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Economics · 2026 · 4 marks
CBSE 2026 · Region 1 · Set 1 · Q30
(A) State and explain any two changes which were observed in India’s occupational structure during the British Rule.
(A)
State and explain any two changes which were observed in India’s occupational structure during the British Rule.
OR
(B)
“The British sought to achieve their vested interest through their policies of infrastructural development in India.”
Do you agree with the given statement ? Justify your answer with valid explanation.
Marking-scheme solution
(A) During the British rule the occupational structure of India showed regional variation as:
Shift towards Industrial and Service sector: Parts of Madras Presidency, Bombay and Bengal witnessed a decline in the dependence of the workforce on the agricultural sector with a commensurate increase in the manufacturing and the services sectors.
Rising Dependence on Agriculture sector: There had been an increase in the share of workforce in agriculture in states such as Orissa, Rajasthan and Punjab.
(B) Yes. The British developed the basic infrastructure to subserve their own interest. Roads and railways were built primarily to mobilise the army within India, drawing out raw materials from the countryside to the nearest railway station/port for exporting to England/other foreign destinations. Moreover, various communication tools like electric telegraph were introduced to maintain law and order.All Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence questions2026 question paperPractice Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence →
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CBSE Class 12 Economics past-paper question from the 2026 board exam, with the answer as CBSE’s own marking scheme gives it. Where our answers come from.