Which of the following statement is incorrect regarding British capitalist colonialism in India?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → They did not interfere with the economic base
Option (1) It strengthened and expanded British capitalism — True. British colonialism was based on a capitalist system, and every policy was geared towards the strengthening and expansion of British capitalism.
Option (2) It changed the very laws of the land — True. It changed the very laws of the land, not only land ownership laws but even decisions on which crops ought to be grown.
Option (3) They did not interfere with the economic base — False. Not interfering with the economic base was the mark of the pre-capitalist conquerors, who only took a continuous flow of tribute from the surplus produced in the old way. British capitalist colonialism directly interfered to ensure the greatest profit for British capitalism, so the statement is false for it.
Option (4) It meddled with the manufacturing sector — True. It meddled with the manufacturing sector and altered the way goods were produced and distributed.
NCERT (2025-26): “1.1 U nderstanding C olonialism … Nevertheless, there is a vital difference between the empire building of pre-capitalist times and that of capitalist times. Apart from outright pillage, the pre-capitalist conquerors benefited from their domination by exacting a continuous flow of tribute. On the whole they did not interfere with the economic base. They simply took the tribute that was skimmed off the economic surplus that was produced traditionally in the subjugated areas.…” “In contrast British colonialism which was based on a capitalist system directly interfered to ensure greatest profit and benefit to British capitalism. Every policy was geared towards the strengthening and expansion of British capitalism. For instance it changed the very laws of the land. It changed not just land ownership laws but decided even what crops ought to be grown and what ought not to be. It meddled with the manufacturing sector.…” |