Which of the following is a structural change that happened in Indian economy due to British rule?

Dependency on British industrialisation

The correct answer is Option (3) → Dependency on British industrialisation

Under British colonial rule, India’s economy underwent a structural transformation that shifted it from being a self-sufficient agrarian and artisanal economy to one subordinate to British industrial needs. Key aspects included:

• Deindustrialisation – decline of Indian handicrafts and traditional industries due to competition from machine-made British goods.

• Commercialisation of agriculture – focus on cash crops (indigo, cotton, jute) for export rather than food grains for local consumption.

• Import dependence – India became a major market for British manufactured goods and an exporter of raw materials, creating an economic dependency.

• Drain of wealth – resources and profits were systematically transferred to Britain, limiting domestic capital formation.

This dependency on British industrialisation was a fundamental structural change that shaped India’s colonial economy.