Question

During British occupation of India, the new social classes in urban areas consisted mainly of:
• [A.] The modern class of capitalists
• [B.] The working class
• [C.] The petty traders
• [D.] The agricultural labourers Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. B, C and D only
• B. A, C and D only
• C. A, B and C only
• D. A, B and D only

Hint:

Remember the major urban social classes during British India: \[ \boxed{ \begin{aligned} &\text{Capitalists}, &\text{Industrial Working Class}, &\text{Petty Traders}, &\text{Professionals and Middle Class}. \end{aligned} } \] Agricultural labourers belonged to the rural social structure and are therefore excluded.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: British colonial rule transformed the economic and social structure of India. The growth of industries, trade, railways, ports, and modern administration led to the emergence of new urban social classes. These classes were associated with industrialization and commercial expansion rather than agriculture. The major urban social classes included:
• Modern industrial capitalists,
• Industrial working class,
• Petty traders and shopkeepers,
• Professionals such as lawyers, teachers, doctors, and civil servants. Agricultural labourers, however, belonged primarily to the rural economy and were not considered a new urban social class.

Step 1: Examine each of the given classes. \[ \begin{aligned} \text{Modern class of capitalists} &\rightarrow \text{Urban social class}, \text{Working class} &\rightarrow \text{Urban industrial class}, \text{Petty traders} &\rightarrow \text{Urban commercial class}, \text{Agricultural labourers} &\rightarrow \text{Primarily rural class}. \end{aligned} \]

Step 2: Identify the classes that emerged mainly in urban areas. The modern class of capitalists, the working class, and petty traders were all products of urban industrial and commercial development under British rule. Hence, \[ \boxed{ \text{A, B and C only} } \] This corresponds to \[ \boxed{\text{(C) A, B and C only}} \]