Impact of British Rule in India - UPSC Notes

The establishment of the British Empire in India transformed India’s economic, social and political scenario. Britishers arrived in India around 1608. The coming of the Europeans brought about several changes in the socio-economic and political spheres of Indian society. The main difference between the early Invaders and the British Empire list was that none of the previous Invaders made structural changes in the Indian economy. 

The impact of British rule in India is important from the perspective of UPSC IAS Examinations and falls under General Studies Paper 1. 

In this article, we shall discuss in detail the impacts of British rule in India's economic, political and social spheres in various spheres.

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Impacts of British Rule in India

The British rule in India, spanning nearly two centuries, left a profound and multi-faceted impact on the subcontinent. From its establishment in the mid-18th century to its eventual culmination in 1947, British colonialism shaped various aspects of India's society, economy, culture, and governance. This transformative period brought positive and negative consequences, significantly altering the course of Indian history and setting the stage for its subsequent journey as an independent nation. Examining the diverse impacts of British rule provides a nuanced understanding of the complexities and legacies that continue to influence India's trajectory in the modern world.

Impact on Society and Culture

Indian society underwent many changes after the advent of the Britishers in India. In the 19th century, social practices like female infanticide, child marriage, sati, polygamy and the caste system were prevalent women were discriminated against at all stages of life. The British brought new ideas of Liberty, Equality and Freedom from the Renaissance, the European Reformation movement. These ideas appealed to some sections of society. The movements led by leaders like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, and Aruna Asaf Ali look for social unity and strive towards Liberty, equality and fraternity. Introduced to improve the status of women, for example, the prohibition of the Sati in 1829 by Lord Bentick. In 1872, a law that legalized inter-caste and communal marriage was passed. Slavery was declared illegal. With Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar’s assistance, the Widow Remarriage Act was passed by Lord Dalhousie in 1856. Vidyasagar also campaigned against child marriage and polygamy. The cruel custom of offering little children as a sacrifice to please God, practiced by certain tribes, was banned by Governor General Lord Hardinge.

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Economic Impact of British Rule

The economic impact of British rule in India is as follows:

Deindustrialization

The Charter Act of 1813 allowed one-way free trade for British citizens, which flooded the Indian market with cheap, machine-made goods from Britain. On the other hand, heavy duties were levied on imports from India to Britain. As high as 80% were imposed on Indian textiles, which made Indian cloth expensive. After 1820, Indian exports were virtually barred from European markets.

Ruralisation

The decline of industries increased the trend towards ruralisation in India. The loss of traditional livelihood led to many artisans leaving their professions and moving to villages. There was increased pressure on land as most of these artisans were concentrated in agriculture. An overburdened agricultural sector upset the village’s economic setup.

Impoverishment of Peasantry

The British made numerous attempts at land revenue initiatives that needed to be made easier for the farmers. They collected taxes on the farmers to fund the policies and the war effort. The government enforced the Permanent settlement system in significant portions to maximize rent and ensure its revenue share. Tenants were uneasy due to the transferability of the land. The government made few efforts to improve the productivity of the land. As zamindars gained more authority, they raised the money they received from unlawful dues.

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Commercialisation of Agriculture

The introduction of many commercial crops like coffee, indigo, cotton, jute, and opium was another significant economic influence of British policies. These plants were introduced with certain goals in mind. Indians were forced to produce indigo and sell it under British-imposed restrictions. It was exported to England, where it was utilized as a dyeing ingredient for fabric made in British cities.

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Rise of New Money Lending Class

Excessive demand for revenue by the British government forced the peasants to take loans from the money lenders. These money lenders exploited the peasants by charging a high rate of interest. They often used unfair means like false accounting. In most cases, the peasants failed to repay the loan with full interest and their lands were passed to the money lenders' hands.

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Transport And Communication

To improve the movement of British goods, the British people built railroads to link inland regions with exporting ports. This gave British bankers and investors a means to spend more money and resources on building railroads. This benefited the British capitalist in two ways. Firstly, it made trading in commodities easier and more profitable. Secondly, the rail engine coaches came from Britain, where the British capitalist invested in railways and was guaranteed a minimum profit of 5% by the government. The Railways also played an important role in the national awakening of the country.

Famine and Poverty

Famine became a regular feature in India. These families were caused due to poverty unleashed by the colonial forces in India and a lack of food grains.

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Textile Industry and Trade

Asia and Africa were markets for Indian textiles. The course of the textile trade was turned with the industrialization of England and the colonization of India. Machine-made clothing from English companies was heavily imported. The threat to the handcraft sector has grown due to this import.

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Education Policy

• The introduction of the English language in India by the British was aimed at preparing Indians for roles as low-wage clerks under British administration. This strategy was intended to minimize administrative costs and cultivate a class of Indians loyal to the British regime. 
• Simultaneously, it aimed to expand the market for British goods within India. The Charter Act of 1813 allocated Rs 1 lakh to promote Western Sciences in India, primarily through the English language medium.
• In 1854, the Woods Dispatch recommended that the government take responsibility for educating the masses. This led to establishing Education Departments in all provinces and establishing affiliated universities in Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay in 1857. 
• The English language and Western ideas brought about positive changes in society. 
• Visionaries like Swami Vivekananda and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar employed concepts of liberalism and democracy from the West to reform social and religious practices. This shift led to a modern, rational, democratic, and liberal perspective among Indians.
• English became a common medium among the educated population, fostering political awareness and knowledge of democratic principles. It facilitated studies in England, allowing Indians to learn about the functioning of democratic institutions. 
• Overall, the British introduction of English and Western ideas had a multifaceted impact on India, ranging from administrative motives to social reforms and intellectual empowerment.

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Judicial System

The Britishers introduced a new system of law and justice in India. A hierarchy of Civil and criminal courts was established. The laws were qualified, and attempts were made to separate the Judiciary from the executive. Efforts were taken to establish the rule of law and India. However, these law courts were not easily accessible to the common people. Justice became costly, and the new judicial system discriminated between the Europeans and the Indians.

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Positive and Negative Impacts of British Rule in India

Positive Impacts of British Rule in India

Some of the positive impacts of British rule in India are listed below.

• In 1872, a law legalized inter-caste and inter-communal marriages. Slavery was made illegal. With Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar's help, the Widow Remarriage Act was enacted by Lord Dalhousie in 1856.
• Governor General Lord Hardinge prohibited the cruel practice of sacrificing children to appease deities among certain tribes.
• The British introduced Railways to connect inland areas, which was pivotal in the nation's awakening.
• The British introduced a new system of law and justice, establishing a hierarchy of Civil and criminal courts.
• British influence brought ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Freedom from the European Renaissance and Reformation movements, resonating with some society segments.
• English was introduced, establishing Education Departments in provinces and affiliated universities in Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay in 1857.
• The English language and Western ideas positively impacted society, with leaders like Swami Vivekananda and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.

Negative Impacts of British Rule in India

Some of the negative impacts of British rule are listed below.

• Industries declining prompted a move towards rural life in India. Artisans left traditional work for villages due to lost livelihoods and straining land due to an influx of agricultural workers.
• The Charter Act of 1813 allowed one-way free trade for Britons, flooding India with cheap British goods while taxing Indian imports heavily, particularly textiles.
• The Permanent Settlement aimed at maximizing rent and securing revenue but created tenant insecurity due to land transferability.
• Introducing commercial crops like coffee, indigo, cotton, jute, and opium led to landless laborers as land ownership shifted rapidly.
• British-built Railways connected inland areas, aiding British exports and allowing investments by British capitalists.
• Famines became common due to colonial-induced poverty and lack of food grains.
• England's industrialization and India's colonization reversed the textile trade, importing machine-made clothes and endangering handicrafts.

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