- Explain the features of India’s occupational structure during British period.
Dear Student,
The occupational structure of an economy is defined as the spread of its working population among the three key sectors of the economy, viz, primary which consists of agriculture, secondary which is basically the manufacturing industries and the tertiary sector which consist of the services.
Now, During the British period, India was an agrarian economy. Around 85% of the Indian population lived in villages and their survival was depended upon agriculture. Although, Agriculture employed such a large population, it remained stagnant and faced unusual deterioration. The stagnation was mainly caused due to land commercialisation. the Zamindari system, etc. which stood against the benefits of the farmers.
As like the agriculture, the indian industrial sector was also unable to develop itself under the colonial rule. India was well known for its handicraft industries before the colonial rule. However, these industries also declined due to the two fold purpose of the British government. First, Indian market was considered as a market for the exports of British final goods. Second, India was considered to be the chief supplier of raw material for the modern developed industries of the Britain. Apart from this, the industrial sector employed only 10 percent of the indian population.
Despite these features of the Indian economy, the Madras presidency witnessed a decline of the population's dependence over the agriculture. It also witnessed a steep rise in the manufacturing and the services sectors.
Regards
The occupational structure of an economy is defined as the spread of its working population among the three key sectors of the economy, viz, primary which consists of agriculture, secondary which is basically the manufacturing industries and the tertiary sector which consist of the services.
Now, During the British period, India was an agrarian economy. Around 85% of the Indian population lived in villages and their survival was depended upon agriculture. Although, Agriculture employed such a large population, it remained stagnant and faced unusual deterioration. The stagnation was mainly caused due to land commercialisation. the Zamindari system, etc. which stood against the benefits of the farmers.
As like the agriculture, the indian industrial sector was also unable to develop itself under the colonial rule. India was well known for its handicraft industries before the colonial rule. However, these industries also declined due to the two fold purpose of the British government. First, Indian market was considered as a market for the exports of British final goods. Second, India was considered to be the chief supplier of raw material for the modern developed industries of the Britain. Apart from this, the industrial sector employed only 10 percent of the indian population.
Despite these features of the Indian economy, the Madras presidency witnessed a decline of the population's dependence over the agriculture. It also witnessed a steep rise in the manufacturing and the services sectors.
Regards