33.Post Independence History - I

Question 1

What was the significance of August 15, 1947?

Answer 1

It marked the end of India’s colonial subjugation and the beginning of independence.

Question 2

When did the Constituent Assembly of India meet?

Answer 2

The Constituent Assembly of India met on August 14, 1947.

Question 3

Who presided over the session of the Constituent Assembly?

Answer 3

Rajendra Prasad presided over the session of the Constituent Assembly.

Question 4

Where was the historic speech given by Jawaharlal Nehru?

Answer 4

The historic speech by Jawaharlal Nehru was given in the Constituent Assembly (in Parliament House) at midnight of August 14-15, 1947.

Question 5

What did Nehru refer to in his speech?

Answer 5

Nehru referred to the “tryst with destiny” and the time for India to redeem its pledge to freedom and independence.

Question 6

What was the dominant sector of the Indian economy before independence?

Answer 6

The Indian economy was mainly agrarian before independence.

Question 7

What percentage of the population relied on agriculture for their living?

Answer 7

About 85% of the country’s people relied on agriculture for their living.

Question 8

Why was the agricultural productivity low in absolute terms?

Answer 8

Due to overcrowding and a lack of technological advancements, the agricultural productivity was low.

Question 9

Who benefited from the profits of the agriculture sector?

Answer 9

The profits from the agriculture sector flowed to the zamindars (landlords) rather than the cultivators.

Question 10

What were the main reasons for poor agricultural output and efficiency?

Answer 10

Low levels of technology, a lack of irrigation systems, and a lack of fertilizer application contributed to poor agricultural output and efficiency.

Question 11

How did the commercialization of agriculture affect farmers?

Answer 11

The commercialization of agriculture did not significantly improve the economic situation of farmers because they were growing cash crops primarily for British companies.

Question 12

What did India wake up to at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947?

Answer 12

India woke up to life and freedom at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947.

Question 13

What effect did the post-independence division have on India’s agricultural output?

Answer 13

A significant chunk of well-irrigated and fertile land moved to Pakistan, reducing India’s agricultural output, particularly in the jute industry.

Question 14

What percentage of land was under the control of zamindars?

Answer 14

70% of land was under the control of zamindars (landlords).

Question 15

Why was Indian agriculture labor-intensive and underdeveloped?

Answer 15

The agricultural land was fragmented, leading to labor-intensive practices and underdevelopment.

Question 16

How was the peasantry affected in terms of taxation?

Answer 16

The peasantry was heavily taxed, contributing to their impoverishment.

Question 17

What was the uneven distribution of land and population between India and Pakistan?

Answer 17

India received 77% of the land with 82% of the population, while Pakistan received 23% of the land with 18% of the population.

Question 18

What type of policies favored colonial masters in pre-independence India?

Answer 18

Policies like trade and currency were geared towards favoring the colonial masters.

Question 19

What was the state of capital goods manufacturing and bureaucratic access to power in India?

Answer 19

There was a virtual absence of capital goods manufacturing, and access to power through bureaucracy was limited to the elite class.

Question 20

What was the literacy rate in India in 1947?

Answer 20

The literacy rate in 1947 was around 12% of the population.

Question 21

Despite having a tradition of producing high-quality handicrafts, what was the state of India’s industrial base?

Answer 21

India was unable to create a sound industrial base, and no modern industrial base was allowed to take its place.

Question 22

What was the purpose of the deindustrialization policy implemented by the British in India?

Answer 22

The purpose was to lower India’s status to that of a mere exporter of raw materials for Britain’s emerging modern industries and to convert India into a market for British goods.

Question 23

What were the consequences of the decline of India’s indigenous handcraft industries?

Answer 23

The decline resulted in widespread unemployment and rural suffering.

Question 24

Where were most textile mills for cotton and jute located in India?

Answer 24

They were mostly located in Maharashtra and Gujarat, in the western half of the country.

Question 25

When did modern manufacturing begin to emerge in India?

Answer 25

Modern manufacturing began to take root in India in the second part of the nineteenth century.

Question 26

Which company was one of the first iron and steel companies in India?

Answer 26

The Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO), founded in 1907, was one of the first iron and steel companies to emerge.

Question 27

What were some other industries that arose in India after World War II?

Answer 27

Other industries such as sugar, cement, and paper arose after World War II.

Question 28

Did the capital goods industry flourish in India despite the need for further industrialization?

Answer 28

No, the capital goods industry did not flourish in India.

Question 29

What was the state of growth and contribution to GDP of the new industrial sector in India?

Answer 29

The rate of growth of the new industrial sector was dismal and fragmented, and its contribution to GDP was low.

Question 30

What did the industrial sector in India require in terms of modernization and investment?

Answer 30

The industrial sector required modernization, diversification, capacity expansion, and higher public investment.

Question 31

Which sectors were predominantly operated by the public sector in India?

Answer 31

The public sector operated in limited areas, including railways, power generation, communications, ports, and select governmental projects.

Question 32

What were some positives of British rule in India?

Answer 32

*India had a fairly well-established rule of law. *Infrastructure, including rails and roads, grew decently. *There was a relatively independent judiciary. *India had a comparatively developed banking system. *India inherited a well-established banking and insurance system from the British.

Question 33

What were the positive impacts of British construction projects in India?

Answer 33

The British constructed around 40,000 km of railway lines and around 70,000 km of roads, leading to the development of new urban centers such as Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta.

Question 34

How did the industrial revolution in England affect India?

Answer 34

The pouring of British goods into India at an unprecedented rate led to the decline of the Indian handicrafts industry. However, it also contributed to the industrialization of certain sectors.

Question 35

What was the state of Indian industry by the end of World War II?

Answer 35

By the end of World War II, more than half of the Indian industry was driven by Indian capital.

Question 36

What were the social and economic effects of industrialization and urbanization in India?

Answer 36

Employment opportunities increased, and the remittances from urban areas were used for the development of villages and the establishment of educational institutions.