Chapter 1 Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence

Question. The exports surplus during the British rule was used:
a) To make payments for expenses incurred by an office set up by the colonial government in Britain.
b) To meet expenses on war fought by the British government.
c) To import invisible items.
d) All of these.

Answer
D

Question. The first census in British India was held in the year:
a) 1880
b) 1881
c) 1882
d) 1883

Answer
B

Question. The agriculture sector with _____ percent accounted for the largest share of workforce, during the eve of Independence.
a) 70-75%
b) 80-85%
c) 75-80%
d) 60-65%

Answer
A

Question. The economic policies pursued by the colonial government in India were concerned with
a) Protection and promotion of india
b) Protection of india and promotion of Britain
c) Protection and promotion of Britain
d) Both A and C

Answer
C

Question. The impact of British policy on India economic structure was
a) India becomes supplier of raw materials and consumer of finished industrial products from Britain
b) India became supplier of finished product to Britain
c) India became supplier of finished industrial products and consumer of raw materials from Britain
d) Both B and C

Answer
A

Question. Agriculture sector is also known as:
a) Tertiary sector
b) Secondary sector
c) Primary sector
d) First sector

Answer
C

Question. The main interest of the Zamidar was:
a) To collect rent
b) To improve the condition of agriculture
c) to product food crops
d) to produce cash crops

Answer
A

Question. Parts of the then Madras Presidency comprised areas of the present-day states of :
a) Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
b) Kerala and Karnataka
c) Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and Orissa
d) Both A and B

Answer
D

Question. British rule in India for almost
a) Almost 3 centuries
b) Almost 100 years
c) Almost 2 centuries
d) Almost 150 years

Answer
C

Question. This service becomes quite expensive and the British finally abandoned was
a) Airways sector
b) Defense sector
c) Inland waterways
d) Postal services

Answer
C

Question. Before 1921, India was in the ______________ of demographic transition.
a) First stage
b) Second stage
c) Third stage
d) None of the above

Answer
A

Question. High value of which of the following indicators reflected social backwardness during the British rule in India?
(a) Literacy Rate
(b) Female literacy
(c) Infant Mortality Rate
(d) Life Expectancy

Answer
c

Question. On the basis of the workforce engaged in various sectors in pre-independent India, the following are ranked from the highest to the lowest? (Choose correct alternative)
(a) Primary sector, Secondary sector, Tertiary sector
(b) Tertiary sector, Primary sector, Secondary sector
(c) Secondary sector, Tertiary sector, Primary sector
(d) Primary sector, Tertiary sector, Secondary sector

Answer
D

Question. Which industry suffered a major setback during the British rule?
(a) Cement
(b) Iron and steel
(c) Handicraft
(d) Paper

Answer
c

Question. The motive of British government behind de-industrialisation was:
(i) To get raw material from India at cheap rate
(ii) To sell British manufactured goods in Indian market at high prices
(iii) To focus on development of agriculture
(iv) To get finished products from India at cheap rate
(a) Both (i) and (ii) above
(b) Both (ii) and (iv) above
(c) Only (iii) above
(d) Only (iv) above

Answer
A

Question. The decline of handicraft industries led to:
(i) Large scale unemployment
(ii) Encouraged the import of manufactured goods from Britain
(iii) Development of capital goods industries in India
(iv) Encouraged the export of manufactured goods to Britain
(a) (i), (ii) and (iii) above
(b) (i), (iii) and (iv) above
(c) Both (i) and (ii) above
(d) Both (i) and (iv) above

Answer
c

Question. Which year is described as the “Year of Great Divide”?
(a) 1881
(b) 1921
(c) 1907
(d) 1931

Answer
B

Question. The opening of Suez Canal served as a direct route for ships operating between:
(a) India and America
(b) India and Sri Lanka
(c) India and Pakistan
(d) India and Britain

Answer
D

Question. The British introduced railways in India in the year_________ .
(a) 1849
(b) 1850
(c) 1851
(d) 1859

Answer
B

Question. Which of the following statements is not true with regard to the development of railways by the British?
(a) It helped in breaking geographical and cultural barriers among people.
(b) It promoted commercialisation of Indian agriculture.
(c) The social benefits accruing due to development of railways outweighed the country’s huge economic loss.
(d) It increased the volume of India’s exports.

Answer
c

Question. The export surplus generated during the British rule was used:
(a) To meet administrative expenses of the British government
(b) To meet expenses on war fought by the British government
(c) To import invisible items
(d) All of the above

Answer
D

Question. The main reason for stagnation in agriculture during the British rule was:
(a) Lack of technology
(b) Commercialisation of agriculture
(c) Land tenure system
(d) De–industrialisation

Answer
c

Question. The literacy rate and the female literacy rate of India at the time of independence were:
(a) 16 per cent, 7 per cent
(b) 12 per cent, 7 per cent
(c) 32 per cent, 16 per cent
(d) 16 per cent, 12 per cent

Answer
A

Question. Mortality rate is one of the indicators of __________of an economy.
(a) Occupational structure
(b) Unemployment
(c) Demographic profile
(d) Foreign trade

Answer
c