Was There Export Surplus or Deficit during British Rule?
There was Export Surplus
It means India's Export were more than Imports
Is Export Surplus Good for India or Bad?
Normally, Export Surplus is good for country as foreign exchange/gold/silver received on export Increases country's wealth
But, in case of Export Surplus during British Rule
Majority of Trade was with Britain
Money was not received in India in form of Gold/Silver from Britain
Money was used to Make Payments of
Expenses on War
Office of British Officers in India
Import of Invisible Items(Services from Britain)
NCERT Questions
Question 9
What do you understand by the drain of Indian wealth during the colonial period?
View AnswerDrain of Indian wealth means that all the export surplus that India had was not reaching India
Rather it was used by Britain was their own benefits
Foreign Exchange earned from exports was used to pay:
1. Expenses on War
2. Office of British Officers in India
3. Import of Invisible Items(Services from Britain)
This was the drain of Indian wealth during the colonial period.
Question 15
Indicate the volume and direction of trade at the time of independence.
View AnswerThe volume and direction of Trade at the time of independence was as follows:
1. India was an Exporter of Raw Materials like Raw Silk, Cotton, Silk, Woollen Clothes and Importer of Finished Goods like Clothes made of cotton, silk, wool and Light Machinery.
2. Trade was Mainly with Britain (More than 50%) and Few Neighbouring Countries - China, Ceylon(Sri Lanka), Persia (Iran)
MCQ Other Books
Question 1
In the following questions, select the correct answers:
The export surplus during the British rule was used:
- To make payments for expenses incurred by an office set up by the colonial government in Britain
- To meet expenses on war fought by the British Government
- To export invisible items
- To import invisible items
A. To make payments for expenses incurred by an office set up by the colonial government in Britain
B. To meet expenses on war fought by the British Government
D. To import invisible items
Explanation
Foreign Exchange earned from exports was used to pay:
1 Expenses on War
2 Office of British Officers in India
3 Import of Invisible Items(Services from Britain)
(This was the drain of Indian Wealth)
Question 2
More than half of India's foreign trade was restricted to:
- China
- Korea
- Britain
- Sri Lanka
C. Britain
Trade was Mainly with Britain (More than 50%) and Few Neighbouring Countries - China, Ceylon(Sri Lanka), Persia (Iran)
Question 3
The opening of the Suez Canal served as a direct route for ships operating between:
- India and America
- India and Britain
- India and Sri Lanka
- India and Pakistan
B. India and Britain
Question 4
In the following questions, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R).
Mark the correct choice:
1 Assertion (A): India became an exporter of primary products and an importer of finished consumer and capital goods produced in Britain.
Reason (R): Restrictive policies of commodity production, trade and tariff pursued by the colonial government adversely affected the structure, composition and volume of India’s
foreign trade.
CBSE Sample Papers [CBSE SQP 2021] U
- Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
- Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
- Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
- Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
A. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
Explanation
India was an Exporter of Raw Materials like Raw Silk, Cotton, Silk, Woollen Clothes and Importer of
Finished Goods like Clothes made of cotton, silk, wool and Light Machinery.
Trade was Mainly with Britain (More than 50%) and Few Neighboring Countries - China, Ceylon(Sri Lanka), Persia (Iran)
Foreign Exchange earned from exports was used to pay:
- Expenses on War
- Office of British Officers in India
- Import of Invisible Items(Services from Britain)
This was the drain of Indian wealth during the colonial period.
Question 5
Assertion (A): During colonial period, India’s export trade was export surplus.
Reason (R): During colonial period, India’s export were more than its import.
- Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
- Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
- Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
- Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
B. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
Explanation
Export surplus that India had was not reaching India
Rather it was used by Britain was their own benefits
Foreign Exchange earned from exports was used to pay:
- Expenses on War
- Office of British Officers in India
- Import of Invisible Items(Services from Britain)
This was the drain of Indian wealth during the colonial period.
Question 6
Assertion (A): Indian economy was source of raw material for British industries.
Reason (R): During colonial period, the raw materials were exported from India to Britain to be used in the industry.
- Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
- Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
- Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
- Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
A. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
Explanation
India was an Exporter of Raw Materials like Raw Silk, Cotton, Silk, Woollen Clothes and Importer of
Finished Goods like Clothes made of cotton, silk, wool and Light Machinery.