British Industrial Policy – UGC NET History – Practice Questions

Industrial Policy of British

1. British Industrial Policy in India primarily aimed to:
A. Promote Indian industrialisation
B. Serve British economic interests
C. Encourage village autonomy
D. Establish industrial equality

2. The British Industrial Policy resulted in:
A. Technological independence of India
B. Equal wealth distribution
C. Economic subjugation and widening wealth gap
D. Rapid industrial modernisation

3. Which among the following was a major objective of British industrial policy in India?
A. Development of heavy industries in India
B. Promotion of Indian entrepreneurship
C. Making India a supplier of raw materials and a market for British goods
D. Self-sufficiency in machinery production

4. Which raw material was heavily exported from India to Britain under British rule?
A. Cotton
B. Jute
C. Minerals
D. All of the above

5. The British discouraged Indian industrial growth mainly because:
A. They feared competition with British industries
B. India lacked labour
C. India lacked resources
D. Indian rulers opposed industries

6. Assertion (A): British industrial policy encouraged Indian self-sufficiency.
Reason (R): British policies deliberately prevented India from developing industries.

A. Both A and R are true
B. A is true but R is false
C. Both A and R are false
D. A is false but R is true

7. High taxes imposed on Indian goods mainly benefited:
A. Indian manufacturers
B. Peasants
C. British industries
D. Local traders

8. Which among the following was a consequence of British tariff policy?
A. Growth of Indian exports
B. Industrial equality
C. Indian goods found it difficult to compete in British markets
D. Technological independence

9. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B- (a)-(iii), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iv)
C- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iii)

10. Railways in colonial India were mainly developed to:
A. Improve village welfare
B. Encourage artisan mobility
C. Promote indigenous industries
D. Transport raw materials to ports

11. British infrastructure development in India focused mainly on:
A. Healthcare and education
B. Transport for colonial extraction
C. Welfare schemes
D. Rural electrification

12. Which among the following sectors was neglected under British industrial policy?
A. Railways
B. Ports
C. Healthcare and education
D. Export trade

13. Assertion (A): British-built railways primarily benefited Indian industrialisation.
Reason (R): Railways were mainly used to move raw materials and imports for colonial interests.

A. Both A and R are true
B. A is true but R is false
C. Both A and R are false
D. A is false but R is true

14. British companies dominated industries in India, making it difficult for:
A. British firms to expand
B. Colonial officers to invest
C. Indian entrepreneurs to compete
D. Agricultural exports to grow

15. Which factor slowed technological progress in India?
A. British refusal to share advanced technology
B. Indian lack of interest
C. Excess industrialisation
D. Decline in trade

16. British industrial policy made India dependent upon Britain for:
A. Machinery
B. Technical knowledge
C. Industrial expertise
D. All of the above

17. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
C- (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(i), (d)-(ii)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iii)

18. Indian peasants suffered under British industrial policy because:
A. Taxes were reduced
B. Loans became easier
C. Heavy taxes reduced earnings and caused debt
D. Agriculture became industrialised

19. Which among the following difficulties were faced by Indian entrepreneurs?
A. Strict rules
B. High taxes
C. Limited access to loans
D. All of the above

20. Which statement best summarises British industrial policy?
A. It promoted Indian economic self-reliance
B. It benefited Britain at India’s expense
C. It ensured balanced industrialisation
D. It modernised villages equally

21. Assertion (A): British industrial policy had long-term effects even after independence.
Reason (R): Colonial economic structures continued to influence India’s economy.

A. Both A and R are false
B. Both A and R are true and R correctly explains A
C. A is true but R is false
D. Both true but unrelated

22. Industrial development in India during 1850–1914 was mainly a by-product of:
A. Political revolutions only
B. Agricultural decline only
C. Improved transport, communication and foreign trade
D. Socialist planning

23. Railway development during 1850–1914 contributed to:
A. Exposure of agriculture to market economy
B. Industrial growth
C. Urbanisation
D. All of the above

24. Which among the following represented industrial change during 1850–1914?
A. Steam replacing manual power
B. Technical education growth
C. New industries emerging
D. All of the above

25. The beginning of joint-stock enterprises in India during Period I was:
A. Slow and gradual
B. Extremely rapid
C. Non-existent
D. Entirely state-owned

26. Which factor contributed immensely to growth of industries during 1850–1914?
A. Village republics
B. Development of towns due to railways
C. Decline in transport
D. Ban on foreign trade

27. Which political event indirectly stimulated industrial development in India?
A. French Revolution
B. Russian Revolution
C. American Civil War
D. Chinese Revolution

28. Which among the following movements helped industrial growth in India?
A. Non-Cooperation Movement
B. Civil Disobedience Movement
C. Swadeshi Movement
D. Quit India Movement

29. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 stimulated Indian industrial development mainly by:
A. Ending railway construction
B. Reducing Indian exports
C. Improving trade and transport links
D. Stopping imports of machinery

30. Which statement correctly describes industrial development in India during 1850–1914?
A. Heavy industries developed rapidly
B. Regional balance existed in industries
C. Britain actively supported industrialisation
D. Growth remained limited and uneven

31. Assertion (A): Industrial development in India between 1850–1914 was balanced regionally.
Reason (R): Many areas with industrial potential remained undeveloped due to poor planning.

A. Both A and R are true
B. A is true but R is false
C. Both A and R are false
D. A is false but R is true

32. Which feature best characterises industrial development in Period I?
A. Emphasis on light and consumer industries
B. Heavy engineering dominance
C. Machine-manufacturing expansion
D. Equal industrial diversification

33. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B- (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(i), (d)-(ii)
C- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iii)

34. Which industries were neglected during early industrialisation in India?
A. Heavy engineering
B. Machine-manufacturing
C. Heavy chemicals
D. All of the above

35. Industrial growth in India remained lopsided because:
A. Industries developed equally everywhere
B. Heavy industries dominated
C. Focus remained mainly on consumer goods industries
D. Technology spread equally

36. Assertion (A): British Government actively promoted industrial growth in India during Period I.
Reason (R): The colonial state was largely hostile to industrial growth in India.

A. Both A and R are true
B. A is true but R is false
C. Both A and R are false
D. A is false but R is true

37. Which event marked a turning point for industrial development in India during Period II?
A. Revolt of 1857
B. Swadeshi Movement
C. First World War
D. Partition of Bengal

38. Which among the following shaped industrial development during 1915–1939?
A. Worldwide Depression (1929–33)
B. Exchange rate fluctuations
C. Post-war boom
D. All of the above

39. Which committee investigated industrial issues in 1916?
A. Whitley Commission
B. Fiscal Commission
C. Indian Industrial Commission
D. Simon Commission

40. The Whitley Commission on Labour was established in:
A. 1929
B. 1916
C. 1935
D. 1942

41. Assertion (A): Before WWI, British Government openly opposed industrial development in India.
Reason (R): British policy feared industrial competition from India.

A. Both A and R are false
B. Both A and R are true and R correctly explains A
C. A is true but R is false
D. Both true but unrelated

42. Which factor highlighted the need for industrialisation during WWI?
A. Foreign trade boom
B. British industrial surplus
C. Cessation of foreign imports
D. Agricultural prosperity

43. The British offered economic concessions during WWI mainly to:
A. End colonial rule
B. Promote socialism
C. Secure Indian cooperation
D. Abolish industries

44. Which organisation stimulated indigenous industries during WWI?
A. Fiscal Commission
B. Simon Commission
C. Munitions Board
D. Hunter Commission

45. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B- (a)-(iii), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iv)
C- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iii)

46. The Munitions Board supported Indian industries by:
A. Purchasing Indian-made materials
B. Diverting foreign orders to Indian manufacturers
C. Helping import machinery and experts
D. All of the above

47. Which industries particularly benefited from the Munitions Board?
A. Cotton
B. Iron and steel
C. Leather
D. All of the above

48. After WWI, wartime industrial concessions were:
A. Expanded permanently
B. Nationalised
C. Withdrawn
D. Made compulsory

49. By mid-1920, Indian industries again faced:
A. Protectionism only
B. Industrial monopoly
C. Full competition
D. State ownership

50. The Fiscal Commission (1922) recommended:
A. Discriminating protection through Tariff Board
B. Nationalisation of industries
C. End of tariffs
D. Abolition of trade protection

51. Which industries received tariff protection after the Fiscal Commission recommendations?
A. 5 industries
B. 13 industries
C. 20 industries
D. 25 industries

52. Which factor hindered Indian industries after the war period?
A. Lack of labour only
B. End of transport
C. Flooding of British capital into India
D. Excess state protection

53. The devaluation of rupee adversely affected Indian industries because:
A. Exports increased dramatically
B. British imports stopped
C. Exchange rate changes hurt industrial competitiveness
D. Loans became cheaper

54. The exchange rate was fixed at ______, which negatively affected industries dependent on the earlier rate.
A. 1s. 4d
B. 1s. 2d
C. 1s. 6d
D. 2s. 4d

55. Tata Iron and Steel Company’s market value reportedly declined from Rs.100 to:
A. Rs. 50
B. Rs. 25
C. Rs. 10
D. Rs. 5

56. Assertion (A): Post-war tariff policy favoured British products.
Reason (R): British products gained advantages over non-Empire products.

A. Both A and R are false
B. Both A and R are true and R correctly explains A
C. A is true but R is false
D. Both true but unrelated

57. Cotton piece-goods production during Period II increased by approximately:
A. 1.5 times
B. 2.5 times
C. 5 times
D. 8 times

58. Steel ingot production during Period II increased by:
A. Two times
B. Four times
C. Eight times
D. Ten times

59. Which industry became self-sufficient between 1932–36?
A. Cement industry
B. Steel industry
C. Sugar industry
D. Glass industry

60. By 1935–36, cement production met approximately ______ of India’s requirements.
A. 95%
B. 50%
C. 70%
D. 80%

61. Assertion (A): Industrial growth during Period II was entirely stagnant.
Reason (R): Several industries such as paper, cement, sugar, and steel expanded considerably.

A. Both A and R are true
B. A is true but R is false
C. Both A and R are false
D. A is false but R is true

62. Electrical equipment manufacturing in India began around:
A. 1920–21
B. 1930–31
C. 1938–39
D. 1945–46

63. Which among the following industries witnessed growth during Period II?
A. Matches
B. Soap
C. Vanaspati
D. All of the above

64. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B- (a)-(iii), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iv)
C- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iii)

65. During Period III (1940–1950), India was better prepared for war than during:
A. Crimean War
B. American Civil War
C. First World War
D. Boer War

66. During WWII, which products remained central to war procurement?
A. Cotton
B. Jute
C. Steel
D. All of the above

67. Ammunition shell production during WWII particularly benefited:
A. Agriculture
B. Textile industries
C. Engineering factories and railway workshops
D. Plantation economy

68. The Second World War gave a major stimulus to:
A. Political democracy
B. Agricultural mechanisation
C. Industrial potential
D. Artisan guilds

69. Which statement best describes industrial growth during WWII?
A. No industries expanded
B. Growth ended in 1940
C. Industrial growth increased till 1945, then declined
D. Heavy industries collapsed entirely

70. Assertion (A): WWII contributed substantially to industrial expansion in India.
Reason (R): Existing industries worked at full capacity and some new plants were established.

A. Both A and R are false
B. A is true but R is false
C. Both true but unrelated
D. Both A and R are true and R correctly explains A

71. The industrial production index increased from 102.7 in 1939 to approximately ______ in 1945.
A. 110
B. 115
C. 120
D. 140

72. Which industries showed major increase in production during WWII?
A. Steel
B. Chemicals
C. Paper and paints
D. All of the above

73. Which industries remained relatively depressed during WWII?
A. Jute
B. Matches
C. Sugar
D. All of the above

74. Wartime prosperity in industries was mainly due to:
A. Reduced prices
B. Agricultural subsidies
C. Higher prices and profit margins
D. Labour welfare laws

75. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
C- (a)-(iii), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(iii), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)

76. Which factor weakened industrial growth despite wartime demand?
A. Surplus machinery
B. Excess maintenance
C. Wear and tear of capital equipment
D. Labour surplus

77. Coal shortages and transport bottlenecks during WWII:
A. Improved output expansion
B. Ended industrial growth
C. Limited industrial output
D. Reduced war procurement

78. After WWII, immediate industrial problems included:
A. Repairing damaged equipment
B. Replacing neglected machinery
C. Managing wartime deterioration
D. All of the above

79. Which factor restricted industrial expansion after WWII?
A. Political disturbances
B. Machinery shortage
C. Shipping shortage
D. All of the above

80. Which event left India with most industries of undivided India?
A. Partition of India
B. Quit India Movement
C. Non-Cooperation Movement
D. Permanent Settlement

81. The development of railways in India began under the initiative of:
A. Lord Curzon
B. Lord Dalhousie
C. Lord Ripon
D. Lord Wellesley

82. Railway development in India formally began in:
A. 1850
B. 1851
C. 1853
D. 1857

83. The primary objective behind railway construction in colonial India was to:
A. Improve peasant welfare
B. Promote education
C. Export goods and transport imports efficiently
D. Encourage village industries

84. Railways encouraged the plantation economy by:
A. Discouraging exports
B. Ending cash crop cultivation
C. Supporting market-oriented cash crops
D. Reducing agricultural production

85. Which industry became possible largely due to railway development?
A. Cotton mill industry
B. Aviation industry
C. Electrical equipment industry
D. Fertilizer industry

86. Assertion (A): Railways in India were developed mainly for Indian welfare.
Reason (R): Railways facilitated colonial extraction and market expansion.

A. Both A and R are true
B. A is true but R is false
C. Both A and R are false
D. A is false but R is true

87. The first successful Indian cotton mill was established in:
A. Ahmedabad
B. Madras
C. Bombay
D. Calcutta

88. The first successful Indian cotton mill was established in the year:
A. 1851
B. 1855
C. 1853
D. 1860

89. Which cities later emerged as important cotton textile centres?
A. Sholapur
B. Ahmedabad
C. Madras
D. All of the above

90. The first jute mill in India was established at:
A. Rishra, Bengal
B. Bombay
C. Kanpur
D. Madras

91. Assertion (A): Jute cultivation was encouraged as a cash crop under British rule.
Reason (R): Jute industries served colonial economic interests.

A. Both A and R are false
B. Both A and R are true and R correctly explains A
C. A is true but R is false
D. Both true but unrelated

92. The first jute mill in India was established in:
A. 1853
B. 1850
C. 1855
D. 1865

93. Which among the following industries were encouraged mainly for colonial interests?
A. Glass industry
B. Paper industry
C. Leather industry
D. All of the above

94. The first iron and steel mill in India was established in:
A. Bombay
B. Ahmedabad
C. Jharia coal mines area
D. Kanpur

95. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B- (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)
C- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iii)

96. Labour movements in India before nationalism were generally:
A. Highly organised and political
B. Revolutionary in nature
C. Sporadic and economic in character
D. Dominated by industrialists

97. Early strikes in India mostly occurred in:
A. Textile mills
B. Railways
C. Plantations
D. All of the above

98. Which reformer established the Workingmen’s Club in Bengal in 1870?
A. N.M. Lokhanday
B. Lala Lajpat Rai
C. Sasipada Banerjee
D. B.P. Wadia

99. Sasipada Banerjee published which monthly journal for labour education?
A. Kesari
B. Mahratta
C. Bharat Sramjeebi
D. Dina-Bandhu

100. Which labour leader founded the Bombay Mill and Millhands Association in 1890?
A. N.M. Lokhanday
B. Dewan Chaman Lal
C. B.P. Wadia
D. M.N. Roy

101. Assertion (A): Early labour strikes in India had strong political objectives.
Reason (R): Most early strikes were based mainly on economic grievances.

A. Both A and R are true
B. A is true but R is false
C. Both A and R are false
D. A is false but R is true

102. N.M. Lokhanday published which Anglo-Marathi weekly?
A. Bharat Sramjeebi
B. Kesari
C. Dina-Bandhu
D. Young India

103. The first organised strike by a working-class section in India occurred in:
A. 1885
B. 1895
C. 1899
D. 1905

104. The signaller’s strike of 1899 took place in:
A. East India Railway
B. Bengal Nagpur Railway
C. Great Indian Peninsular Railway (GIP)
D. Madras Railway

105. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
C- (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iii)

106. Which nationalist newspapers supported the 1899 railway strike?
A. Mahratta
B. Kesari
C. Tilak’s publications
D. All of the above

107. The Swadeshi Movement period (1903–08) marked:
A. Decline in labour activism
B. End of strikes
C. Major turning point in labour movement
D. Collapse of trade unions

108. Which among the following Swadeshi leaders actively participated in labour struggles?
A. Aswinicoomar Bannerji
B. Premtosh Bose
C. Apurba Kumar Ghose
D. All of the above

109. The Madras Labour Union, founded in 1918, was established by:
A. N.M. Lokhanday
B. Lala Lajpat Rai
C. B.P. Wadia
D. Dewan Chaman Lal

110. The Madras Labour Union is significant because it was:
A. First modern trade union organisation in India
B. First railway union
C. Communist labour organisation
D. Government-backed union

111. Assertion (A): AITUC was founded by nationalist leaders.
Reason (R): Labour issues increasingly became linked with nationalist politics.

A. Both A and R are false
B. Both A and R are true and R correctly explains A
C. A is true but R is false
D. Both true but unrelated

112. The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was founded on:
A. 15 August 1920
B. 26 January 1930
C. 31 October 1920
D. 1 January 1925

113. The first session of AITUC was presided over by:
A. B.P. Wadia
B. Dewan Chaman Lal
C. Lala Lajpat Rai
D. N.M. Joshi

114. Dewan Chaman Lal served as the ______ of AITUC.
A. President
B. Chairman
C. General Secretary
D. Treasurer

115. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B- (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(i), (d)-(ii)
C- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iii)

116. The Trade Union Act was enacted in:
A. 1918
B. 1920
C. 1926
D. 1931

117. The Trade Union Act (1926) granted:
A. Political independence
B. Industrial subsidies
C. Legal status to trade unions
D. End of labour strikes

118. Communist influence in AITUC significantly increased after:
A. 1918
B. 1920
C. 1925
D. 1935

119. N.M. Joshi formed which organisation in 1929?
A. Indian Federation of Labour
B. Madras Labour Union
C. All India Trade Union Federation (AITUF)
D. Bombay Mill Association

120. M.N. Roy founded the:
A. Indian Federation of Labour
B. AITUC
C. AITUF
D. Madras Labour Union

121. Assertion (A): The Trade Union Act of 1926 provided legal recognition to trade unions.
Reason (R): It established conditions for registration and regulation of trade unions.

A. Both A and R are false
B. Both A and R are true and R correctly explains A
C. A is true but R is false
D. Both true but unrelated

122. The Whitley Commission on Labour submitted its report in:
A. 1929
B. 1930
C. 1931
D. 1935

123. The Whitley Commission on Labour is also known as the:
A. Simon Commission
B. Fiscal Commission
C. Royal Commission on Labour
D. Industrial Commission

124. The Whitley Commission was established mainly to examine:
A. Agricultural production
B. Railway finances
C. Labour conditions in industries and plantations
D. Foreign trade imbalance

125. Which labour leader withdrew from AITUC and formed AITUF in 1929?
A. N.M. Joshi
B. B.P. Wadia
C. Dewan Chaman Lal
D. M.N. Roy

126. Assertion (A): Communist influence within AITUC increased after 1925.
Reason (R): Moderate leaders like N.M. Joshi withdrew from AITUC.

A. Both A and R are false
B. A is true but R is false
C. Both true but unrelated
D. Both A and R are true and R correctly explains A

127. M.N. Roy was associated with which ideological background before forming Indian Federation of Labour?
A. Liberal nationalism
B. Gandhian socialism
C. Communist and Radical Democratic politics
D. Revolutionary terrorism only

128. The Indian Federation of Labour founded by M.N. Roy was considered:
A. Anti-Government union
B. Revolutionary union
C. Pro-Government union
D. Socialist peasant organisation

129. In 1944, the Indian National Trade Union Congress was organised by:
A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Subhas Chandra Bose
C. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and other national leaders
D. M.N. Roy

130. Which statement best describes the early labour movement in India?
A. Entirely political in nature
B. Dominated by revolutionary ideology
C. Mainly economic and unorganised initially
D. Controlled by colonial government

131. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B- (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(i), (d)-(ii)
C- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iii)

132. Which among the following best explains British hostility toward Indian industrialisation?
A. Lack of Indian labour
B. Poor natural resources
C. Fear of competition with British industries
D. Indian refusal to industrialise

133. Which sector remained neglected due to British emphasis on light industries?
A. Cotton mills
B. Jute production
C. Heavy engineering and machine manufacturing
D. Plantation crops

134. The development of Indian towns during 1850–1914 was significantly linked with:
A. Decline of trade
B. Agricultural collapse
C. Railway expansion
D. Village republics

135. Assertion (A): British-built infrastructure mainly supported India’s social welfare.
Reason (R): Colonial infrastructure was largely intended for economic extraction.

A. Both A and R are true
B. A is true but R is false
C. Both A and R are false
D. A is false but R is true

136. Which among the following industries particularly benefited from wartime demand during WWI?
A. Cotton
B. Iron and steel
C. Leather
D. All of the above

137. The Fiscal Commission (1922) promoted industrial protection through:
A. Nationalisation policy
B. Labour welfare laws
C. Tariff Board
D. Land reforms

138. Which event demonstrated India’s need for indigenous industrialisation?
A. American Civil War
B. Swadeshi Movement
C. First World War and stoppage of imports
D. Partition of Bengal

139. During WWII, engineering factories gained experience mainly through:
A. Textile production
B. Chemical manufacturing
C. Ammunition shell production
D. Agricultural processing

140. Which statement best explains industrial growth during WWII?
A. Existing industries expanded but major structural growth remained limited
B. All heavy industries flourished equally
C. No industrial growth occurred
D. Industrialisation became balanced nationwide

141. Assertion (A): Wartime prosperity guaranteed major industrial expansion in India.
Reason (R): Machinery shortages and transport bottlenecks limited growth.

A. Both A and R are true
B. A is true but R is false
C. Both A and R are false
D. A is false but R is true

142. Which among the following hindered industrial expansion after WWII?
A. Machinery shortage
B. Shipping problems
C. Political instability
D. All of the above

143. Which major event left India with most industries of undivided India?
A. Quit India Movement
B. Non-Cooperation Movement
C. Partition of India
D. Government of India Act, 1935

144. Which among the following industries were developed mainly to serve colonial needs?
A. Paper industry
B. Glass industry
C. Leather industry
D. All of the above

145. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
C- (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(i), (d)-(ii)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iii)

146. Which among the following best characterises the Swadeshi phase of labour movement?
A. Decline in strikes
B. Purely economic demands
C. Growing organisation and nationalist involvement
D. State-sponsored labour reforms

147. The Gaya session of AITUC (1922) resolved that:
A. Trade unions should avoid politics
B. Only workers could join unions
C. Party workers could engage in trade union activities
D. Strikes should be banned

148. The first modern trade union organisation in India was:
A. Bombay Millhands Association
B. AITUC
C. Madras Labour Union
D. Indian Federation of Labour

149. Which publication was associated with labour awareness in Bombay?
A. Bharat Sramjeebi
B. Kesari
C. Dina-Bandhu
D. Young India

150. Which labour agitation marked the first organised strike in India?
A. Signaller’s strike in GIP Railway (1899)
B. Ahmedabad Mill Strike
C. Bombay Textile Strike
D. Indigo Revolt

151. Assertion (A): Early labour strikes in India were largely political.
Reason (R): Initial strikes mostly emerged from economic grievances.

A. Both A and R are true
B. A is true but R is false
C. Both A and R are false
D. A is false but R is true

152. Which nationalist newspapers supported railway workers in 1899?
A. Kesari
B. Mahratta
C. Tilak’s newspapers
D. All of the above

153. Which among the following Swadeshi leaders actively participated in labour struggles?
A. Aswinicoomar Bannerji
B. Prabhat Kumar Roy Chowdhuri
C. Premtosh Bose
D. All of the above

154. Which factor mainly linked labour movements with nationalism?
A. British industrial subsidies
B. Rise in peasant prosperity
C. Swadeshi mobilisation and political awakening
D. Decline in trade

155. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B- (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)
C- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iii)

156. Which statement best reflects the impact of British Industrial Policy?
A. It encouraged equal industrial competition
B. It restricted Indian industrial growth while favouring Britain
C. It ensured technological independence
D. It removed economic inequalities

157. British industrial policy hindered India’s technological growth mainly by:
A. Encouraging indigenous inventions
B. Building technical universities everywhere
C. Restricting access to advanced technology and machinery
D. Promoting heavy engineering

158. Which among the following represented a major weakness of industrialisation during Period I?
A. Balanced industrial spread
B. Heavy industrialisation
C. Regional concentration and imbalance
D. Complete technological autonomy

159. Which statement best summarises industrial development during 1915–1939?
A. No progress occurred
B. British completely withdrew support
C. Limited growth occurred despite colonial constraints
D. Heavy industries dominated fully

160. Which among the following best summarises labour movements before independence?
A. They evolved from sporadic economic struggles into organised trade unionism linked with nationalism
B. They remained entirely unorganised
C. They avoided politics completely
D. They were controlled by British employers only

161. Which among the following best describes British industrial policy in India?
A. Promotion of Indian industrial independence
B. Economic policy favouring British industries at India’s expense
C. Balanced industrial growth
D. Welfare-oriented industrialisation

162. Which factor widened the wealth gap in colonial India?
A. Equal trade relations
B. Industrial democracy
C. Drain of Indian resources for British benefit
D. Rise of cooperative industries

163. British industrial policy prevented India from becoming:
A. Agricultural economy
B. Plantation economy
C. Industrially self-sufficient nation
D. Export-oriented market

164. Which among the following best explains India’s industrial dependence on Britain?
A. India lacked labour
B. Railways were absent
C. Britain controlled technology, capital, and machinery
D. India refused industrial growth

165. Assertion (A): British industrial policy encouraged Indian heavy industries.
Reason (R): Colonial priorities focused mainly on light industries and raw material extraction.

A. Both A and R are true
B. A is true but R is false
C. Both A and R are false
D. A is false but R is true

166. Which among the following industries remained underdeveloped during colonial rule?
A. Heavy engineering
B. Machine manufacturing
C. Heavy chemicals
D. All of the above

167. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 mainly facilitated:
A. Isolation of Indian markets
B. Closure of sea routes
C. Trade and transport expansion
D. End of imports

168. Which event particularly stimulated Indian industries due to cotton shortage in Britain?
A. French Revolution
B. Russian Revolution
C. American Civil War
D. Boer War

169. Which among the following represented a positive but limited trend during 1850–1914?
A. Growth in technical education
B. Use of steam power
C. Emergence of new industries
D. All of the above

170. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
C- (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iii)

171. The Munitions Board assisted Indian firms mainly by:
A. Importing technical experts
B. Diverting orders to Indian firms
C. Buying Indian-made military goods
D. All of the above

172. Which major factor weakened Tata Iron and Steel Company after the war?
A. Labour strikes only
B. Nationalisation policy
C. Devaluation of rupee and exchange-rate changes
D. Closure of railways

173. Which among the following industries achieved self-sufficiency during colonial rule?
A. Steel industry
B. Jute industry
C. Sugar industry (1932–36)
D. Coal industry

174. Which statement about industrial growth during Period II is correct?
A. No progress occurred
B. Industrialisation remained entirely stagnant
C. Growth occurred despite colonial constraints and uneven policy support
D. Heavy industries expanded equally

175. Assertion (A): Wartime demand during WWII strengthened India’s industrial potential.
Reason (R): Existing industries functioned at full capacity and some new plants emerged.

A. Both A and R are false
B. Both A and R are true and R correctly explains A
C. A is true but R is false
D. Both true but unrelated

176. Which among the following became serious bottlenecks during WWII?
A. Coal shortages
B. Transport constraints
C. Shipping problems
D. All of the above

177. The immediate post-war industrial problem in India was:
A. Industrial overproduction
B. Excess machinery
C. Repair and replacement of worn-out equipment
D. Decline in trade routes

178. Which among the following industries remained depressed during WWII?
A. Jute
B. Matches
C. Sugar
D. All of the above

179. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B- (a)-(iii), (b)-(i), (c)-(ii), (d)-(iv)
C- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iii)

180. Which among the following best describes labour movements before 1900?
A. Mostly sporadic, localised and economic in nature
B. Highly centralised and political
C. Entirely communist-led
D. Dominated by industrialists

181. Assertion (A): The Swadeshi Movement significantly influenced labour politics.
Reason (R): Swadeshi leaders actively organised strikes and labour support.

A. Both A and R are false
B. Both A and R are true and R correctly explains A
C. A is true but R is false
D. Both true but unrelated

182. Which labour organisation was considered India’s first modern trade union?
A. Bombay Millhands Association
B. AITUC
C. Madras Labour Union
D. AITUF

183. Which nationalist leader presided over the first session of AITUC?
A. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
B. Jawaharlal Nehru
C. Lala Lajpat Rai
D. Bipin Chandra Pal

184. The Trade Union Act (1926) primarily aimed to:
A. Ban strikes
B. Eliminate unions
C. Legally recognise and regulate trade unions
D. Nationalise industries

185. Assertion (A): Communist influence within AITUC increased after 1925.
Reason (R): This contributed to withdrawal of moderate groups under N.M. Joshi.

A. Both A and R are false
B. A is true but R is false
C. Both true but unrelated
D. Both A and R are true and R correctly explains A

186. Which pro-Government labour organisation was founded by M.N. Roy?
A. AITUC
B. AITUF
C. Indian Federation of Labour
D. Madras Labour Union

187. Which leader helped organise Indian National Trade Union Congress in 1944?
A. M.N. Roy
B. N.M. Joshi
C. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
D. B.P. Wadia

188. Which statement best explains the growth of trade unionism in colonial India?
A. It developed independently of nationalism
B. It remained fully unorganised
C. It evolved from economic struggles into organised political-labour activism
D. It was entirely controlled by British authorities

189. Match List I with List II and choose the correct answer.

A- (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B- (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(i), (d)-(ii)
C- (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
D- (a)-(iv), (b)-(ii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iii)

190. Which statement best summarises British Industrial Policy in India?
A. It subordinated India’s industrial growth to British economic interests, encouraged raw material extraction, restricted technological progress, and shaped uneven industrial development with long-lasting effects
B. It transformed India into a heavy industrial nation
C. It created balanced regional industrialisation
D. It promoted complete economic self-sufficiency in India