Key MCQ Questions for Class 10 Social Science The Age of Industrialisation
FAQs on Class 10 Social Science MCQs for The Age of Industrialisation - CBSE 2025-26
1. What is meant by 'proto-industrialisation'? Explain its significance in the context of the CBSE Class 10 syllabus for the 2025-26 exams.
Proto-industrialisation refers to the phase of industrialisation that existed even before the establishment of factories in England and Europe. It was a decentralised system of production where merchants supplied raw materials to peasants and artisans in the countryside, who then produced goods for an international market. Its significance lies in creating a vast network of commercial exchange and providing a foundation for the later factory system. For a 3-mark question, you should mention the role of merchants and the involvement of rural populations.
2. How did the East India Company procure regular supplies of cotton and silk textiles from Indian weavers?
This is a frequently asked 5-mark question. The East India Company implemented a series of measures to assert a monopoly over the textile trade:
Elimination of Competition: They eliminated existing traders and brokers connected with the cloth trade to establish direct control.
Appointment of Gomasthas: They appointed paid servants called gomasthas to supervise weavers, collect supplies, and examine the quality of the cloth. These gomasthas often acted arrogantly and punished weavers for delays.
Advance Loan System: Weavers were given loans to purchase raw materials. However, those who took loans were bound to sell their finished products only to the gomastha and could not sell to any other buyer.
3. Why did industrial production in Britain not grow as rapidly as is often believed? Explain with two examples.
Contrary to popular belief, the growth of industrial production in Britain was gradual. This is a key concept for scoring well in exams.
Dominance of Traditional Industries: New industries like cotton and metal could not easily displace traditional industries. At the end of the 19th century, less than 20% of the total workforce was employed in technologically advanced industrial sectors.
Slow Pace of Technological Change: New technologies were expensive, and industrialists were cautious about using them. The steam engine, for example, was not widely adopted for years as its initial improvements by James Watt were slow to be perfected and implemented.
4. What was the impact of the import of Manchester cloth on the Indian weavers? This is an expected question for the board exams.
The import of machine-made textiles from Manchester had a devastating impact on Indian weavers. This is a critical topic for the board exam.
Collapse of the Export Market: The influx of cheap, machine-made Manchester goods flooded the Indian market, making it impossible for Indian weavers' hand-woven cloth to compete.
Shortage of Raw Materials: As raw cotton exports from India to Britain increased, Indian weavers were deprived of sufficient supply and were forced to buy raw cotton at exorbitant prices.
De-industrialisation: Many weavers abandoned their ancestral profession and became agricultural labourers, while some migrated to newly established cities in search of work.
5. Who was a 'jobber'? Explain their functions as an important part of the Indian industrial setup.
A jobber was an old and trusted worker employed by industrialists to recruit new workers. This is a common 3-mark question. Their functions were:
Recruitment: They got people from their villages, ensuring them jobs in the mills.
Financial Support: They often helped workers settle in the city and provided them with money in times of crisis.
Authority and Control: The jobber exercised considerable power and often began demanding money and gifts for their favour, thereby controlling the lives of the workers.
6. Why did some British industrialists in the nineteenth century prefer hand labour over machines?
This is a Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) question. Industrialists preferred hand labour for several reasons:
Abundance of Labour: There was a large supply of cheap labour available, so there was no shortage of workers.
High Cost of Machines: New machines were expensive, and their repair was costly. Industrialists were cautious about investing huge sums in them.
Seasonal Demand: In many industries like gas works, breweries, and book-binding, the demand for labour was seasonal. It was more profitable to employ workers only for the season rather than invest in machines.
Demand for Intricate Designs: In Victorian Britain, the upper classes preferred things produced by hand for their quality and intricate designs, which machines could not replicate.
7. What methods were used by manufacturers to create new markets and promote sales in nineteenth-century India?
To expand their markets, British manufacturers used several methods to attract Indian consumers:
Labelling: Cloth bundles were marked with labels. The 'Made in Manchester' label became a symbol of quality, instilling confidence in buyers.
Use of Images: Labels often carried images of Indian gods and goddesses, like Krishna or Saraswati, to make the products appeal to the religious sentiments of the people.
Calendars: Manufacturers printed calendars to popularise their products. Unlike newspapers, calendars were used even by people who couldn't read and were hung in homes, shops, and tea stalls, serving as a constant advertisement.
8. From an exam perspective, what are the key differences between industrialisation in Britain and industrialisation in India under colonial rule?
This is a crucial comparative question for a 5-mark answer. The key difference is that industrialisation in Britain was a natural process of economic growth, whereas in India, it was shaped by colonial interests.
In Britain: The focus was on machine production, factory growth, and capturing international markets. It led to the rise of a new industrial working class and urbanisation.
In India: The age of Indian textiles declined in the face of competition from Manchester goods. Industrial growth was limited to certain sectors and was often financed by British capital. Instead of progress, it led to the decline of traditional crafts and created a workforce dependent on colonial industries or agriculture.
