The age of Industrialisation

What does the illustration “Dawn of the Century” symbolize about industrialization?
a) Decline of technology
b) Glorification of machines and progress
c) Agricultural development
d) End of colonial rule
Answer: b) Glorification of machines and progress

In the “Two Magicians” image, what does Aladdin represent?
a) Industrial progress
b) Western modernity
c) Eastern tradition and the past
d) Future technological advancements
Answer: c) Eastern tradition and the past

What is “proto-industrialization”?
a) A phase of industrialization marked by factory systems
b) Large-scale industrial production for local markets
c) A phase of industrial production before factories, focused on international markets
d) The mechanization of agriculture
Answer: c) A phase of industrial production before factories, focused on international markets

Why did European merchants move to the countryside in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries?
a) To escape urban guild restrictions
b) To establish factories
c) To access cheap labor for mining
d) To expand local markets
Answer: a) To escape urban guild restrictions

What role did the “gomastha” play under the East India Company?
a) Managed factories in India
b) Supervised weavers, collected supplies, and ensured quality
c) Promoted textile exports to Britain
d) Designed new weaving machines
Answer: b) Supervised weavers, collected supplies, and ensured quality

Which of the following led to the decline of Surat and Hoogly ports by the 1750s?
a) Increase in local trade
b) British monopoly and decline of Indian merchants
c) Expansion of the French East India Company
d) Technological advancements in shipping
Answer: b) British monopoly and decline of Indian merchants

What did the East India Company do to ensure regular supplies from Indian weavers?
a) Paid higher wages to weavers
b) Established direct trade links with European merchants
c) Introduced a system of advances and appointed gomasthas
d) Encouraged weavers to sell to multiple buyers
Answer: c) Introduced a system of advances and appointed gomasthas

What caused the shift of dominance from Surat to Bombay in the late 18th century?
a) The construction of railways
b) The decline of Indian weavers
c) Growth of British colonial trade
d) Rise of Dutch trading companies
Answer: c) Growth of British colonial trade

Which industry was considered the symbol of industrialization in England during the late 18th century?
a) Steel
b) Textile (cotton)
c) Railways
d) Shipbuilding
Answer: b) Textile (cotton)

What was the impact of the American Civil War on Indian weavers?
a) Increased demand for Indian textiles
b) Decline in cotton prices in India
c) Shortage of raw cotton due to exports to Britain
d) Introduction of mechanized looms in India
Answer: c) Shortage of raw cotton due to exports to Britain

Why were the towns in Europe unable to expand industrial production in the 17th century?
a) Lack of raw materials
b) Dominance of trade guilds
c) Poor transportation facilities
d) Shortage of skilled labor
Answer: b) Dominance of trade guilds

What was the key reason for the popularity of the Spinning Jenny?
a) It could spin multiple threads simultaneously
b) It replaced human labor entirely
c) It was used for dyeing cloth
d) It helped transport raw materials
Answer: a) It could spin multiple threads simultaneously

Which industry in Britain led the first phase of industrialization up to the 1840s?
a) Iron and steel
b) Shipbuilding
c) Textile (cotton)
d) Railways
Answer: c) Textile (cotton)

Why did many workers in Britain oppose the use of the Spinning Jenny?
a) It required expensive maintenance
b) It reduced the demand for manual labor
c) It was too complex to operate
d) It only produced low-quality threads
Answer: b) It reduced the demand for manual labor

What was the impact of industrialization on laborers in Victorian Britain?
a) Increased job security
b) Shorter working hours
c) Seasonal unemployment
d) Higher wages for all workers
Answer: c) Seasonal unemployment

Why did Indian cotton exports to Britain decline during the 19th century?
a) The abolition of the East India Company
b) Introduction of high import duties in Britain
c) Emergence of Manchester’s textile industries
d) Shortage of Indian raw materials
Answer: c) Emergence of Manchester’s textile industries

What caused the growth of factory industries in India during World War I?
a) Demand for war supplies and uniforms
b) Influx of foreign capital
c) Increased availability of raw cotton
d) Introduction of advanced machinery in India
Answer: a) Demand for war supplies and uniforms

What did Indian manufacturers use in advertisements to attract buyers?
a) Images of Indian gods and cultural symbols
b) Portraits of British officials
c) Depictions of European cities
d) Pictures of modern machinery
Answer: a) Images of Indian gods and cultural symbols

What was the primary focus of European Managing Agencies in colonial India?
a) Setting up large-scale industries for domestic consumption
b) Developing export-oriented industries like jute and tea
c) Promoting small-scale industries in rural areas
d) Investing in education and research
Answer: b) Developing export-oriented industries like jute and tea

Why did handloom weavers survive despite the growth of textile mills?
a) They produced specialized and intricate designs
b) Mill production was expensive
c) Weavers were supported by colonial policies
d) The demand for coarse cloth remained high
Answer: a) They produced specialized and intricate designs

What invention significantly improved the productivity of handloom workers?
a) Steam engine
b) Spinning Jenny
c) Fly shuttle
d) Power loom
Answer: c) Fly shuttle

Why did Indian weavers revolt against the East India Company’s gomasthas?
a) High taxes imposed by the Company
b) Exploitation and lack of bargaining power
c) Introduction of British weaving machinery
d) Decline in demand for Indian textiles in Europe
Answer: b) Exploitation and lack of bargaining power

By the late 19th century, why did Indian entrepreneurs focus on yarn production rather than cloth?
a) British mills dominated the cloth market
b) Yarn production required less labor
c) Yarn had a stable market in China
d) Weavers demanded more raw materials
Answer: c) Yarn had a stable market in China

What impact did the Swadeshi movement have on Indian industries?
a) Decline in local production
b) Increase in Indian cloth production
c) Preference for imported goods
d) Expansion of British textile exports
Answer: b) Increase in Indian cloth production

What was a significant limitation of technological changes during early industrialization?
a) High cost and unreliability of new machinery
b) Resistance from government officials
c) Lack of skilled workers
d) Limited access to raw materials
Answer: a) High cost and unreliability of new machinery

How did Indian weavers respond to the low prices offered by the East India Company?
a) They shifted to agricultural labor
b) They expanded their production
c) They collaborated with British traders
d) They adopted advanced weaving technologies
Answer: a) They shifted to agricultural labor

What was the purpose of labels on Manchester cloth bundles in India?
a) To identify the export destination
b) To highlight the product’s quality and origin
c) To provide instructions for use
d) To advertise the weavers’ skills
Answer: b) To highlight the product’s quality and origin

Why did Indian industrialists avoid direct competition with Manchester goods?
a) Fear of losing government subsidies
b) Manchester goods were cheaper and widely accepted
c) Lack of raw materials in India
d) Focus on producing luxury goods
Answer: b) Manchester goods were cheaper and widely accepted

What was the main reason for the decline of traditional Indian textile industries in the 19th century?
a) Natural disasters destroying production centers
b) Competition from machine-made goods
c) Migration of skilled weavers to Europe
d) Overproduction of handwoven cloth
Answer: b) Competition from machine-made goods

What marked the shift from old ports like Surat to new ports like Bombay?
a) The rise of British colonial trade dominance
b) Increase in global demand for Indian spices
c) Decline in the textile trade
d) Introduction of mechanized shipping
Answer: a) The rise of British colonial trade dominance

What was the role of the jobber in factories during colonial India?
a) Supervising production quality
b) Recruiting workers and helping them settle in cities
c) Managing the financial records of factories
d) Organizing labor strikes
Answer: b) Recruiting workers and helping them settle in cities

Why did women in Britain attack the Spinning Jenny?
a) It produced low-quality yarn
b) It replaced manual spinning and reduced their jobs
c) It was too difficult to operate
d) It required higher wages for operators
Answer: b) It replaced manual spinning and reduced their jobs

What was the first symbol of the new industrial era in Britain?
a) Steam engine
b) Cotton textile production
c) Railways
d) Iron and steel
Answer: b) Cotton textile production

How did the East India Company eliminate competition in the textile trade?
a) By destroying handlooms in India
b) By providing subsidies to Indian weavers
c) By establishing monopoly rights and controlling weavers
d) By introducing free trade policies
Answer: c) By establishing monopoly rights and controlling weavers

Why was hand labor preferred over machines in Victorian Britain?
a) Machines were less efficient
b) Abundant labor was cheaper and more flexible
c) Machines caused pollution
d) British laws restricted the use of machines
Answer: b) Abundant labor was cheaper and more flexible

How did proto-industrial production benefit European merchants?
a) It allowed them to bypass guild restrictions
b) It increased the availability of raw materials
c) It helped them establish monopolies
d) It reduced the cost of transportation
Answer: a) It allowed them to bypass guild restrictions

Which Indian city became the hub of the first cotton mills in India?
a) Calcutta
b) Bombay
c) Madras
d) Ahmedabad
Answer: b) Bombay

Why were Indian weavers unable to compete with Manchester goods?
a) Weavers lacked technical skills
b) Manchester goods were machine-made and cheaper
c) Raw materials were unavailable in India
d) British laws restricted local production
Answer: b) Manchester goods were machine-made and cheaper

What invention by Richard Arkwright revolutionized textile production?
a) Spinning Jenny
b) Cotton gin
c) Water-powered cotton mill
d) Power loom
Answer: c) Water-powered cotton mill

What was a key feature of proto-industrialization?
a) Production was based in factories
b) Merchants controlled production in rural areas
c) Goods were produced solely for local markets
d) The use of advanced machinery
Answer: b) Merchants controlled production in rural areas

What caused the decline of the port of Surat?
a) Rise of new ports like Bombay
b) Natural disasters
c) Resistance from local merchants
d) Decrease in demand for Indian textiles
Answer: a) Rise of new ports like Bombay

During the 19th century, what percentage of the Indian workforce was employed in modern industries?
a) Less than 10%
b) 25%
c) 50%
d) More than 75%
Answer: a) Less than 10%

What were the reasons for industrial production increasing in India during World War I?
a) Decline in British imports and increased local demand
b) Development of new technologies in India
c) Abundance of cheap labor
d) Introduction of free trade policies
Answer: a) Decline in British imports and increased local demand

Why did British manufacturers use Indian gods and symbols in advertisements?
a) To attract Indian buyers by appearing culturally familiar
b) To show the products were manufactured in India
c) To target European consumers
d) To promote religious harmony
Answer: a) To attract Indian buyers by appearing culturally familiar

Which of the following sectors grew during the Swadeshi movement?
a) Jute exports
b) Handloom industries
c) British cotton mills
d) Iron and steel imports
Answer: b) Handloom industries

What was the primary export from India during the colonial period?
a) Machinery
b) Finished textiles
c) Raw materials and food grains
d) Spices
Answer: c) Raw materials and food grains

How did the introduction of the fly shuttle benefit Indian weavers?
a) It reduced production costs significantly
b) It increased productivity and speed
c) It eliminated the need for manual labor
d) It allowed for weaving without raw materials
Answer: b) It increased productivity and speed

How did Indian industrialists respond to the growing dominance of Manchester goods?
a) By boycotting foreign goods
b) By producing yarn for handloom weavers
c) By investing in modern machinery
d) By exporting Indian textiles to Europe
Answer: b) By producing yarn for handloom weavers

Why did the demand for coarse cloth fluctuate?
a) It was seasonal
b) It was affected by the rural poor’s income
c) It was dependent on government policies
d) It was only used during festivals
Answer: b) It was affected by the rural poor’s income

What was the role of Dwarkanath Tagore in Indian industrialization?
a) He introduced cotton mills in Bombay
b) He invested in multiple industries like shipping and banking
c) He worked with British merchants to expand trade
d) He set up iron and steel plants in India
Answer: b) He invested in multiple industries like shipping and banking

What caused the sharp rise in raw cotton prices in India during the 1860s?
a) Increase in Indian textile production
b) American Civil War disrupting supplies to Britain
c) Introduction of British machinery in Indian mills
d) Growth of Indian export markets in Europe
Answer: b) American Civil War disrupting supplies to Britain

What was the impact of British import duties on Indian textiles?
a) Boosted Indian textile exports
b) Restricted competition from Indian goods
c) Reduced the price of Indian textiles in Britain
d) Increased investment in Indian factories
Answer: b) Restricted competition from Indian goods

Why were Indian handloom weavers forced to take loans from the East India Company?
a) To pay for heavy taxes
b) To purchase raw materials for production
c) To fund their migration to cities
d) To expand their business networks
Answer: b) To purchase raw materials for production

Which Indian businessman established the first jute mill in Calcutta in 1917?
a) J.N. Tata
b) Dwarkanath Tagore
c) Seth Hukumchand
d) G.D. Birla
Answer: c) Seth Hukumchand

How did the Swadeshi movement influence Indian industries?
a) Promoted the import of Manchester goods
b) Encouraged the boycott of foreign goods
c) Led to the decline of small-scale industries
d) Introduced modern technologies in handlooms
Answer: b) Encouraged the boycott of foreign goods

Which product became the focus of Indian textile mills during the 19th century?
a) Fine cloth for export
b) Coarse cotton yarn
c) Woolen goods
d) Jute products
Answer: b) Coarse cotton yarn

What is the significance of the first cotton mill established in Bombay in 1854?
a) It marked the beginning of industrialization in India
b) It led to the decline of handlooms in India
c) It introduced modern European machinery to India
d) It was the first mill managed by the British in India
Answer: a) It marked the beginning of industrialization in India

Why did the production of handloom cloth expand in the 20th century?
a) New technology like the fly shuttle improved productivity
b) British laws banned machine-made goods
c) Demand for coarse cloth declined
d) Competition from Manchester mills reduced
Answer: a) New technology like the fly shuttle improved productivity

What factor helped handloom weavers survive competition from mill industries?
a) Preference for machine-made goods
b) Stability in the demand for fine, specialized cloth
c) Decline in the cost of raw materials
d) Financial support from the British government
Answer: b) Stability in the demand for fine, specialized cloth

What were jobbers in factories known for?
a) Providing gifts and loans to workers
b) Helping workers find employment
c) Both a and b
d) Managing the production process
Answer: c) Both a and b

What was a major feature of small-scale industries in colonial India?
a) Use of advanced machinery
b) Dominance of household units and workshops
c) Focus on large-scale exports
d) Exclusive production of luxury goods
Answer: b) Dominance of household units and workshops

What kind of goods were exported from India to China during the 19th century?
a) Finished textiles
b) Cotton yarn
c) Iron and steel
d) Machine-made cloth
Answer: b) Cotton yarn

Why did Indian merchants struggle to compete in the global market during colonial rule?
a) Lack of access to raw materials
b) Restrictions imposed by British colonial policies
c) Shortage of skilled labor
d) High demand for Indian products in Britain
Answer: b) Restrictions imposed by British colonial policies

What was the primary objective of the European Managing Agencies in India?
a) Promoting small-scale industries
b) Exporting raw materials and plantation products
c) Encouraging Indian entrepreneurship
d) Building infrastructure for Indian industries
Answer: b) Exporting raw materials and plantation products

What led to the decline of textile exports from India in the 19th century?
a) Rise of industrial competition in Britain
b) Failure of Indian merchants to access European markets
c) High export duties on Indian goods
d) Resistance from Indian weavers
Answer: a) Rise of industrial competition in Britain

Why did Manchester manufacturers include images of Indian gods on their products?
a) To ensure divine approval for exports
b) To attract Indian buyers through cultural symbolism
c) To gain support from Indian traders
d) To indicate their respect for Indian traditions
Answer: b) To attract Indian buyers through cultural symbolism

What did Indian industrialists focus on during the First World War?
a) Exporting raw materials to Britain
b) Producing goods to meet local and war demands
c) Boycotting foreign machinery
d) Establishing iron and steel industries
Answer: b) Producing goods to meet local and war demands

Why was factory labor employment low in India during the 19th century?
a) Factories employed seasonal labor
b) Most production occurred in small-scale units
c) Both a and b
d) High wages discouraged industrialists
Answer: c) Both a and b

Which region in India witnessed the growth of jute industries during colonial times?
a) Bengal
b) Bombay
c) Madras
d) Punjab
Answer: a) Bengal

What was the significance of labels on Manchester textiles?
a) Indicated cultural relevance for Indian buyers
b) Certified quality and place of manufacture
c) Represented the status of the weaver
d) Allowed goods to bypass taxes
Answer: b) Certified quality and place of manufacture

What was the key reason behind the success of proto-industrialization in Europe?
a) Availability of modern machinery
b) Increased demand in international markets
c) Government subsidies for rural industries
d) Establishment of large-scale factories
Answer: b) Increased demand in international markets

Why did British cotton exports grow rapidly in the early 19th century?
a) Improved transportation facilities
b) Import duties on Indian textiles and cheap machine-made goods
c) Technological stagnation in India
d) Support from Indian industrialists
Answer: b) Import duties on Indian textiles and cheap machine-made goods

Why did the East India Company use advances to control weavers?
a) To force them to produce only for the Company
b) To ensure weavers adopted modern machinery
c) To prevent weavers from leaving their villages
d) To pay for the transportation of goods
Answer: a) To force them to produce only for the Company

What was the effect of the fly shuttle on Indian handlooms?
a) Reduced labor demand and increased productivity
b) Completely replaced handloom production
c) Increased costs for handloom weavers
d) Made weaving more complex
Answer: a) Reduced labor demand and increased productivity

Why did Indian artisans and weavers face hardship during the 19th century?
a) Loss of export markets and competition from British goods
b) Introduction of industrial machinery in India
c) Government bans on weaving
d) Lack of skilled labor in villages
Answer: a) Loss of export markets and competition from British goods

What symbolized refinement and class for Victorian aristocrats?
a) Machine-made goods
b) Handmade products
c) Imported luxury items
d) Industrial designs
Answer: b) Handmade products

Why did Indian merchants lose their control over export trade during colonial rule?
a) European companies gained monopoly rights
b) Indian merchants lacked resources for global trade
c) Indian goods were of lower quality
d) Decline in international demand for Indian products
Answer: a) European companies gained monopoly rights

What led to the decline of Surat as a trading port?
a) Competition from new ports like Bombay
b) Natural calamities
c) Withdrawal of Indian merchants
d) Lack of government support
Answer: a) Competition from new ports like Bombay

What was a key feature of the Swadeshi movement?
a) Promotion of foreign-made goods
b) Boycott of British goods and support for Indian industries
c) Encouragement of large-scale industrialization by the British
d) Establishment of free trade zones
Answer: b) Boycott of British goods and support for Indian industries

Why did the demand for fine Indian textiles decline in Europe by the 19th century?
a) Imposition of British tariffs on Indian exports
b) Growth of British machine-made textile industries
c) Ban on Indian textile exports
d) Decline in weaving skills in India
Answer: b) Growth of British machine-made textile industries

Why did Indian cotton weavers suffer during the American Civil War?
a) Loss of access to British markets
b) Shortage of raw cotton due to exports to Britain
c) Forced adoption of British machinery
d) Decline in demand for Indian cloth
Answer: b) Shortage of raw cotton due to exports to Britain

What was the role of calendars in promoting products in colonial India?
a) Distributed only to industrialists
b) Reached both literate and illiterate audiences
c) Advertised only Indian-made goods
d) Displayed technical features of products
Answer: b) Reached both literate and illiterate audiences

Why were British industrial goods cheaper than Indian goods?
a) Mass production using machines
b) Superior quality of British goods
c) Lack of skilled labor in India
d) Tax exemptions on British goods in India
Answer: a) Mass production using machines

What was the initial response of Indian weavers to advances provided by the East India Company?
a) They eagerly accepted them
b) They refused to take them
c) They used them for agricultural purposes
d) They started selling their goods to local traders
Answer: a) They eagerly accepted them

Why were Indian weavers unable to bargain with the East India Company?
a) Monopoly of the Company and use of gomasthas
b) Lack of demand for Indian textiles
c) Strict village rules restricting trade
d) High cost of raw materials
Answer: a) Monopoly of the Company and use of gomasthas

Why was the fly shuttle adopted by many Indian weavers in the 20th century?
a) It improved productivity and reduced labor costs
b) It completely replaced manual weaving
c) It was made mandatory by the colonial government
d) It helped weavers compete with Manchester goods
Answer: a) It improved productivity and reduced labor costs

Why did Indian weavers prefer weaving finer varieties of cloth?
a) High demand among wealthy customers
b) Reduced labor involved in production
c) Increased government subsidies
d) Fewer competitors in this segment
Answer: a) High demand among wealthy customers

What was a major challenge faced by Indian weavers by the end of the 19th century?
a) Competition from machine-made goods
b) Decline in raw material supply
c) Both a and b
d) Lack of skilled labor
Answer: c) Both a and b

What was the primary reason for the survival of handlooms in the 20th century?
a) Government support for traditional industries
b) Demand for intricate designs that mills could not produce
c) Collaboration with Manchester industries
d) Decline of British textile industries
Answer: b) Demand for intricate designs that mills could not produce

Why did Indian factory workers often return to their villages?
a) To escape poor working conditions in factories
b) To participate in agricultural activities during harvest season
c) Lack of permanent employment in cities
d) Both b and c
Answer: d) Both b and c

Why did the demand for coarse cloth decline during famines?
a) Poor rural populations could not afford to buy cloth
b) Mills stopped producing coarse cloth
c) Handlooms shifted to producing fine textiles
d) Coarse cloth was no longer in demand globally
Answer: a) Poor rural populations could not afford to buy cloth

Why was the Indian iron and steel industry slow to develop?
a) Lack of local demand
b) Dependence on imports for industrial machinery
c) British policies restricted its growth
d) Limited availability of raw materials
Answer: b) Dependence on imports for industrial machinery

What was a unique feature of Indian textile advertisements during colonial rule?
a) Use of nationalist symbols and messages
b) Focus on technical superiority of the goods
c) Appeals to foreign buyers
d) Depiction of factory workers
Answer: a) Use of nationalist symbols and messages

What impact did World War I have on Indian industries?
a) Boosted local production due to reduced British imports
b) Reduced demand for Indian products globally
c) Increased British investments in Indian industries
d) Halted industrial activities in India
Answer: a) Boosted local production due to reduced British imports

Why were British goods preferred in Indian markets during colonial rule?
a) Cheaper due to mass production
b) Higher quality compared to Indian goods
c) Lack of local manufacturing facilities
d) Favorable trade policies for Indian merchants
Answer: a) Cheaper due to mass production

Why did traditional industries in India persist despite the growth of modern industries?
a) Adoption of new technologies and tools
b) Demand for unique handmade products
c) Cultural preference for traditional goods
d) Both a and b
Answer: d) Both a and b

Why was Bombay chosen as the site for India’s first cotton mill?
a) Availability of raw materials and proximity to ports
b) Government policies supporting Bombay industries
c) Presence of skilled labor in the region
d) Resistance from other cities
Answer: a) Availability of raw materials and proximity to ports

What helped small-scale industries remain an integral part of the Indian economy?
a) Ability to adapt to changing demands
b) High tariffs on foreign goods
c) Support from British Managing Agencies
d) Decline in factory production
Answer: a) Ability to adapt to changing demands

What marked the transition from hand production to machine production in India?
a) Establishment of the first cotton mill in Bombay
b) Introduction of the Spinning Jenny
c) Use of the fly shuttle in handlooms
d) Growth of the export market for Indian yarn
Answer: a) Establishment of the first cotton mill in Bombay

How did Indian industrialists benefit from the Swadeshi movement?
a) Increased local demand for Indian-made goods
b) Expansion of export opportunities
c) Reduced competition from handloom weavers
d) Decline in government restrictions on industries
Answer: a) Increased local demand for Indian-made goods