(a) (i) “India’s inward looking trade policy during the post independence period was well supported by various tariff and non-tariff barriers.” Do…

Yes. India's inward looking trade policy focused on promoting domestic production and reducing reliance on imports. This was achieved through the imposition of tariffs on imported goods, making imports expensive and thereby reducing their demand in the domestic market. Furthermore, non-tariff barriers were levied to restrict the quantity of imported goods, with an aim to shield the domestic firms from foreign competition.

In the post-reform period, Government of India devised Navratna Policy for Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) with an objective to improve efficiency, infuse professionalism and enable them to compete more effectively in the liberalised global environment. Under this policy, the government partly disinvested some PSUs. However, some PSUs were granted greater managerial and operational autonomy and allowed PSUs to raise resources by themselves from financial markets.

The introduction of farm subsidies had been an opinionated step taken by the Government of India.

Arguments in favour of continuing farm subsidies:

Arguments against farm subsidies:

Opening of the Suez Canal provided a direct and shorter trade route for ships operating between Britain and India and avoided the need to sail around Africa. It intensified British control over India’s foreign trade as it reduced the cost of transportation and made access to the Indian market easier. Hence, the Suez Canal was used by the colonial government as a highway to transport goods between India and Britain.