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Answer the following. (Class 12 Economics SQP 2024-25, Q34B)

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EconomicsCBSE Class 12 · Sample paper, session 2024-25 · 6 marks · Long answer

CBSE Class 12 Economics sample paper 2024-25: question 34(B)

From the official CBSE sample question paper for 2024-25, section B, question 34(B), for 6 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q34(B) · 6 marks · Long answerIndian Economy on the Eve of Independence

Answer the following.

  1. (I)

    ‘During the colonial period, India’s foreign trade was characterized by a large export surplus, however, this did not result in any flow of gold or silver into India.’
    Justify the given statement with valid arguments.

    3 marks
  2. (II)

    Explain the rationale behind choosing 'Self-reliance' as a central planning objective in India's development strategy.

    3 marks

Source: official sample paper from cbseacademic.nic.in (PDF). See it in the full Sample paper 2024-25.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

Where did the export earnings go?

Hint 2

Why might reliance on foreign food aid be risky?

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

  1. (I) India had a large export surplus in colonial times, but it did not bring gold or silver into India.

    1 mark

  2. The surplus was used to pay for the expenses of the office set up by the colonial government in Britain, for wars fought by the British government, and for imports of invisible items.

    1 mark

  3. This was a drain of India's wealth to Britain.

    1 mark

  4. (II) Self-reliance was chosen to reduce dependence on foreign countries, especially for food, by mobilising domestic resources.

    1½ marks

  5. It was feared that dependence on imported food, foreign technology and foreign capital would increase foreign interference in India's policies and threaten its sovereignty.

    1½ marks

Answer: (I) The surplus paid for British administration, wars and invisible imports: a drain of wealth. (II) Self-reliance cut dependence on foreign food, technology and capital to avoid foreign interference.

Where the marks are

  • Drain of the export surplus (3)
  • Two reasons for self-reliance (1½ + 1½)

Revise the chapter

Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paperSample paper 2024-25: every question, by section.

The question is transcribed from the official paper; figures are described in words. The solution, hints and chapter tag are ours. Spotted an error? Write tosupport@questionbuddy.in.