Question

"The British introduced many infrastructural development projects, which was largely driven by its own self-serving interest." Briefly explain any two main causes behind the infrastructural development undertaken by the colonial government.

Hint:

While colonial infrastructure development did contribute to modernizing certain sectors in India, it primarily served the interests of the colonial rulers rather than the local population.

Answer 1

The British colonial government introduced various infrastructural development projects primarily to serve their own economic and strategic interests. Two main causes behind these developments are: 1. Facilitating Resource Extraction and Transportation: The British focused on building railways, ports, and roads to transport raw materials from colonies to ports for export. This infrastructure was aimed at extracting and transporting resources for Britain’s industrial economy, rather than for the welfare of the local population. 2. Control and Administration: The British constructed infrastructure like railways and telecommunication systems to maintain control and facilitate better administration of the vast territories. This helped in quicker movement of troops and officials, and effective communication across the empire.