Read the following facts about Indian economy during British rule and select correct facts :

(A) Commercialisation of agriculture lead to production of cash crops which help British industries back home

(B) Britain maintained a monopoly control over India's exports and imports

(C) Basic infrastructure such as railways, ports, water transport, posts and telegraphs did develop to provide basic amenities to the people

(D) Indian trade was restricted to Britain, China, Russia and America

(E) India's economy remained fundamentally agrarian under the British rule

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

(A), (B) & (E) only

The correct answer is option (3) : (A), (B) & (E) only

The reasons for the correctness of the selected facts about the Indian economy during British rule are as follows :

(A) Commercialisation of agriculture led to the production of cash crops, which helped British industries back home : This is correct.  The British colonial government encouraged Indian farmers to grow cash crops like cotton, jute, and indigo for export to Britain. These cash crops were used as raw material for British industries, thereby benefitting British economic,thereby benefitting British economic interests.

(B) Britain maintained a monopoly control over India's exports and imports :This is correct. The British colonial administration controlled India's foreign trade to ensure that it primarily benefited British merchants and industries. This monopoly control allowed Britain to dictate the terms of trade , which often disadvantaged India.

(E) India's economy remained fundamentally agrarian under British rule : This is correct. Despite some industrial and infrastructure developments, the Indian economy largely remained dependent on agriculture. The British colonial policies favored the extraction of raw material from India and did not promote industrialization.

The other two statements are not correct.

(C) Basic infrastructure such as railways, ports, water transport, posts and telegraphs did develop to provide basic amenities to the people : Incorrect. While some infrastructure development did occur, the primary purpose was not to provide basic amenities to the people but to facilitate the movement of goods and resources for British benefit.

(D) Indian trade was restricted to Britain, China, Russia and America : Incorrect : 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)

"India has been an important trading nation since ancient times. But the restrictive policies of commodity production, trade and tariff pursued by the colonial government adversely affected the structure, composition and volume of India’s 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). The opening of the Suez Canal further intensified British control over India’s foreign trade".