Indian Economy On The Eve Of Independence - 2 - Free MCQ Practice Test

A systematic and modern population census, in its present form was conducted non synchronously between 1865 and 1872 in different parts of the country. This effort culminating in 1872 has been popularly labeled as the first population census of India However, the first synchronous census in India was held in 1881.

TISCO - Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited.

• TISCO is an abbreviation for Tata Iron and Steel Company.
• It is one of the leading steel producers in India.
• The company was established in 1907 and has played a significant role in the industrialisation of the country.

The life expectancy rate was 32 years. The literacy rate of the country on the eve of Independence was 16% only.

The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt the Mediterranean Sea through the Red Sea via the Gulf of Suez. Construction began in September 1859 and was completed in November of 1869, 10 and a half years later. The Suez Canal is around 190 km in length.

The percentage of import and export trade restricted between India and Britain was more than 50%.

The history of Indian Railways dates back to over 160 years ago. On 16 th April 1853, the first passenger train ran between Bori Bunder (Bombay) abd Thane, a distance of 34 km.

Census is conducted after every 10 years in most countries, including the United States, India, and many others.

The main land tenure systems during the British colonial period in India were:

1. Zamindari System – Introduced by Lord Cornwallis in Bengal (Permanent Settlement, 1793). Land revenue was collected from zamindars, who were treated as landowners.

2. Ryotwari System – Introduced by Thomas Munro in Madras and Bombay Presidencies. In this system, the government collected revenue directly from the ryots (peasants).

3. Mahalwari System – Introduced in North-Western Provinces (mainly Punjab, UP). Revenue was collected from a group of villages (mahal) or communities.

4. Consolidation of Land Holdings – This came much later, primarily in post-independence India as an agricultural reform to reduce land fragmentation.

Therefore, Correct Answer - Option A

A is correct.

The organised, large-scale iron and steel industry in India began developing in the early twentieth century, marked by the establishment of the Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO) in 1907.

Prior to this, there were smaller, local iron-working activities, but large-scale steel production and modern steel plants emerged only after 1900. Hence the correct choice is A.

Jute Textile Industry is one of the major Industries in the Eastern India, particularly in West Bengal.

The false statement is B: Indian economy at the time of independence was an industrial economy.
Explanation:
Indian economy at the time of independence was an industrial economy: This statement is false. The Indian economy at the time of independence was primarily agrarian in nature, with agriculture being the mainstay. The industrial sector was underdeveloped and contributed only a small portion to the overall economy.

India’s per capita income during colonial period was estimated by some individual. Among the notable estimators — Dadabhai Naoroji, William Digby, Findlay Shirras.

To determine the largest share of the workforce, we need to consider which sector employs the most people.
Given that the largest share of the workforce is 72%, we can conclude that the answer is C: Primary sector. This means that the majority of the workforce is engaged in activities related to natural resources and raw materials such as agriculture, mining, fishing, etc.

The jute mills during the colonial period were concentrated in Bengal (around Calcutta) and were largely owned and controlled by British and other foreign capitalists.

Indian industrialists were primarily dominant in the cotton textile industry, which was centred in western India (Bombay and Ahmedabad).

Hence, jute industries were dominated by foreigners.

Correct answer: B - Foreigners.

The correct option is Option B

Railways assisted British industries to widen the market for their finished products. 

Post and telegraphs were developed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the British administration.