Structural Change MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Structural Change - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is - Industrial societies rely more on inanimate power sources and machines.

Key Points

• Industrial societies are characterized by the use of machines and inanimate power sources, such as steam and electricity.
  • Unlike traditional civilizations, where most labor was manual and based on human or animal power, industrial societies mechanized production.
  • This shift enabled mass production, increased efficiency, and the expansion of industries like manufacturing, transportation, and communication.
• Urbanization and employment shifts
  • As industrialization progressed, employment shifted away from agriculture to industries, offices, and service sectors.
  • In industrial societies, the majority of the workforce is engaged in non-agricultural sectors, such as technology, finance, and commerce.

Additional Information

• Traditional civilizations
  • These societies were largely agrarian, with a majority of people working in farming and handicrafts.
  • Technological advancements were relatively slow, leading to a dependency on manual labor.
• Impact of Industrialization
  • Industrialization led to rapid urbanization, with cities expanding to accommodate factory workers and new industries.
  • It also caused significant social and economic transformations, including the decline of traditional village economies.
• Contrast with Post-Industrial Societies
  • While industrial societies rely on factories and mechanized production, post-industrial societies focus on services, knowledge, and technology.
  • Post-industrial economies see a rise in employment in IT, finance, healthcare, and education.

The correct answer is - Indians lived under colonial rule while learning about western liberalism and freedom

Key Points

• Paradox of Colonialism
  • Colonial rule introduced modern ideas such as liberalism and freedom while simultaneously denying these rights to Indians.
  • British education policies spread Western knowledge, but political rights remained restricted.
  • This contradiction led to the rise of nationalist movements that demanded self-governance.

Additional Information

• Impact on Indian Society
  • Western education led to the formation of an Indian intelligentsia that played a crucial role in political awakening.
  • English language became a tool for both oppression and empowerment, creating opportunities but also social divisions.
• Examples of the Colonial Paradox
  • While British rule introduced modern legal systems, it denied Indians participation in governance.
  • The British promoted railways and industries, but mainly to benefit their own economy.

The correct answer is - Because it brought modern ideas and institutions, but in a contradictory manner

Key Points

• Contradictory Nature of Colonialism
  • Colonialism introduced modern ideas such as democracy, liberalism, and individual rights.
  • However, these ideas were not applied to Indians, as they lived under oppressive colonial rule.
• Western Influences
  • India adopted British-style governance, including a parliamentary system, legal codes, and policing.
  • Western education introduced ideas of equality and rights, fueling nationalist movements.
• Impact on Social and Cultural Life
  • Colonialism altered traditional Indian institutions but did not completely erase them.
  • It led to a mix of traditional and modern elements in Indian society, influencing urbanization and industrialization.

Additional Information

• Economic Impact
  • British policies led to deindustrialization and the decline of traditional Indian industries.
  • However, they also established modern industries and railways, transforming India's economic landscape.
• English Language and Education
  • English became a major language in India, providing access to global knowledge but also creating social inequalities.
  • It benefited some marginalized groups, like the Dalits, by offering new opportunities in education and jobs.
• Political Awakening and Nationalism
  • Exposure to western political thought led to the rise of Indian nationalism and the demand for self-rule.
  • Movements like the Indian National Congress and Gandhian movements were influenced by these ideas.

The correct answer is - Collapse of indigeneous court demand and external markets

Key Points

• Urban luxury manufactures like Dacca’s silk and cottons were among the finest exports of pre-colonial India.
• According to Sumit Sarkar (1983), these industries were hit first due to the simultaneous collapse of two key markets:
  • Indigenous court demand – As regional kingdoms declined and princely states lost autonomy, court patronage for fine crafts diminished.
  • External market – British colonial control redirected trade routes and policies to favour British manufactured goods, drastically reducing exports of Indian luxury textiles.
• This marked the beginning of deindustrialisation in eastern urban centres like Murshidabad and Dacca.

Additional Information

• Regional impact of British policies
  • British penetration was earliest and deepest in eastern India, where courtly traditions were strongest, thus the decline was most visible there.
  • Village crafts in interior regions survived longer but were later affected with the spread of railways and market integration.
• Shift in trade dynamics
  • Under the East India Company, Manchester cloth flooded Indian markets, replacing handwoven Indian textiles.
  • British export policies led to India becoming a supplier of raw materials rather than finished goods.
• Decline of artisan classes
  • Craftsmen and weavers dependent on urban luxury markets either moved to subsistence agriculture or became wage labourers in emerging towns like Bombay and Madras.
  • This had a long-term effect on social structures and occupational hierarchies in colonial India.

The correct answer is - Shift of people into agriculture

Key Points

• Initial impact of British industrialisation in India
  • Unlike Britain, where industrialisation led to urbanisation, India saw a reverse trend in the early stages of colonial rule.
  • Instead of urban migration, British policies and competition from Manchester textiles led to a decline in indigenous industries, pushing displaced artisans and craftsmen back into agriculture.
  • The Census of India reports confirmed this demographic shift, with a growing population engaged in agriculture during the colonial period.
  • This was a contradictory consequence of colonialism, where industrialisation did not follow the same trajectory as in the West.

Additional Information

• Deindustrialisation in colonial India
  • Traditional urban centres like Surat, Dhaka, and Murshidabad declined due to loss of patronage and foreign competition.
  • Exports of high-quality cotton and silk from India collapsed under pressure from British machine-made textiles.
  • According to Sarkar (1983), the decline in demand from indigenous courts and external markets hurt urban luxury production first.
• Urbanisation in Britain vs India
  • In Britain, industrialisation led to over 74% of the population living in towns by 1900, with London reaching a population of over 7 million (Giddens, 2001).
  • In India, this urban trend was absent in the early phase; instead, there was a rise in agrarian dependence and stagnant industrial growth.
• Failed substitutes by the British
  • The British offered land ownership and English education as alternatives to dislocated artisans.
  • These failed to produce a vibrant middle class; instead, they led to zamindari parasitism and unemployed graduates (Mukherjee, 1979).

The correct answer is - Clark Kerr

Key Points

• Clark Kerr and the Convergence Thesis
  • The convergence thesis was proposed by Clark Kerr, a modernization theorist and economist.
  • It suggests that industrialized societies become more similar over time due to shared technological and economic advancements.
  • According to Kerr, an industrialized 21st-century India shares more features with modern China or the United States than with 19th-century India.
• Core Idea of the Convergence Thesis
  • As nations modernize and industrialize, their economic and social structures start resembling those of other developed nations.
  • Key factors driving convergence include technological advancements, urbanization, and education.
  • The thesis argues that economic development leads to greater similarities between countries, regardless of cultural or political differences.

Additional Information

• Implications of the Convergence Thesis
  • Supports the idea that globalization and industrialization lead to economic and technological uniformity among nations.
  • Explains why economic policies, work culture, and urbanization in industrialized nations are similar.
  • Highlights the role of mass production, education, and industrial management in shaping societies.
• Criticism of the Convergence Thesis
  • It underestimates cultural differences, which continue to shape social and economic structures.
  • Not all countries follow the same development path; some maintain distinct social and political systems.
  • Political ideologies and governance models can still create divergence despite economic similarities.

The correct answer is - Assam

Key Points

• Tea Gardens in Assam
  • The tea industry in India began in 1851, with Assam being the primary tea-producing region.
  • Assam’s favorable climate, including high rainfall and fertile soil, made it ideal for large-scale tea plantations.
  • By 1903, Assam’s tea industry employed approximately 4,79,000 permanent and 93,000 temporary workers.
• Reasons for Assam’s Dominance
  • The region had vast uninhabited hillsides, which were converted into tea plantations.
  • The British East India Company focused on Assam due to its economic potential for tea exports.
  • Due to Assam’s sparse population, laborers were recruited from other Indian provinces.
• Other Tea-Producing Regions
  • West Bengal: The Darjeeling hills became famous for high-quality tea.
  • Tamil Nadu & Kerala: The Nilgiri Hills contributed to tea production but were secondary to Assam.

Additional Information

• Labour Recruitment Challenges
  • Due to Assam’s inhospitable climate and remote location, labor shortages were a major issue.
  • The British introduced the Transport of Native Labourers Act (1863), allowing contractors to recruit workers.
  • Many laborers worked in harsh conditions with low wages and minimal rights.
• Impact of the Tea Industry
  • Assam became a global leader in tea production, significantly contributing to the British colonial economy.
  • Tea became a major export commodity for the British, strengthening their control over Indian resources.
  • The industry played a key role in integrating rural Assam into national and international trade networks.

The correct answer is 'One-sixth'.

Key Points

• One-sixth of India’s landmass was under cultivation in 1600.
• This fraction reflects the agricultural extent during the early period before large-scale expansion of farmland.
• The limited extent of cultivated land was due to the traditional methods and the socio-political landscape of the time.
• It indicates the initial stage of agricultural development in India prior to modernization and colonial interventions.
• This early agricultural land also supported various local economies and traditional lifestyles prevalent in the 1600s.

The correct answer is rural industry.

Key Points

• Proto-industrialization is the regional development, alongside commercial agriculture, of rural handicraft production for external markets.
• It was a phase of industrialisation which was not based on the factory system.
• It was the contemporaneous agricultural growth in the 17th and 18th centuries, during the decades that preceded the Industrial Revolution.
• The proto-industrial phase was dominated by the spread of rural domestic manufacturing.
• It linked more and more families to the pulse of national and international markets.

 Thus, we can say that proto-industrialisation was the rural industry.

The correct answer is rural industry.

Key Points

• Proto-industrialization is the regional development, alongside commercial agriculture, of rural handicraft production for external markets.
• It was a phase of industrialisation which was not based on the factory system.
• It was the contemporaneous agricultural growth in the 17th and 18th centuries, during the decades that preceded the Industrial Revolution.
• The proto-industrial phase was dominated by the spread of rural domestic manufacturing.
• It linked more and more families to the pulse of national and international markets.

 Thus, we can say that proto-industrialisation was the rural industry.

The correct answer is rural industry.

Key Points

• Proto-industrialization is the regional development, alongside commercial agriculture, of rural handicraft production for external markets.
• It was a phase of industrialisation which was not based on the factory system.
• It was the contemporaneous agricultural growth in the 17th and 18th centuries, during the decades that preceded the Industrial Revolution.
• The proto-industrial phase was dominated by the spread of rural domestic manufacturing.
• It linked more and more families to the pulse of national and international markets.

 Thus, we can say that proto-industrialisation was the rural industry.

The correct answer is - Industrial societies rely more on inanimate power sources and machines.

Key Points

• Industrial societies are characterized by the use of machines and inanimate power sources, such as steam and electricity.
  • Unlike traditional civilizations, where most labor was manual and based on human or animal power, industrial societies mechanized production.
  • This shift enabled mass production, increased efficiency, and the expansion of industries like manufacturing, transportation, and communication.
• Urbanization and employment shifts
  • As industrialization progressed, employment shifted away from agriculture to industries, offices, and service sectors.
  • In industrial societies, the majority of the workforce is engaged in non-agricultural sectors, such as technology, finance, and commerce.

Additional Information

• Traditional civilizations
  • These societies were largely agrarian, with a majority of people working in farming and handicrafts.
  • Technological advancements were relatively slow, leading to a dependency on manual labor.
• Impact of Industrialization
  • Industrialization led to rapid urbanization, with cities expanding to accommodate factory workers and new industries.
  • It also caused significant social and economic transformations, including the decline of traditional village economies.
• Contrast with Post-Industrial Societies
  • While industrial societies rely on factories and mechanized production, post-industrial societies focus on services, knowledge, and technology.
  • Post-industrial economies see a rise in employment in IT, finance, healthcare, and education.

The correct answer is - Indians lived under colonial rule while learning about western liberalism and freedom

Key Points

• Paradox of Colonialism
  • Colonial rule introduced modern ideas such as liberalism and freedom while simultaneously denying these rights to Indians.
  • British education policies spread Western knowledge, but political rights remained restricted.
  • This contradiction led to the rise of nationalist movements that demanded self-governance.

Additional Information

• Impact on Indian Society
  • Western education led to the formation of an Indian intelligentsia that played a crucial role in political awakening.
  • English language became a tool for both oppression and empowerment, creating opportunities but also social divisions.
• Examples of the Colonial Paradox
  • While British rule introduced modern legal systems, it denied Indians participation in governance.
  • The British promoted railways and industries, but mainly to benefit their own economy.

The correct answer is - Because it brought modern ideas and institutions, but in a contradictory manner

Key Points

• Contradictory Nature of Colonialism
  • Colonialism introduced modern ideas such as democracy, liberalism, and individual rights.
  • However, these ideas were not applied to Indians, as they lived under oppressive colonial rule.
• Western Influences
  • India adopted British-style governance, including a parliamentary system, legal codes, and policing.
  • Western education introduced ideas of equality and rights, fueling nationalist movements.
• Impact on Social and Cultural Life
  • Colonialism altered traditional Indian institutions but did not completely erase them.
  • It led to a mix of traditional and modern elements in Indian society, influencing urbanization and industrialization.

Additional Information

• Economic Impact
  • British policies led to deindustrialization and the decline of traditional Indian industries.
  • However, they also established modern industries and railways, transforming India's economic landscape.
• English Language and Education
  • English became a major language in India, providing access to global knowledge but also creating social inequalities.
  • It benefited some marginalized groups, like the Dalits, by offering new opportunities in education and jobs.
• Political Awakening and Nationalism
  • Exposure to western political thought led to the rise of Indian nationalism and the demand for self-rule.
  • Movements like the Indian National Congress and Gandhian movements were influenced by these ideas.

The correct answer is - Collapse of indigeneous court demand and external markets

Key Points

• Urban luxury manufactures like Dacca’s silk and cottons were among the finest exports of pre-colonial India.
• According to Sumit Sarkar (1983), these industries were hit first due to the simultaneous collapse of two key markets:
  • Indigenous court demand – As regional kingdoms declined and princely states lost autonomy, court patronage for fine crafts diminished.
  • External market – British colonial control redirected trade routes and policies to favour British manufactured goods, drastically reducing exports of Indian luxury textiles.
• This marked the beginning of deindustrialisation in eastern urban centres like Murshidabad and Dacca.

Additional Information

• Regional impact of British policies
  • British penetration was earliest and deepest in eastern India, where courtly traditions were strongest, thus the decline was most visible there.
  • Village crafts in interior regions survived longer but were later affected with the spread of railways and market integration.
• Shift in trade dynamics
  • Under the East India Company, Manchester cloth flooded Indian markets, replacing handwoven Indian textiles.
  • British export policies led to India becoming a supplier of raw materials rather than finished goods.
• Decline of artisan classes
  • Craftsmen and weavers dependent on urban luxury markets either moved to subsistence agriculture or became wage labourers in emerging towns like Bombay and Madras.
  • This had a long-term effect on social structures and occupational hierarchies in colonial India.