Question

Explain any two objectives which British intend to achieve through their policy of infrastructure in India.

Hint:

Name two aims. One: move the army and carry raw materials to ports for export. Two: use the telegraph to keep law and order and control the administration.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understand the question:
Under colonial rule the British did build roads, railways, ports and telegraph lines in India. We must name two aims the British had behind this policy and explain each.
The 4 marks are split as 2 marks for each objective.

Step 2: Objective 1 - Moving the army and raw materials:
The British built roads and railways mainly to move their army quickly from one part of India to another. This helped them hold on to power.
The same roads and railways carried raw materials from the countryside to the nearest railway station or port. From there the goods were shipped to England and other foreign countries.
So the aim was to serve the British trade and military, not the Indian people.

Step 3: Objective 2 - Strengthening control over the country:
The British introduced communication tools such as the electric telegraph. Orders and news could now travel fast across the country.
This made it easier to keep law and order and to run the administration firmly.

Final Answer:
The two objectives were (1) to move the army and carry raw materials to ports for export, and (2) to strengthen administrative control and law and order through the telegraph.