for the transportation of raw materials from inland areas to coastal ports for export.

India's industrial sector contributed only a small percentage of its GDP by 1947, demonstrating a lack of investment and growth during British rule.

The British focused on converting Indian agriculture to produce cash crops for export, leading to food insecurity and vulnerability to famines.

The British policies led to a decline in the traditional Indian handicraft industry due to competition from cheaper British goods, causing widespread unemployment and poverty.

The Indigo Revolt (1859-1860) was a rebellion by Indian farmers against exploitative practices by British indigo planters, highlighting the discontent caused by British control.

The British rule resulted in poor sanitation, lack of access to medical facilities, and high birth rates combined with high death rates, leading to poor health outcomes for Indians.

The British utilized India's resources and labor for their own gain, sending profits back to Britain, resulting in a drain of wealth from India.

India's foreign trade during British rule was characterized by an unfavorable balance of trade, with India exporting raw materials and importing manufactured goods, leading to a loss of economic benefit.

Dadabhai Naoroji, a prominent Indian nationalist, wrote "Poverty and Un-British Rule in India" to highlight the economic exploitation and drain of wealth from India during British rule.

The Permanent Settlement, introduced in Bengal, granted land ownership rights to zamindars (landlords) who were responsible for collecting taxes from peasants. This led to exploitation and revenue extraction by the landlords.

Agriculture contributed a significant portion of India's GDP on the eve of independence, highlighting the reliance on agriculture and the limitations of industrial development.