Why did many Indians, nearly 26 million people die in famines between 1875 and 1900?

Due to the export of food grains from India

The correct answer is Option 1: Due to the export of food grains from India

The main reason for the famines that occurred in India between 1875 and 1900 was the export of food grains from India, particularly to meet the needs of the British Empire. This export significantly contributed to food shortages within India, exacerbating the impact of poor monsoons and crop failures.

So, Option 1: Due to the export of food grains from India, is the most significant factor among the options provided. While poor monsoons and epidemics might have exacerbated the situation, they were not the primary causes of the famines during that period.

"As over 70 per cent of Indians were engaged in agriculture throughout the British Raj period, the impact on that sector was more important on living standards than anything else. British policies involved sharply raising rural taxes that enabled merchants and moneylenders to become large landowners. Under the British, India began to export food grains and, as a result, as many as 26 million people died in famines between 1875 and 1900."