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The theory of economic drain of India during British imperialism was propounded by
  • a)
    Jawaharlal Nehru
  • b)
    M. K. Gandhi
  • c)
    R. C. Dutt
  • d)
    Dadabhai Naoroji
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
The theory of economic drain of India during British imperialism was ...
The Economic Drain Theory
The theory of economic drain of India during British imperialism was notably propounded by Dadabhai Naoroji. This concept highlights the financial exploitation of India by the British colonial regime.
Key Aspects of the Economic Drain Theory:
- Definition of Economic Drain:
Naoroji argued that a significant portion of India’s wealth was systematically transferred to Britain, leading to economic impoverishment in India.
- Mechanisms of Drain:
He identified various mechanisms through which wealth was drained, such as:
- High taxes on Indian agriculture and trade.
- Profits from British enterprises being repatriated to Britain.
- Expenditure by the British government in India benefiting Britain rather than India.
- Naoroji's Contributions:
In his seminal work, "Poverty and Un-British Rule in India," published in 1901, Naoroji provided statistical evidence to support his claims. He aimed to raise awareness about the detrimental economic policies imposed by the British.
- Impact on Indian Nationalism:
The theory played a crucial role in shaping Indian nationalist sentiments. It galvanized leaders and the public to challenge British rule and seek economic independence.
- Legacy:
Dadabhai Naoroji is often referred to as the "Grand Old Man of India" for his efforts to articulate the economic grievances of Indians. His ideas laid the groundwork for future economic critiques of colonial rule.
In summary, Dadabhai Naoroji's economic drain theory was a critical analysis of the exploitation of India under British rule, highlighting the adverse effects on the Indian economy and contributing significantly to the nationalist movement.
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Similar UPSC Doubts

With reference to the economic policies of the British in India and its impact, consider the following statements: India's export surplus became vital for Britains' balance of payments by the end of the nineteenth century. The organised money market was completely under the British control. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?Expalantion: The British continued to exploit India's economy. The burden of East India Company's London establishment and dividends to its shareholders was replaced after 1858, by the expenditure on the Secretary of State's India Office. The Indian debt in England which was already considerable as a result of the Company's military ventures and suppression of the mutiny was further increased, when compensation to the Company's shareholders was added to Government of India's account. Both Home charges and private remittances were channelised through Indian exports as pointed out by the nationalist economists from Dadabhai Naoroji onwards. The character of economic drain which was originally mercantilist, underwent a change and it now took the form of exploitation through free trade. In the later stage, it got linked with the structure of British Indian finance capitalism. Statement 1 is correct: In fact, India's export surplus became vital for Britains' balance of payments by the end of the nineteenth century. The British rule inhibited and curbed indigenous industry through a variety of structural constraints. The government policies actively promoted the European enterprise and discriminated against Indians. Statement 2 is not correct: The outstanding feature of the Indian money market was its dichotomy; it consisted of two fairly distinct sectors, the organized and the unorganized. These two were not entirely unconnected, but the links were rather loose. The constituents of the organized sector of the Indian money market were the Imperial Bank of India, the exchange banks, and the Indian joint-stock banks. The unorganized sector comprised the indigenous bankers, moneylenders, chit funds, nidhis, etc., etc. The co-operative credit institutions occupied a somewhat intermediate position.

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The theory of economic drain of India during British imperialism was propounded bya)Jawaharlal Nehrub)M. K. Gandhic)R. C. Duttd)Dadabhai NaorojiCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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