Investments in India before WWI

Overview:
Before the First World War, India was a British colony and a significant source of capital investment for the British Empire. The majority of British capital investment in India was made in three major sectors: plantation industry, railways and transport, and banking and insurance.

Plantation Industry:
The plantation industry in India included tea, coffee, rubber, and other cash crops. British investors heavily invested in this sector to exploit the vast natural resources of India. India was the largest producer of tea in the world, and the British invested heavily in tea plantations in Assam and Darjeeling. The plantation industry was a profitable venture for the British, as they could extract cheap labor and raw materials from India.

Railways and Transport:
The British also invested heavily in the development of railways and transport infrastructure in India. The railways were crucial for the British to transport raw materials and finished goods from one part of the country to another. The British invested in railway lines connecting major cities and towns, and the railway network expanded rapidly during this period. The British also invested in the development of ports and harbors, which facilitated the movement of goods and people across the country.

Banking and Insurance:
The British also invested heavily in the banking and insurance sector in India. The British established banks and insurance companies to finance their colonial ventures in India. The banks provided loans to the British planters and traders, and the insurance companies insured their cargoes and goods against loss or damage.

All of the above:
All three sectors mentioned above were crucial for the British to exploit the resources of India and maintain their colonial rule. The British invested heavily in these sectors, and by the beginning of the First World War, nearly 97% of the British capital investment in India was made in these sectors.