Which of the following statements about the Indian economy before British rule are correct?
(A) Agriculture was the main source of livelihood for most people.
(B) According to the French traveller Bernier, seventeenth-century Bengal exported cottons, silks, rice, sugar and butter in abundance.
(C) The economy had hardly any manufacturing activity besides agriculture.
(D) India was well known for its handicrafts in metal and precious stone works.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → (A), (B) and (D) only
(A) Agriculture was the main source of livelihood for most people. — Correct. Most people lived on agriculture.
(B) According to the French traveller Bernier, seventeenth-century Bengal exported cottons, silks, rice, sugar and butter in abundance. — Correct. Bernier found Bengal richer than Egypt, with large exports of these goods.
(C) The economy had hardly any manufacturing activity besides agriculture. — Incorrect. The economy had various kinds of manufacturing activities, such as handicrafts.
(D) India was well known for its handicrafts in metal and precious stone works. — Correct. Indian handicrafts in cotton and silk textiles, metal and precious stone works were famous.
NCERT (2026-27): “1.2 Low Level of Economic Development Under the Colonial Rule India had an independent economy before the advent of the British rule. Though agriculture was the main source of livelihood for most people, yet, the country’s economy was characterised by various kinds of manufacturing activities. India was particularly well known for its handicraft industries in the fields of cotton and silk textiles, metal and precious stone works etc. …” “Box 1.2: Agriculture During Pre-British India The French traveller, Bernier, described seventeenth century Bengal in the following way: ‘The knowledge I have acquired of Bengal in two visits inclines me to believe that it is richer than Egypt. It exports, in abundance, cottons and silks, rice, sugar and butter. …’” |