Question

Explain the changes that were observed in India's occupational structure during the British rule.

Hint:

During British rule, India’s occupational structure underwent significant changes. The share of agriculture in employment increased due to deindustrialization, while the handicraft and artisan industries declined. Industrial employment remained confined to a few sectors like jute and tea plantations, leading to a stagnant and unbalanced economic structure.

Answer 1

- Decline of Traditional Handicrafts: British policies led to the decline of India's flourishing handicraft industries, causing artisans to lose their livelihoods. 
- Increase in Agricultural Dependence: The majority of the workforce was forced into agriculture as the only source of employment, leading to stagnation in the sector. 
- Emergence of Plantation Industries: Tea, coffee, and indigo plantations grew under British rule, with most profits being repatriated to Britain. 
- Limited Industrial Development: British rule did not promote modern industries in India, keeping the occupational structure largely unbalanced.