Which is/are correct regarding the impact of British rule?

A. The growth of the Indian foreign trade was neither natural nor normal; it was artificially fostered to serve imperialism

B. The composition and character of the foreign trade was imbalanced

C. India experienced drain of wealth

D. The ruin of indigenous industries and the absence of other avenues of employment forced millions of craftsmen to crowd into agriculture

E. There was a progressive decline and destruction of urban and rural handicraft industries

Choose the correct answer from the options given below.

The correct answer is : A, B, C, D and E

Key Points

• The growth of Indian foreign trade was fostered by the British to serve imperialism, and was not a natural or normal result of economic development. Hence, statement (A) is correct.
• The composition and character of the foreign trade was imbalanced, with India exporting raw materials and importing finished goods, which contributed to its economic dependency on Britain. Hence, statement (B) is correct.
• India experienced a drain of wealth as a result of British rule, with resources and wealth flowing out of the country to Britain. Hence statement (C) is correct.
• The ruin of indigenous industries and the absence of other avenues of employment forced millions of craftsmen to crowd into agriculture, leading to an oversupply of labor in agriculture and a decline in wages. Hence statement (D) is correct.
• There was a progressive decline and destruction of urban and rural handicraft industries, which were replaced by British-owned factories and machine-made goods, leading to a loss of jobs and a decline in traditional crafts and skills. Hence statement (E) is correct.

• These impacts of British rule contributed to economic hardship and inequality in India and had long-lasting effects on the country's economy and society.

Based on the above discussion, we can conclude that all the statements are correct regarding the impact of British rule