Impact of British Rule
This page covers the economic exploitation under British rule (land revenue systems, the drain of wealth, deindustrialisation) and the social-religious reform movements of the same period. In REET, this topic bridges history and civics, so fact-based questions come up repeatedly.
- 1 question in REET 2024
- Class 6–8 level
- 12 min read
How REET asks this topic
REET 2024 asked a direct multi-statement question on the principles of the Arya Samaj — you had to identify which statements the Arya Samaj held and which it didn't. This shows the exam tests the fine understanding of a movement's principles rather than just its name and year (for instance, the Arya Samaj opposed idol worship and the avatar concept, but supported widow remarriage). Land revenue systems and social-reform laws also have a tradition of direct factual questions (year, founder, region).
The economic impact of British rule
British rule shaped India's economy to serve England's interests. Dadabhai Naoroji, in his book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India' (1901), put forward the 'Drain of Wealth Theory' — raw material would go cheaply from India to England, and finished goods would be sold back in India at high prices; besides this, India's wealth also drained continuously to England through administrative salaries, pensions and company profits.
During this same period, India's traditional handicraft and textile industry collapsed rapidly — this is called 'deindustrialisation'. India's market was flooded with cheap machine-made cloth from England, while heavy duties on Indian goods in England blocked their export, leaving millions of weavers and artisans unemployed.
Land revenue systems
| System | Introduced by | Year | Main region | Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent Settlement | Lord Cornwallis | 1793 | Bengal, Bihar, Odisha | The revenue amount was fixed permanently; zamindars became landowners and revenue-collection agents |
| Ryotwari System | Thomas Munro (Madras) | around 1820 | Madras, Bombay Presidency | Revenue collected directly from the farmer (ryot), with no zamindar middleman, but the rate could rise from time to time |
| Mahalwari System | Holt Mackenzie | 1822 | North-Western Provinces (present-day UP), Punjab | Revenue fixed with the village (mahal) as the unit; the responsibility for collection lay with the village/headman |
The general aim of all three systems was maximum revenue collection; the difference lay in whom the revenue was collected from and how.
Major social-religious reform movements
| Organisation | Founder | Year | Main principle/work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brahmo Samaj | Raja Ram Mohan Roy | 1828 (Calcutta) | Opposed idol worship and Sati; believed in monotheism; helped in the abolition of Sati (1829) |
| Arya Samaj | Swami Dayanand Saraswati | 1875 (Bombay) | Held the Vedas to be a source of truth and knowledge; opposed idol worship and the avatar concept; supported widow remarriage; its text is 'Satyarth Prakash' |
| Prarthana Samaj | Atmaram Pandurang | 1867 (Bombay) | Opposed the caste system and child marriage, supported widow remarriage |
| Theosophical Society (Indian branch) | Annie Besant (leadership in India) | 1882 (Indian headquarters at Adyar) | Supported the revival of Hindu philosophy and Indian self-rule |
Key laws linked to social reform
- Abolition of Sati
- 1829, by Governor-General Lord William Bentinck (through the efforts of Raja Ram Mohan Roy)
- Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act
- 1856, passed through the efforts of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
- Age of Consent Act
- 1891 — raised the age of consent for marriage
- Child Marriage Restraint Act (Sarda Act)
- 1929 — fixed the marriage age at 14 for girls and 18 for boys
Changes in education and transport
British rule also brought deep changes to the education and transport framework, driven mainly by administrative convenience and trade interests, though these had a lasting social impact too. In 1835 came Lord Macaulay's 'Minute on Education', which recommended promoting Western education through the medium of English — based on this, the English Education Act, 1835 was passed.
This was followed in 1854 by Charles Wood's 'Despatch on Education' (Wood's Despatch), called the 'Magna Carta' of English education in India — it laid out a systematic education policy from school and college level up to university. In this same period, on 16 April 1853, India's first passenger train ran between Bombay and Thane (about 34 km), which went on to mark the beginning of the railway network's expansion across the country.
Long-term impact and national consciousness
Economic exploitation, deindustrialisation and the harshness of land revenue filled farmers and artisans with deep resentment, while the social-religious reform movements and English education gave rise to a newly educated middle class that, for the first time, began thinking of itself in terms of an 'Indian' identity. This same economic discontent and ideological awareness went on to lay the ground for the Revolt of 1857 and, later, the organised national movement — which is why this topic connects directly to the 'Revolt of 1857' topic in REET.
How to teach this to children
Timeline activity
Have Class 6-8 children build a timeline on chart paper of events from 1793 to 1929 (Permanent Settlement, abolition of Sati, Arya Samaj, Sarda Act) — this helps in remembering dates.
Role-play
Have children take on the roles of Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Swami Dayanand Saraswati to discover for themselves the difference in their views (their stance on idol worship, the place of the Vedas).
Common misconception
Students often think all reform movements were alike — clarify that the Arya Samaj was Vedic-centred and revivalist, whereas the Brahmo Samaj was more rationalist-reformist.
Assessment idea
Give a short worksheet matching 'organisation-founder-year', in exactly the style REET asks.
Memory trick / exam tip
Trick for remembering Arya Samaj's principles: 'Vedas true, idols a show, avatars denied — but widows given their right'. That is, holding the Vedas as true, opposing idol worship and the avatar concept, but supporting widow remarriage — exactly like the REET 2024 question.
REET 2024 questions asked (with solutions)
Question 136
Which of the following is/are principles of Arya Samaj ? 1. Vedas are the storehouse of truth, knowledge and wisdom. 2. Idol worship is hypocrisy. 3. Opposed to widow remarriage. 4. Opposed to incarnationalism.
- A1, 2, 3
- B1, 3, 4
- C1, 4
- D1, 2, 4
Explanation
आर्य समाज की स्थापना स्वामी दयानन्द सरस्वती ने 1875 में की थी। इसके अनुसार वेद सत्य विद्या और ज्ञान के भण्डार हैं, मूर्ति पूजा आडम्बर है और अवतारवाद का खण्डन किया गया। आर्य समाज विधवा पुनर्विवाह का समर्थक था, विरोधी नहीं, इसलिए कथन 3 गलत है और उत्तर (D) 1, 2, 4 है।
Practice questions
Question 1
Which Governor-General introduced the Permanent Settlement?
- Aवारेन हेस्टिंग्स
- Bलॉर्ड कॉर्नवालिस
- Cलॉर्ड विलियम बेंटिक
- Dलॉर्ड डलहौज़ी
Explanation
Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Settlement in 1793 in Bengal, Bihar and Odisha, fixing the revenue amount permanently for all time. It was India's first land revenue system.
Question 2
Under the Ryotwari system, revenue was collected directly from whom?
- Aज़मींदार से
- Bगाँव के मुखिया से
- Cसीधे किसान (रैयत) से
- Dव्यापारियों से
Explanation
Under the Ryotwari system there was no zamindar middleman; the government collected revenue directly from the farmer (ryot). It was introduced in the Madras Presidency by Thomas Munro.
Question 3
The Mahalwari system was mainly implemented in which region?
- Aमद्रास प्रेसीडेंसी
- Bबंगाल
- Cउत्तर-पश्चिमी प्रांत व पंजाब
- Dबंबई प्रेसीडेंसी
Explanation
The Mahalwari system was introduced in 1822 by Holt Mackenzie in the North-Western Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh) and was later extended to Punjab; it treated the village (mahal) as the unit.
Question 4
Who propounded the 'Drain of Wealth Theory'?
- Aमहात्मा गांधी
- Bदादाभाई नौरोजी
- Cबाल गंगाधर तिलक
- Dगोपाल कृष्ण गोखले
Explanation
Dadabhai Naoroji put forward the Drain of Wealth Theory in his book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India' (1901), explaining how India's wealth drained continuously to England.
Question 5
Who founded the Brahmo Samaj?
- Aस्वामी दयानंद सरस्वती
- Bराजा राममोहन राय
- Cईश्वरचंद्र विद्यासागर
- Dआत्माराम पांडुरंग
Explanation
Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in Calcutta in 1828; he led the movement against Sati, as a result of which Sati was banned in 1829.
Question 6
What is the main text of the Arya Samaj?
- Aगीता रहस्य
- Bसत्यार्थ प्रकाश
- Cहिंद स्वराज
- Dआनंद मठ
Explanation
'Satyarth Prakash', written by Swami Dayanand Saraswati, is the main text of the Arya Samaj, which lays out principles such as the supremacy of the Vedas and opposition to idol worship and the avatar concept.
Question 7
Who played the key role in getting the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856 passed?
- Aराजा राममोहन राय
- Bईश्वरचंद्र विद्यासागर
- Cस्वामी विवेकानंद
- Dज्योतिबा फुले
Explanation
The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856 was passed largely through the tireless efforts of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, which gave Hindu widows the legal right to remarry.
Question 8
In which year was the Child Marriage Restraint Act (Sarda Act) passed?
- A1891
- B1919
- C1929
- D1947
Explanation
The Sarda Act was passed in 1929, fixing the minimum marriage age at 14 years for girls and 18 years for boys.
Question 9
A teacher has students role-play Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Swami Dayanand Saraswati while teaching reform movements in Class 7. What is the main purpose of this activity?
- Aसमय बिताना
- Bदोनों के विचारों में अंतर को अनुभवात्मक रूप से समझाना
- Cबच्चों की वाणी-कला जाँचना
- Dपरीक्षा से ध्यान हटाना
Explanation
Activities such as role-play help children understand abstract historical ideas experientially, which makes learning deeper and longer-lasting — that is the educational purpose of this activity.
Question 10
Which of the following statements about the Arya Samaj is NOT correct?
- Aयह वेदों को सत्य व ज्ञान का भंडार मानता है
- Bयह मूर्ति-पूजा का विरोध करता है
- Cयह विधवा पुनर्विवाह का विरोधी है
- Dयह अवतारवाद का खंडन करता है
Explanation
The Arya Samaj was a supporter of widow remarriage, not an opponent. REET 2024 asked exactly this point, where you had to identify this incorrect statement.
Frequently asked questions
How many REET questions come from the Impact of British Rule?+
REET 2024 carried 1 question from this topic; in the History section of Social Studies, this topic comes up in some form (a land revenue system or a reform movement) almost every year.
Who put forward the Drain of Wealth Theory?+
Dadabhai Naoroji put forward the Drain of Wealth Theory, explaining it in detail in his 1901 book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'.
What's the main difference between the Permanent Settlement and the Ryotwari system?+
Under the Permanent Settlement, zamindars collected revenue as middlemen and the amount was fixed permanently; under the Ryotwari system, the government collected revenue directly from the farmer (ryot), and the rate could change over time.
When and by whom was the Arya Samaj founded?+
The Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875 in Bombay; its main text is 'Satyarth Prakash'.
What is Wood's Despatch (1854) called?+
Wood's Despatch is called the 'Magna Carta' of English education in India, because it laid the foundation of a systematic education policy from the primary to the university level.
What was the long-term effect of economic exploitation and the reform movements?+
The ideological awareness born from economic discontent and the reform movements together laid the foundation of national consciousness in India, which became the basis for the Revolt of 1857 and the freedom movement that followed.
How was revenue divided between the government and the zamindar under the Permanent Settlement?+
Under the Permanent Settlement, roughly 10/11ths of the total revenue collected went to the government and the remaining 1/11th went to the zamindar as his remuneration, and this ratio was fixed permanently.
Who founded the Prarthana Samaj?+
The Prarthana Samaj was founded by Atmaram Pandurang in 1867 in Bombay; it opposed the caste system and child marriage and supported widow remarriage.
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Change Log
- 17 September 2026 — English page published — mirrors the fact-checked Hindi page, independently bilingual-accuracy checked