INDIAN SCHOOL AL WADI AL KABIR

Structural Change (Grade XII)

Question Bank with Answers

OVERVIEW OF THE CHAPTER:

-INTRODUCTION

- UNDERSTANDING COLONIALISM

- URBANIZATION AND INDUSTRAILIZATION

- TEA PLANTATIONS

- INDUSTRIALIZATION IN INDEPENDENT INDIA

- URBANIZATION IN INDEPENDENT INDIA

Q1. What is meant by colonialism? Ans: Colonialism simply means the establishment of
rule by one country over another. In the modern period western colonialism has had the
greatest impact.

Q2. What is meant by capitalism? (2mks)

Ans: Capitalism is an economic system in which the means of production are privately owned
and organized to accumulate profits within a market system. Capitalism in the west emerged
out of a complex process of European exploration of the rest of the world, its plunder of
wealth and resources, an unprecedented growth of science and technology, its harnessing to
industries and agriculture. What marked capitalism from the very beginning was its
dynamism, its potential to grow, expand, innovate, use technology and labour in a way best
assured to ensure greatest profit.

Q3. What was the impact of British industrialization on Indian industries? (4mks)

Impact of British industrialization on Indian industries…as follows:

-British industrialization led to deindustrialization in some sectors

-Old urban centres declined: Just as manufacturing boomed in Britain, traditional exports of
cotton and silk manufactures from India declined in the face of Manchester competition.

- Further decline of cities such as Surat and Masulipatnam while Bombay and Madras grew.

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-Unlike Britain where the impact of industrialization led to more people moving into urban
areas, in India the initial impact of the same British industrialization led to more people
moving agriculture.

Q4. How did industrialization take place after independence? (4/6mks)

For Indian nationalists the issue of economic exploitation under colonial rule was a central
issue. Indian nationalists saw rapid industrialization of the economy as the path towards both
growth and social equity. Early industrialization in Independent India focused on:

-Development of heavy and machine-making industries,

-expansion of the public sector and

-holding of a large cooperative sector

Nearly a decade before the country’s Independence, in 1938 a National Planning Committee
with Jawaharlal Nehru as the Chairman and K.T. Shah as the general editor was set up by the
Indian National Congress.

The major areas on which the Committee focused its attention were:

(a) Agriculture and other sources of primary production (b) Industries or other secondary
sources of production (c) Human factor: labour and population (d) Exchange and finance (e)
Public utilities: transport and communication (f) Social services: health and housing (g)
Education: general and technical (h) Woman’s role in a planned economy

The Planning Commission was set up in March 1950 by a resolution of the Government of
India, which is defining the scope of the Commission’s work.

Q5. How has English language impacted our society? (4mks)

Ans: The impact of English language on Indian society has been many sided. Apart from
being widely used in India today, during the colonial rule it was a major contributor to the
growth of nationalism. Today the knowledge of English has given Indians an edge over
others in the job market. Fluency in English has led to increase in social prestige and status
among some groups and has been a factor that has contributed to reducing social inequalities.
Q6. Urbanization and industrialization are linked processes. Justify (6mks)
Ans. Industrialization refers to the emergence of machine production, based on the use of
inanimate power resources like steam or electricity.
•A prime feature of industrial societies is that a large number of people are employed in
factories, offices or shops rather than agriculture.
•Over 90% people are living in cities and towns where most jobs are to be found and new job
opportunities are created e.g. in Britain the first society to undergo industrialization was also
the earliest to move from being rural to an urban community.

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•During British period industrialization in some regions had led to decline of old urban
centers.
The process of urbanization during the colonial period caused decline of earlier urban centers
and the emergence of new colonial cities e.g. cities like Surat and Masulipatnam lost their
charm and Bombay and Madras emerged as important cities.
•When manufacturing units boomed in Britain, traditional export of cotton and silk
manufactures of India declined because they could not compete to Manchester.
•At the end of 19th century, with the development of mechanized factory industrialization,
few towns became heavily populated.

Other than eastern India where British penetration was earliest and deepest, survived much
longer e.g. village crafts in the interior could survive. They were affected only with the
spread of railways.
•The government of India after Independence played significant role in protecting and
promoting industrialization.
•Because of recent policies related to liberalization and globalization led to vast expansion of
cities.

Q7. What is the difference between the empire building of pre-capitalist times and that
of capitalist times? (2/4mks)
Ans: While history is full of examples of the annexation of foreign territory and the
domination of weaker by stronger powers, there is nevertheless a vital difference between the
empire building of pre-capitalist times and that of capitalist times. Apart from outright
pillage, the pre-capitalist conquerors benefitted from the dominating by exacting a continous
flow of tribute. On the whole they did not interefere with the economic base. They simply
took the tribute that was skimmed off the economic surplus that was produced traditonally in
the subjugated area. In constrast, British colonialism which was based on capitalist system
directly interefered to ensure greatest profit and benefit to British capitalism. Every policy
was geared towards the strengthening and expansion of British capitalism.

Q8. What is de-industrialization? (2mks)

Ans: De-industrialization is a process of social and economic change caused by the removal
or reduction of industrial activity in a region. In India the imapct of the very same British
industrialization led to deindustrailization in some sectors.

-Decline of old urban cetners: Just as the manufacturing boomed in Britain, traditional
exports of cotton and silk manufacturers from India declined in the face of Manchester
competition

-This period also saw the further decline of cities such as Surat and Masulipatnam whole
Bombay and Madras grew

The cities were an expression of global capitalism

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Q9. How did the nationalists view industrialization after independence? (2mks)
Ans: Indian nationalist saw heavy industrialization of the economy as the path towards
both growth and social equity. Development of heavy and machine-making industries,
expansion of the public sector and holding of a large cooperative sector were considered very
important.
Q10. What are the aspects of Indian society that have been shaped by our paradoxical
experience with colonialism? (2mks)
Ans: Our laws, our political life, our social reform and nationalist movement, our
constitution, our industry and agriculture, our cities and our villages have been shaped by our
paradoxical experience with colonialism.
Q11. How has colonialism impacted our lives? You can either focus on one aspect like
culture or politics or treat them together (6mks)
Ans. British colonialism which was based on capitalism directly interfered to ensure greatest
profit and benefit to British capitalism.
•Every policy was geared towards the strengthening and expansion of British capitalism.
•It changed the law of land as:
(a)It changed not just land ownership laws but decided even what crops would be grown and
what ought not to be.
(b)It altered the way production and distribution of goods take place.
(c)It started interfering with the manufacturing sector.
(d)It started occupying forests and cleared trees and started plantation.
(e)Colonialism introduced the forest acts that changed the lives of tribals/ pastoralists.
(f) It also led to movements of people from one part to another in India which ultimately lead
to the growth of nationalist and anti-colonial awareness in the Indian masses.
The colonialism affected our lives culturally, politically and more or less combining the two.
Due to mobility and exposure to modern western thoughts people started thinking about
freedom, liberty and human rights which provided basis for India freedom movement.
Colonialism also had significant social influences e.g. Indian society particularly the
emerging middle class was gradually changed i.e. their life style, eating habits, languages and
clothing.
Political impact of colonialism on Indian society was significant our national movement, the
political system, the parliamentary and legal system, constitution, education system, the
police traffic rules by and large the whole political structure changed due to the colonial
impact.

Q12. Explain M.S.A Rao’s three levels of urbanization observed in independent India
(6mks)
Ans: Writing on the different kinds of urbanization witnesses in the first two decades after
independence sociologist M.S.A. Rao argued that in India many villages all over India are
becoming increasingly subject to the impact of urban influences. But the nature of urban
impact varies according to the kind of relations a village has with a city or town. He describes
three different situations of urban impact as mentioned below:
Firstly, there are villages in which a sizeable number of people have sought employment in
far-off cities. They live there leaving behind the members of their families in their natal
villages. A considerable number of emigrants reside not only in Indian cities but also in

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overseas towns. For instance, there are many overseas migrants from Gujarat villages living
in African and British towns. They have built fashionable houses in their natal villages,
invested money on land and industry, and have donated literally to the establishment of
educational institutions and trusts.
The second kind of urban impact is to be seen in villages which are situated near an industrial
town...When an industrial town like Bhilai comes up in the midst of villages, some villages
are totally uprooted while the lands of others are partially acquired. The latter are found to
receive an influx of immigrant workers, which not only stimulates a demand for houses and a
market inside the village but creates problems of ordering relationships between the native
residents and the immigrants.
Thirdly, the growth of metropolitan cities accounts for the third type of urban impact on the
surrounding villages...While a few villages are totally absorbed in the process of expansion,
only the land of many others, excluding the inhabited area, is used for urban development.
Q13. Which cities were developed by the British in India? Why? (4mks)
Ans: Cities had a key role in the economic system of empires. Coastal cities such as Mumbai,
Kolkata and Chennai were favoured. From here primary commodities could be easily
exported and manufactured goods could be cheaply imported. Colonial cities were the prime
link between the economic centre or core in Britain and periphery or margins in colonised
India. Cities in this sense were the concrete expression of global capitalism. In British India
for example Bombay was planned and re-developed so that by 1900 over three-quarters of
India’s raw cotton were shipped through the city. Calcutta exported jute to Dundee while
Madras sent coffee, sugar, indigo dyes and cotton to Britain.
Q14. Explain the labour system in Assam where the tea industry was located (2mks)
Ans: The labour system in Assam was essentially that of indenture by which the labourers
went to Assam under contract for a number of years. The British government helped the
planters by providing for penal sanctions in case of non-fulfillment of the contract by the
labourers.

Q15. Refer to the graph below and answer the questions that follow:

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OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS:

1. When urban features start to develop in a village area the process is known as
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link] of the above

2. The reasons behind the increase in urban population are

[Link] and better options of employment
[Link] of better facilities
[Link] of technology
[Link] of the above

3. The Indian system of parliament and education are based on which of the following
systems
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]

4. _______ is an economic system in which the means of production are privately owned and
organized to accumulate profits within a market system
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]

5. Establishment of rule by one country over the another is known as

[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link] country

6. According to M.S.A. Rao there are__________ types of impact on village of urbanization

[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]

7. In which year did job charlock arranged to lease three villages by the river Hugli for setting
up of a trading post

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a.1690
b.1960
c.1600
d.1900

8. The national planning committee was set up in the year

a.1951
b.1939
c.1948
d.1950

9. High rate of urbanization in post-independence era in India was experienced in which of

the following cities
[Link] of the above
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]

10. Which of the following is true for a model of South Asian colonial city? (a) Recreational
facilities were not available (b) Unplanned streets (c) Civic amenities were accessible in the
European towns of the South Asian colonial city (d) Cramped bungalows

11. Sociologist M. S. A. Rao described three distinct kinds of urban impact on rural villages
in India. Which of the following correctly represents those three types?

A. (i) Villages with high rates of overseas or urban migration where migrants send money
home and invest locally;
(ii) Villages near industrial towns experiencing land acquisition, inflow of migrant labor, and
increased market activity;
(iii) Villages on the periphery of expanding metropolitan cities facing absorption or partial
land use for urban purposes.

B. (i) Villages undergoing agricultural mechanization leading to caste displacement;

(ii) Villages experiencing Green Revolution inequalities;
(iii) Villages impacted by caste-based landholding patterns.

C. (i) Villages transformed by tourism and heritage industries;

(ii) Villages near national highways benefiting from trade;
(iii) Villages with high female out-migration to urban centers.

D. (i) Villages integrated into global agribusiness exports;

(ii) Villages dominated by colonial market systems;
(iii) Villages organized around local caste patronage systems.

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ASSERTION REASON
[Link] (A): Urbanization in the colonial period saw the prosperity of indigenous
industries.
Reason (R): There was emergence of new colonial cities.
(a) Both Assertion A & R are true and R is the correct explanation of Assertion A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but Reason R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.

[Link] (A): The growth of industrial cities like Bombay and Madras during British rule
reflected the rise of global capitalism.
Reason (R): Traditional urban centers such as Surat and Masulipatnam declined due to the
competition from British manufactured goods like those from Manchester.

(a) Both Assertion A & R are true and R is the correct explanation of Assertion A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but Reason R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.

[Link] (A): British colonialism actively altered the economic systems of its colonies.
Reason (R): This was done to serve the interests of British capitalism and ensure maximum
benefit for the British economy.

(a) Both Assertion A & R are true and R is the correct explanation of Assertion A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but Reason R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
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AI generated Additional MCQ’s done in class after sub-unit completion

1. What makes British colonialism different from pre-capitalist conquests? a) It involved

territorial annexation b) It directly interfered with the economic base to ensure maximum
profit c) It collected tribute from conquered territories d) It established political control over
foreign lands

2. According to the chapter, which of the following is NOT mentioned as a lasting

impact of colonialism on contemporary India? a) Parliamentary system based on British
model b) Driving on the left side of the road c) Use of the metric system d) School uniforms
with neck-ties

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3. The English language in India represents a paradox because: a) It is difficult to learn
for Indians b) It provides global market advantages but remains a mark of privilege c) It is
only used in urban areas d) It has replaced all regional languages

4. Capitalism, as described in the chapter, is characterized by: a) Government ownership

of means of production b) Private ownership of means of production organized to accumulate
profits c) Equal distribution of wealth d) Absence of market systems

5. Which three villages were leased by Job Charnock in 1690 to establish Kolkata? a)
Bombay, Madras, Calcutta b) Kolikata, Gobindapur, Sutanuti c) Delhi, Agra, Lucknow d)
Surat, Masulipatnam, Thanjavur

6. The initial impact of British industrialization on India led to: a) More people moving
into urban areas b) More people moving into agriculture c) Equal distribution between urban
and rural areas d) Complete abandonment of villages

7. Which cities declined during the colonial period? a) Bombay and Madras b) Kolkata
and Chennai c) Surat and Masulipatnam d) Delhi and Agra

8. The tea industry in India began in: a) 1851 b) 1863 c) 1870 d) 1903

9. Most tea gardens in colonial India were situated in: a) Bengal b) Assam c) Kerala d)
Tamil Nadu

10. The Transport of Native Labourers Act was passed in: a) 1851 b) 1863 c) 1870 d)
1873

11. According to the Census of India Report (1911), village industries were destroyed
due to: a) Natural disasters b) Extensive importation of cheap European goods and
establishment of Western-type factories c) Lack of skilled workers d) Government policies
favoring agriculture

12. Colonial cities served as: a) Cultural centers b) Prime links between economic core in
Britain and periphery in India c) Administrative centers only d) Religious centers

13. By 1900, what percentage of India's raw cotton was shipped through Bombay? a)
Half b) Two-thirds c) Over three-quarters d) Nearly all

14. The Swadeshi movement strengthened: a) British colonial rule b) Loyalty to the
national economy c) International trade relations d) Regional divisions

15. According to M.S.A. Rao, how many types of urban impact on villages are
described? a) Two b) Three c) Four d) Five

16. In Madhopur village, out of 298 households, how many had migrants? a) 57 b) 67 c)
77 d) 87

17. What percentage of migrants from Madhopur sent money regularly to their village?
a) 65% b) 75% c) 83% d) 90%

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18. In 1951, what percentage of India's population lived in urban areas? a) 15.29% b)
17.29% c) 19.29% d) 21.29%

19. In 2011, what percentage of India's population lived in urban areas? a) 29.16% b)
31.16% c) 33.16% d) 35.16%

20. For the first time since Independence, the absolute increase in population was more
in: a) Rural areas than urban areas b) Urban areas than rural areas c) Equal in both areas d)
Neither urban nor rural areas

Answer Key
1. b) It directly interfered with the economic base to ensure maximum profit
2. c) Use of the metric system
3. b) It provides global market advantages but remains a mark of privilege
4. b) Private ownership of means of production organized to accumulate profits
5. b) Kolikata, Gobindapur, Sutanuti
6. b) More people moving into agriculture
7. c) Surat and Masulipatnam
8. a) 1851
9. b) Assam
10. b) 1863
11. b) Extensive importation of cheap European goods and establishment of Western-type
factories
12. b) Prime links between economic core in Britain and periphery in India
13. c) Over three-quarters
14. b) Loyalty to the national economy
15. b) Three
16. c) 77
17. b) 75%
18. b) 17.29%
19. b) 31.16%
20. b) Urban areas than rural areas

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