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The Colonial Era in India – Class 8 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 8 Social Science, chapter 4. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

European traders came to India for spices and textiles. The English East India Company, founded in 1600, gradually became a ruling power after the battles of Plassey (1757) and Buxar (1764). Colonial rule changed India's economy, land revenue, industries and society, and led to growing resistance, including the revolt of 1857.

From traders to rulers

Vasco da Gama reached Calicut in 1498; the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French set up trading centres.
The English East India Company won the Battle of Plassey (1757) and the Battle of Buxar (1764), and got the diwani (right to collect revenue) of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha in 1765.
Policies such as the Subsidiary Alliance (Wellesley) and the Doctrine of Lapse (Dalhousie) extended British control.

Impact on the economy

The Permanent Settlement (1793) fixed land revenue with zamindars; high revenue demands burdened peasants.
Cheap British machine-made goods ruined Indian handicrafts and weavers (deindustrialisation).
Dadabhai Naoroji described the 'drain of wealth' from India to Britain; famines caused great suffering.

Resistance and change

Revolts by peasants, tribals and soldiers took place, such as the Paika rebellion in Odisha (1817) and the Santhal Hul (1855).
The revolt of 1857 began at Meerut and spread widely; after it, the British Crown took direct control in 1858.
Railways (from 1853), telegraph and modern education were introduced, mainly to serve colonial interests, but also helped Indians unite later.

Key terms

Colonialism: control by one country over another country's land, people and resources
Diwani: the right to collect land revenue
Doctrine of Lapse: a policy under which a state was annexed if its ruler died without a natural heir
Drain of wealth: the flow of wealth from India to Britain without adequate return

Important questions with answers

What was the diwani, and why was it important?2 marks

The diwani was the right to collect land revenue. In 1765, after the Battle of Buxar, the English East India Company got the diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. It gave the Company huge resources to pay for its trade and army, turning it from a trading company into a ruling power.

Explain the Subsidiary Alliance and the Doctrine of Lapse.3 marks

Under the Subsidiary Alliance, introduced by Lord Wellesley, Indian rulers had to keep British troops in their states and pay for them, and could not make alliances without British permission. Under the Doctrine of Lapse, applied by Lord Dalhousie, if a ruler died without a natural male heir, his kingdom was taken over by the Company. Both policies extended British control.

Describe how the East India Company became the ruler of India and explain the impact of colonial rule on India's economy.5 marks

The English East India Company, founded in 1600, set up trading posts in India. It defeated the Nawab of Bengal at Plassey in 1757 and the combined forces of the Mughal emperor, the Nawab of Awadh and the Nawab of Bengal at Buxar in 1764, and received the diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha in 1765. Through wars, the Subsidiary Alliance and the Doctrine of Lapse, it brought most of India under its control. After the revolt of 1857, the British Crown took over direct rule in 1858. Colonial rule changed India's economy. The Permanent Settlement and other systems imposed heavy land revenue, pushing peasants into debt. Cheap machine-made goods from Britain ruined Indian weavers and artisans, a process called deindustrialisation, while India became a supplier of raw materials such as cotton and indigo. Wealth flowed to Britain, as Dadabhai Naoroji explained in his drain theory, and frequent famines killed millions. Railways and telegraph were built mainly to serve British trade and administration. These hardships led to revolts such as the Paika rebellion and the Santhal Hul, and later to the national movement.

Quick revision

Plassey 1757; Buxar 1764; diwani 1765.
Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse expanded rule.
Deindustrialisation and drain of wealth.
Paika rebellion 1817; revolt of 1857; Crown rule 1858.

Exam tips

Learn the dates in order: 1498, 1600, 1757, 1764, 1765, 1793, 1817, 1853, 1857, 1858.
In impact questions, cover land revenue, crafts, famines and the drain of wealth.

Practice MCQs

The English East India Company was founded in
1. 1498
2. 1600
3. 1757
4. 1857
Show answer
Answer: (b) 1600. It came to trade in Asia.
The Battle of Plassey was fought in
1. 1757
2. 1764
3. 1793
4. 1857
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1757. The Company defeated Siraj-ud-daulah.
The revolt of 1857 began at
1. Calcutta
2. Plassey
3. Meerut
4. Madras
Show answer
Answer: (c) Meerut. Soldiers rose against the Company.
The Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by
1. Wellesley
2. Cornwallis
3. Dalhousie
4. Clive
Show answer
Answer: (c) Dalhousie. States without natural heirs were annexed.
The Permanent Settlement of 1793 was made with
1. zamindars
2. peasants directly
3. village panchayats
4. traders
Show answer
Answer: (a) zamindars. Revenue was fixed permanently.
The Paika rebellion of 1817 took place in
1. Bengal
2. Odisha
3. Punjab
4. Maharashtra
Show answer
Answer: (b) Odisha. It was led by Bakshi Jagabandhu.
The 'drain of wealth' theory was put forward by
1. Raja Rammohun Roy
2. Robert Clive
3. Lord Curzon
4. Dadabhai Naoroji
Show answer
Answer: (d) Dadabhai Naoroji. He showed how wealth flowed to Britain.
Why did Indian handicrafts decline under colonial rule
1. Indians stopped buying cloth
2. the British banned all trade
3. weavers moved abroad
4. cheap machine-made British goods flooded markets while Indian exports faced high duties
Show answer
Answer: (d) cheap machine-made British goods flooded markets while Indian exports faced high duties. This is called deindustrialisation.

All chapters of Class 8 Social Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.