Class 12 Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence Mock Test (CBSE)

Topics in Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence

• Low level of economic development under colonial rule
• Agricultural sector
• Industrial sector
• Foreign trade
• Demographic condition
• Occupational structure
• Infrastructure

Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence practice questions with answers

1. Q1Multiple choice·1 mark
   Which of the following was a primary cause of stagnation in India's agricultural sector during the colonial rule?

   1. (a)Overuse of chemical fertilisers that degraded soil fertility
   2. (b)Land ceiling laws that broke up the large zamindari estates
   3. (c)Widespread sowing of high-yielding variety seeds of wheat
   4. (d)Systems of land settlement such as the zamindari system
   Show answer and step marks

   1. Correct option: (d) Systems of land settlement such as the zamindari system. Zamindars collected high rents with little interest in improving agriculture, while land ceiling laws, HYV seeds and chemical fertilisers came only after independence.+1

   Answer: (d)
2. Q2Multiple choice·1 mark
   Which of the following best describes the state of the Indian industrial sector on the eve of independence?

   1. (a)Rapid growth of capital-goods industries due to active state patronage
   2. (b)Systematic decay of traditional handicrafts and a bleak growth of modern industries
   3. (c)Dominance of indigenous steel and chemical manufacturing units
   4. (d)Balanced and diversified industrial development across all regions of the country
   Show answer and step marks

   1. Correct option: (b)+1

   Answer: (b)
3. Q3Short answer·3 marks
   State any three prominent demographic features of India on the eve of independence as reflected in the pre-independence census data.
   Show answer and step marks

   1. First feature, any one of: both birth and death rates were very high (India was in the first stage of demographic transition until 1921); very high infant mortality rate (about $218$ per thousand); low life expectancy (about $32$ years); low literacy (less than $16\%$, female literacy about $7\%$); slow population growth before 1921, the year of the great divide; or any other valid demographic feature.+1
   2. Second feature, a different one from the same list.+1
   3. Third feature, a different one from the same list.+1

   Answer: Any three of: high birth and death rates; infant mortality of about $218$ per thousand; life expectancy of about $32$ years; literacy below $16\%$ (female about $7\%$); slow population growth before 1921.
4. Q4Short answer·3 marks
   Describe the state of India's occupational structure on the eve of independence.
   Show answer and step marks

   1. Agriculture employed the largest share of the workforce, about $70-75\%$.+1
   2. Manufacturing employed only about $10\%$ of the workforce.+0.5
   3. Services employed only about $15-20\%$ of the workforce.+0.5
   4. Regional variation: in parts of the Madras Presidency, Bombay and Bengal, dependence on agriculture fell as manufacturing and services grew, while it rose in Orissa, Rajasthan and Punjab.+1

   Answer: Agriculture employed about $70-75\%$ of the workforce, manufacturing about $10\%$ and services $15-20\%$; dependence on agriculture fell in parts of Madras, Bombay and Bengal but rose in Orissa, Rajasthan and Punjab.

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