Q1. [4]
Yet, till the First World War, industrial growth was slow. The war created a dramatically new situation. With British mills busy with war production to meet the needs of the army, Manchester imports into India declined. Suddenly, Indian mills had a vast home market to supply. As the war prolonged, Indian factories were called upon to supply war needs: jute bags, cloth for army uniforms, tents and leather boots, horse and mule saddles and a host of other items. New factories were set up and old ones ran multiple shifts. Many new workers were employed and everyone was made to work longer hours. Over the war years industrial production boomed.
After the war, Manchester could never recapture its old position in the Indian market. Unable to modernise and compete with the US, Germany and Japan, the economy of Britain crumbled after the war. Cotton production collapsed and exports of cotton cloth from Britain fell dramatically. Within the colonies, local industrialists gradually consolidated their position, substituting foreign manufacturers and capturing the home market.
Read the given source and answer the questions that follow :
- (34.1) Why did Manchester imports decline in India ? [1]
- (34.2) Why could Manchester never recapture its old position in the Indian market after the First World War ? [1]
- (34.3) Analyse any two benefits of the First World War to India. [2]
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2023 32/2/1 Q34
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:06 · grounding stimulus
Model Answer
(34.1) Manchester imports declined in India because British mills were busy with war production to meet the needs of the army, leaving little capacity for export to India.
(34.2) After the war, Britain was unable to modernise and compete with the US, Germany and Japan. Its economy crumbled, cotton production collapsed, and exports of cotton cloth fell dramatically, so Manchester could never recapture its old position.
(34.3) Two benefits of the First World War to India:
- Expansion of Indian industry: Indian factories were called upon to supply war needs — jute bags, army uniforms, tents, boots, saddles — leading to new factories, multiple shifts, and an industrial boom.
- Growth of home market: With Manchester imports declining, Indian mills gained a vast home market; local industrialists consolidated their position and substituted foreign manufacturers.
Source: Chapter – The Age of Industrialisation, The Making of a Global World / India and the Contemporary World – II
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Explanation
- (34.1) is 1 mark — one direct cause from the passage is enough.
- (34.2) is 1 mark — focus on Britain's inability to modernise and competition from US/Germany/Japan; don't over-explain.
- (34.3) is 2 marks — name two distinct benefits with a brief explanation each. Both points must come from the passage. Examiners expect specific examples (jute bags, uniforms, etc.) to show close reading. Avoid writing outside the passage for source-based questions.
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