Worksheet: Indian Economy On The Eve Of Independence- 1 | Economics Class 12 - Commerce PDF Download

Section 1: Fill in the Blanks

Q1: India's first official census operation was undertaken in _____.

Q2: The main interest of zamindars under the Zamindari System was to collect _____.

Q3: The decline of indigenous handicraft industries in India was due to the introduction of _____ by the colonial government.

Q4: India's foreign trade during British rule resulted in the generation of a large _____ surplus.

Q5: The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 reduced the cost of transportation and made access to the Indian market _____.

Q6: India's population growth transitioned from the first stage to the second stage after the year _____.

Q7: India's overall literacy level during British rule was less than _____ percent.

Q8: The British introduced an expensive system of _____ in India for the purpose of maintaining law and order.

Q9: The industrial sector in India lacked modernization, diversification, capacity building, and increased _____ investment.

Q10: The collapse of India's world-famous handicraft industries and deindustrialization policy by the British did not result in the formation of any industrial base in India, leading to the lack of _____ in the industrial sector.

Section 2: Assertion and Reason

Q2: Assertion: India's industrial sector during British rule lacked modernization and capacity building.
Reason: The British introduced a sound capital goods industry in India.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but Reason is true.

Q3: Assertion: India's agricultural sector continued to experience stagnation and low productivity during British rule.
Reason: Indian farmers were encouraged to produce cash crops instead of food crops.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but Reason is true.

Q4: Assertion: India's infrastructure development during British rule aimed to provide basic amenities to the people.
Reason: Roads were built primarily for the mobility of the Indian population during natural calamities.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but Reason is true.

Q5: Assertion: The British introduced railways in India in 1853, which had a positive impact on the Indian economy.
Reason: The construction of railways led to huge economic losses for the Indian economy.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but Reason is true.

Section 3: Very Short Answers 

Q2: Name one type of cotton textile from Dhaka, Bengal, which was famous worldwide.
Q3: What was the primary objective of British economic policies in India?

Q4: Which system of land settlement favored zamindars in British India?

Q5: What was the main cause of low agricultural productivity in British India?

Q6: What did the British encourage Indian farmers to produce instead of food crops?

Q7: In what year did India transition from the first stage to the second stage of demographic transition?

Q8: What was the overall literacy level in India during British rule?

Q9: What did the British introduce in India to maintain law and order?

Q10: Which sector in India lacked modernization and capacity building under British rule?

Section 4: Short Answers

Q2: Describe the reasons for the low level of agricultural productivity in British India.

Q3: Discuss the impact of India's foreign trade during British rule on the country's economy.

Q4: Explain the demographic transition in India during British rule.

Q5: Describe the occupational structure in India during British rule.

Q6: Explain the impact of railways on the Indian economy during British rule.

Q7: Discuss the state of India's infrastructure during British rule.

Q8: Summarize the crucial economic challenges India faced at the time of independence.

Section 5: Long Answers

Q1: Discuss the economic policies pursued by the British in India and their impact on the Indian economy.

Q2: Explain the impact of the land settlement systems introduced by the British on Indian agriculture.

Q3: Discuss the state of India's agriculture sector during British rule, highlighting the causes of its stagnation and low productivity.

Q4: Describe the state of India's industrial sector during British rule, focusing on the reasons for its lack of development.