The roads built under colonial rule carried raw materials from the countryside to the nearest railway station or port, to be sent to England. Which feature of India’s foreign trade does this fit?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → India became an exporter of primary products such as cotton and jute.
The roads moved raw materials out to England. This fits India’s role as an exporter of primary products, such as raw silk, cotton, jute and indigo.
Option (1) India became an exporter of finished consumer goods. — Incorrect. India imported finished goods like cotton, silk and woollen clothes.
Option (2) India became an exporter of primary products such as cotton and jute. — Correct. Raw materials sent abroad are primary products.
Option (3) India became an importer of capital goods such as light machinery. — Incorrect. India did import light machinery from Britain, but that is about imports. Roads carrying raw materials out fit India’s exports.
Option (4) India’s trade was mainly with China, Ceylon and Persia. — Incorrect. More than half of the trade was with Britain; the rest was with these countries.
NCERT (2026-27): “1.8 Infrastructure … The roads that were built primarily served the purposes of mobilising the army within India and drawing out raw materials from the countryside to the nearest railway station or the port to send these to far away England or other lucrative foreign destinations. …” “1.5 Foreign Trade … Consequently, India became an exporter of primary products such as raw silk, cotton, wool, sugar, indigo, jute etc. and an importer of finished consumer goods like cotton, silk and woollen clothes and capital goods like light machinery produced in the factories of Britain. For all practical purposes, Britain maintained a monopoly control over India’s exports and imports. As a result, more than half of India’s foreign trade was restricted to Britain while the rest was allowed with a few other countries like China, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Persia (Iran). …” |