Economic Policies of the British: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Modern History)
2 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Economic Policies of the British (Modern History). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–2 of 2 questions
UPSC 2018Modern History · Economic Policies of the British
Q1. Economically, one of the results of the British rule in India in the 19th century was the:
Explanation
Under British rule, Indian agriculture became increasingly commercialized. The traditional subsistence farming was replaced by large-scale cultivation of crops such as cotton, indigo, and jute for export purposes, often to meet the needs of British industries. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:
Indian handicrafts suffered during British rule due to the influx of cheap machine-made British goods, which displaced local handicrafts in domestic and international markets. The number of Indian-owned factories was very limited during the 19th century. Most of the industries, including textile mills, were controlled by the British. The urban population did not see a rapid increase during British rule. While some cities grew due to British administrative and military needs, the overall urbanization rate was low compared to European countries. Moreover, much of India’s population remained rural, engaged in agriculture.
Exam tip:
British rule harm India, not positively impacted it. Options A, B and D indicates positive outcomes while C the odd one out is negative impact, turning food crops into cash crops, making peasants vulnerable to market fluctuations and famine. Hence
option C likely correct.
UPSC 2018Modern History · Economic Policies of the British
Q2. The staple commodities of export by the English East Indian Company from Bengal in the middle of the 18th century were
Explanation
The East India Company was originally formed in Britain for pursuing trade with the East Indies in Southeast Asia. It ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China, where the main items of trade were cotton, silk, tea and opium. Also Bengal produced saltpeter, a key ingredient for making gunpowder, which was in high demand for both domestic use and export.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2018
(c) commercialization of Indian agriculture
2
2018
(d) Cotton, silk, saltpeter and opium
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Economic Policies of the British?
This page covers 2 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Economic Policies of the British (Modern History), asked from 1996 to 2024. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Economic Policies of the British?
Questions on Economic Policies of the British (Modern History) are available for 12 years, from 1996 to 2024. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
