question_answer 8)

Critically appraise some of the shortfalls of the industrial policy pursued by the British colonial administration.

Answer:

The focus of the industrial policies pursued by the colonial government in India was lo make our country a mere supplier of Britain's own flourishing industrial base. The policies were concerned mainly with the advancement of the British economic and political power. The industrial policy pursued by the British colonial administration had the following shortfall (i) Neglect of Indian Handicraft Industries The British followed a discriminatory tariff policy under which they imposed heavy tariffs (export duties) on India's export of handicraft products while allowed free export of India's raw material to Britain and free import of finished products from Britain to India. This made Indian exports costlier and its international demand fell drastically loading to the collapse of handicrafts industries. Also, Indian handicrafts faced a stiff competition from machine-made textiles of Britain. (ii) Lack of Investment in Modern Indian Industries The modern industries in India demanded investments in capital goods and technology that were beyond the means of Indian investors. British Government was least interested in investing in Indian industries as they never wanted India to become self reliant. Thus due to the lack of sufficient investment, the growth of Indian industries, was severely constrained.