question_answer 7)

What objectives did the British intend to achieve through their policies of infrastructure development in India?

Answer:

It is true that under the British rule, there was significant infrastructural development in the country. But the actual motive of the British behind the infrastructure development was only to serve their own colonial interests. British rule brought about development in the areas of transport and communication. The roads served the purpose of mobilising the army within India and facilitating transportation of raw materials from different parts of the country to ports, and ports were developed for easy and fast exports to and Imports from Britain. Similarly, railways were introduced and developed for commercialization of agriculture and for the transportation of finished goods of British industries to the interiors of India. Railways assisted British industries to widen the market for their finished products. Posts and telegraphs were developed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the British administration in maintaining law and order. Hence, the aim of infrastructural development was not the growth and development of the Indian Economy but to serve the economic and political interests of Britain.