For the large majority of cotton producers in the Bombay Deccan, what did the cotton expansion of the boom years mean?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Heavier debt
Option (1) Heavier debt — Correct. Easy loans pulled ryots into cotton, so for most of them the boom meant heavier debt. Only some rich peasants gained.
Option (2) Higher savings from rising prices — Incorrect. Prices did rise, but most ryots did not save; the gain went to a few rich peasants.
Option (3) Purchase of more land — Incorrect. Buying land was beyond most ryots, who were borrowing to grow cotton.
Option (4) A lower revenue demand — Incorrect. The revenue demand was not lowered; at the next settlement it was raised by 50 to 100 per cent.
NCERT (2026-27): “3.4 Then came the cotton boom … “While the American crisis continued, cotton production in the Bombay Deccan expanded.” “Between 1860 and 1864 cotton acreage doubled. By 1862 over 90 per cent of cotton imports into Britain were coming from India.” “But these boom years did not bring prosperity to all cotton producers. Some rich peasants did gain, but for the large majority, cotton expansion meant heavier debt.” |