The economic policies pursued by the colonial government in India were concerned more with the protection and promotion of the economic interests of their home country than with the development of the Indian economy. Such policies transformed the country into a supplier of raw materials and consumer of finished industrial products from Britain.
(a) What was the main concern of the colonial government in India?
(b) According to you, what was the outcome of these economic policies pursued by this government in India?

The British introduced the railways in India in 1850, which is considered as one oftheir most important contribution. The railways affected the structure of the Indian economy in two ways. On the one hand, it enabled people to undertake long distance travel and thereby breaking the geographical and cultural barriers. On the other hand, it fostered 'Commercialisation of Indian Agriculture' which in turn adversely affected the self-sufficiency of the village economy in India.
(a.) Which is the most important contribution of British in India?
(b) Elaborate the two ways in which the railways affected the structure of the Indian economy.