Question

The export surplus during the colonial rule was used by the Britishers to __________ .

(i) Bring gold and silver to India

(ii) Incur expenses on war

(iii) Import invisible items

(Choose the correct option to fill in the blank)

• A. Only (i)
• B. (i) and (ii)
• C. (i) and (iii)
• D. (ii) and (iii)

Hint:

The export surplus paid for wars and invisible items, and did not bring gold or silver into India. So (ii) and (iii) are right.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Recall export surplus:
Export surplus means exports of goods were more than imports. Under colonial rule India had a large surplus of this kind.

Step 2: Where the surplus went:
The surplus did not bring gold or silver into India. It was used to meet the cost of the colonial government in Britain and to pay for wars.
It also paid for the import of invisible items such as the Home Charges, which are payments for services.

Step 3: Check each item:
(i) Bring gold and silver to India: false. No such inflow came, so (i) is wrong.
(ii) Incur expenses on war: true. The British fought wars outside India from this surplus.
(iii) Import invisible items: true. Payments for services and for interest were made from it.

Step 4: Match with the options:
(A) Only (i) and (B) (i) and (ii) and (C) (i) and (iii) all carry (i), which is false.
(D) (ii) and (iii) is correct.

Final Answer:
Option (D): (ii) and (iii).