Selina Textbook Solutions: Impact of British Rule on India | History Class 8 ICSE PDF Download

 Page 1


Impact of British Rule on India 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The British domination of India brought many changes in 
the cultural, educational and social life of India. 
2. The Indian villages were self sufficient village communities before the coming of 
the British. 
3. The British charged revenue in cash instead of kind. 
4. The three kinds of land settlements made by the British were Permanent 
settlement (b) Ryotwari settlement and (c) Mahalwari settlement 
5. A new class of landholders called Zamindars came into existence during this 
time. 
6. Lord Macaulay, is known as the founder of British system of education in India. 
II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B: 
Column A                                                                    Column B 
 
 
Page 2


Impact of British Rule on India 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The British domination of India brought many changes in 
the cultural, educational and social life of India. 
2. The Indian villages were self sufficient village communities before the coming of 
the British. 
3. The British charged revenue in cash instead of kind. 
4. The three kinds of land settlements made by the British were Permanent 
settlement (b) Ryotwari settlement and (c) Mahalwari settlement 
5. A new class of landholders called Zamindars came into existence during this 
time. 
6. Lord Macaulay, is known as the founder of British system of education in India. 
II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B: 
Column A                                                                    Column B 
 
 
 
Answer: 
 
 
 
III. State whether the following statements are True or False: 
1. The British rule resulted in the destruction of Indian industry, trade and 
handicrafts. 
True. 
2. The important centres for Indian goods were Dhaka, Benaras, Lucknow, Multan, 
Ahmadabad, etc. 
True. 
3. The British greatly developed Indian agriculture. 
False. 
4. Lord Cornwallis intoduced the Permanent Land Settlement in India. 
True. 
Page 3


Impact of British Rule on India 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The British domination of India brought many changes in 
the cultural, educational and social life of India. 
2. The Indian villages were self sufficient village communities before the coming of 
the British. 
3. The British charged revenue in cash instead of kind. 
4. The three kinds of land settlements made by the British were Permanent 
settlement (b) Ryotwari settlement and (c) Mahalwari settlement 
5. A new class of landholders called Zamindars came into existence during this 
time. 
6. Lord Macaulay, is known as the founder of British system of education in India. 
II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B: 
Column A                                                                    Column B 
 
 
 
Answer: 
 
 
 
III. State whether the following statements are True or False: 
1. The British rule resulted in the destruction of Indian industry, trade and 
handicrafts. 
True. 
2. The important centres for Indian goods were Dhaka, Benaras, Lucknow, Multan, 
Ahmadabad, etc. 
True. 
3. The British greatly developed Indian agriculture. 
False. 
4. Lord Cornwallis intoduced the Permanent Land Settlement in India. 
True. 
5. The first railway line was built during Lord Dalhousie’s time. 
True. 
6. The British took interest in building up transport and communication system to 
help them in trade and military affairs. 
True. 
7. The English took great interest in Indian culture and promoted it 
False. 
8. The English took interest in education of Indians only because they needed low 
paid, English speaking clerks. 
True. 
9. The new education policy benefitted only the upper and th middle class. 
True. 
10. The Company promoted education of girls and technical education. 
False. 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
Mention the social evils prevalent in India during British rule. 
Answer: 
Inhuman practice of Sati was prevalent in many parts of the country. Female infanticide 
prevailed in some parts of the country. The practice of sacrificing little children to please 
gods and goddesses was another major evil. Widows were not allowed to remarry. 
Child marriage and polygamy were other social evils prevalent in society. 
Question 2. 
Why did India’s foreign trade decline during the British rule? 
Answer: 
India traded in wool, silk, textiles, metal craft like vessels and ornaments, objects in 
gold, silver, copper, steel and iron. British trade policies led to the drain of wealth from 
India. Indian trade, industries and handicrafts declined. Indian artisans lost support of 
kings and nobles. The British wanted India to become a supplier of raw materials and 
an importer of finished goods. 
Question 3. 
During the British rule, “India was a loser both ways – as a buyer and also a seller.” 
Explain. 
Answer: 
The British exploited India’s resources, bought raw materials from India at nominal rates 
to be exported to England, and dumped their machine made goods in the Indian 
markets. Thus, India was a loser both ways as a buyer and also as a seller. 
Question 4. 
Why did the English East India Company feel the need for educational; reforms? 
Answer: 
Page 4


Impact of British Rule on India 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The British domination of India brought many changes in 
the cultural, educational and social life of India. 
2. The Indian villages were self sufficient village communities before the coming of 
the British. 
3. The British charged revenue in cash instead of kind. 
4. The three kinds of land settlements made by the British were Permanent 
settlement (b) Ryotwari settlement and (c) Mahalwari settlement 
5. A new class of landholders called Zamindars came into existence during this 
time. 
6. Lord Macaulay, is known as the founder of British system of education in India. 
II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B: 
Column A                                                                    Column B 
 
 
 
Answer: 
 
 
 
III. State whether the following statements are True or False: 
1. The British rule resulted in the destruction of Indian industry, trade and 
handicrafts. 
True. 
2. The important centres for Indian goods were Dhaka, Benaras, Lucknow, Multan, 
Ahmadabad, etc. 
True. 
3. The British greatly developed Indian agriculture. 
False. 
4. Lord Cornwallis intoduced the Permanent Land Settlement in India. 
True. 
5. The first railway line was built during Lord Dalhousie’s time. 
True. 
6. The British took interest in building up transport and communication system to 
help them in trade and military affairs. 
True. 
7. The English took great interest in Indian culture and promoted it 
False. 
8. The English took interest in education of Indians only because they needed low 
paid, English speaking clerks. 
True. 
9. The new education policy benefitted only the upper and th middle class. 
True. 
10. The Company promoted education of girls and technical education. 
False. 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
Mention the social evils prevalent in India during British rule. 
Answer: 
Inhuman practice of Sati was prevalent in many parts of the country. Female infanticide 
prevailed in some parts of the country. The practice of sacrificing little children to please 
gods and goddesses was another major evil. Widows were not allowed to remarry. 
Child marriage and polygamy were other social evils prevalent in society. 
Question 2. 
Why did India’s foreign trade decline during the British rule? 
Answer: 
India traded in wool, silk, textiles, metal craft like vessels and ornaments, objects in 
gold, silver, copper, steel and iron. British trade policies led to the drain of wealth from 
India. Indian trade, industries and handicrafts declined. Indian artisans lost support of 
kings and nobles. The British wanted India to become a supplier of raw materials and 
an importer of finished goods. 
Question 3. 
During the British rule, “India was a loser both ways – as a buyer and also a seller.” 
Explain. 
Answer: 
The British exploited India’s resources, bought raw materials from India at nominal rates 
to be exported to England, and dumped their machine made goods in the Indian 
markets. Thus, India was a loser both ways as a buyer and also as a seller. 
Question 4. 
Why did the English East India Company feel the need for educational; reforms? 
Answer: 
The first objective of education in India was to form a class of interpreters between the 
British rulers and the millions of Indians they governed. The second objective was to 
create a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour but British in taste, opinion, morals 
and intellect. The third objective was to obtain a cheap supply of clerks for holding 
subordinate posts in administration and British business concerns.                     ‘ 
Question 5. 
Who was Lord Macaulay? Why did he recommend the system of British education in 
India? 
Answer: 
Lord Macaualy is considered the founder of the British system of education in India. He 
was the law member of the council of Lord William Bentinck, the Governor General of 
India.Macaulay recommended 
1. English shoud be the medium of instruction in schools 
2. Indians should be taught sciences and western literature. He had a very poor 
opinion of traditional Indian learning which he thought was inferior to European 
learning. 
According to him, “single shelf of a good European library was worth native literature of 
India and Arabia.” 
Question 6. 
What were the main objectives of British education in India? Mention the steps 
recommended to implement the policy. 
Answer: 
There were three main objectives of education in India according to Lord Macaulay. The 
first objective was to form a class of interpreters between the British rulers and the 
millions of Indians they governed. 
The second objective was to create a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour but 
British in taste, opinion, morals and intellect. 
The third objective was to obtain a cheap supply of clerks for holding subordinate posts 
in administration and British business concerns. 
In 1835, Bentinck agreed to Macaulay’s view and made English the medium of 
instruction. In 1844 the government declared their intention to employ only English 
educated Indians. In 1854, Wood’s Despatch was accepted and implemented. New 
Universities were set up in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. 
Question 7. 
Describe the recommendations in Wood’s Despatch and their effects. 
Answer: 
(a) 
Page 5


Impact of British Rule on India 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. The British domination of India brought many changes in 
the cultural, educational and social life of India. 
2. The Indian villages were self sufficient village communities before the coming of 
the British. 
3. The British charged revenue in cash instead of kind. 
4. The three kinds of land settlements made by the British were Permanent 
settlement (b) Ryotwari settlement and (c) Mahalwari settlement 
5. A new class of landholders called Zamindars came into existence during this 
time. 
6. Lord Macaulay, is known as the founder of British system of education in India. 
II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B: 
Column A                                                                    Column B 
 
 
 
Answer: 
 
 
 
III. State whether the following statements are True or False: 
1. The British rule resulted in the destruction of Indian industry, trade and 
handicrafts. 
True. 
2. The important centres for Indian goods were Dhaka, Benaras, Lucknow, Multan, 
Ahmadabad, etc. 
True. 
3. The British greatly developed Indian agriculture. 
False. 
4. Lord Cornwallis intoduced the Permanent Land Settlement in India. 
True. 
5. The first railway line was built during Lord Dalhousie’s time. 
True. 
6. The British took interest in building up transport and communication system to 
help them in trade and military affairs. 
True. 
7. The English took great interest in Indian culture and promoted it 
False. 
8. The English took interest in education of Indians only because they needed low 
paid, English speaking clerks. 
True. 
9. The new education policy benefitted only the upper and th middle class. 
True. 
10. The Company promoted education of girls and technical education. 
False. 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
Mention the social evils prevalent in India during British rule. 
Answer: 
Inhuman practice of Sati was prevalent in many parts of the country. Female infanticide 
prevailed in some parts of the country. The practice of sacrificing little children to please 
gods and goddesses was another major evil. Widows were not allowed to remarry. 
Child marriage and polygamy were other social evils prevalent in society. 
Question 2. 
Why did India’s foreign trade decline during the British rule? 
Answer: 
India traded in wool, silk, textiles, metal craft like vessels and ornaments, objects in 
gold, silver, copper, steel and iron. British trade policies led to the drain of wealth from 
India. Indian trade, industries and handicrafts declined. Indian artisans lost support of 
kings and nobles. The British wanted India to become a supplier of raw materials and 
an importer of finished goods. 
Question 3. 
During the British rule, “India was a loser both ways – as a buyer and also a seller.” 
Explain. 
Answer: 
The British exploited India’s resources, bought raw materials from India at nominal rates 
to be exported to England, and dumped their machine made goods in the Indian 
markets. Thus, India was a loser both ways as a buyer and also as a seller. 
Question 4. 
Why did the English East India Company feel the need for educational; reforms? 
Answer: 
The first objective of education in India was to form a class of interpreters between the 
British rulers and the millions of Indians they governed. The second objective was to 
create a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour but British in taste, opinion, morals 
and intellect. The third objective was to obtain a cheap supply of clerks for holding 
subordinate posts in administration and British business concerns.                     ‘ 
Question 5. 
Who was Lord Macaulay? Why did he recommend the system of British education in 
India? 
Answer: 
Lord Macaualy is considered the founder of the British system of education in India. He 
was the law member of the council of Lord William Bentinck, the Governor General of 
India.Macaulay recommended 
1. English shoud be the medium of instruction in schools 
2. Indians should be taught sciences and western literature. He had a very poor 
opinion of traditional Indian learning which he thought was inferior to European 
learning. 
According to him, “single shelf of a good European library was worth native literature of 
India and Arabia.” 
Question 6. 
What were the main objectives of British education in India? Mention the steps 
recommended to implement the policy. 
Answer: 
There were three main objectives of education in India according to Lord Macaulay. The 
first objective was to form a class of interpreters between the British rulers and the 
millions of Indians they governed. 
The second objective was to create a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour but 
British in taste, opinion, morals and intellect. 
The third objective was to obtain a cheap supply of clerks for holding subordinate posts 
in administration and British business concerns. 
In 1835, Bentinck agreed to Macaulay’s view and made English the medium of 
instruction. In 1844 the government declared their intention to employ only English 
educated Indians. In 1854, Wood’s Despatch was accepted and implemented. New 
Universities were set up in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. 
Question 7. 
Describe the recommendations in Wood’s Despatch and their effects. 
Answer: 
(a) 
It declared that the aim to Government’s educational policy was the teaching of Western 
education “The education which we desire to see extended in India”, wrote Wood in the 
Despatch, “is that which has for its object the diffusion of the improved arts, science, 
philosophy and literature of Europe, in short of European knowledge.” 
1. As to the medium of instruction, it declared that for higher education. English 
language was the most perfect medium of education. It also emphasised the 
importance of vernacular languages. 
2. It proposed setting up of vernacular primary schools in villages Anglo-Vernacular 
high schools and an affiliated college at district level. 
3. It recommended a grants-in-aid to encourage private enterprise. 
4. A department of public instruction under the charge of a Director in each of the 
five provinces to review progress of education. 
5. Universities on the model of London University were set up in Calcutta, Bombay 
and Madras. 
6. The Despatch emphasised the importance of vocational Instruction and need for 
establishing technical schools and colleges. 
7. Teachers Training institutions on the model then prevalent in England were 
recommended. 
8. The Despatch gave frank and cordial support for fostering the education of 
women. 
Question 8. 
Discuss various aspects of the drain of wealth. 
Answer: 
The British exported to Britain part of India’s wealth and resources for which India got 
no adequate economic or material return. This ‘Economic Drain’was peculiar to British 
rule. Previously the rulers had spent the revenue they extracted from the people inside 
the country. But the British spent part of the taxes and income they derived from the 
Indian people not in India but in Britain, their home country. 
The drain of wealth from Bengal began in 1757 when company’s servants began to 
carry home immense fortunes extorted from Indian rulers, zamindars, merchants and 
the common people. They sent home nearly £ 6 million between 1758 and 1765. This 
was more than four times than total land revenue collection of the Nawab of Bengal in 
1765. 
In 1765 the company acquired the Diwani of Bengal and thus gained control over its 
revenues. The company began to purchase Indian goods out of the revenue of Bengal 
and to export them. 
From 1765 to 1770 the company sent out nearly £4 million worth of goods or about 33 
percent of the net revenue of the net revenue of Bengal. The drain took the form of an 
excess of India’s exports over its imports for which India got no return. The drain went 
on increasing after 1858.