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There was no independent development of industries in India during British rule because of the
Explanation
Colonial industrialisation in India was uneven and lopsided: core and heavy industries (power generation, core engineering sectors) were neglected, preventing the emergence of a broad-based independent industrial base; the few Indian-owned enterprises were confined largely to textiles, jute and a few consumer goods, leaving the country without a strong heavy-industrial backbone [1]. Indian firms also faced credit shortages, no tariff protection and fierce competition from well-backed foreign firms, so nascent industries could not vertically integrate into heavy or capital-intensive sectors [2]. Moreover, British policies transformed India into a supplier of raw materials and a captive market for British manufactures, reinforcing this absence of indigenous heavy industry [3].
Sources
- [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 28: Economic Impact of British Rule in India > Destruction of Industry and Late Development of Modern Industry > p. 547
- [2] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 6: Indian Economy [1947 – 2014] > 6.1 Impact of British Rule on Indian Economy > p. 202
- [3] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 6: Indian Economy [1947 – 2014] > 6.1 Impact of British Rule on Indian Economy > p. 201