"The Age of Industrialisation" for Class 10 CBSE History:

Extra 30 short-answer questions from the chapter

1-10: Pre-Industrialization and Early Industrial Growth

What was the condition of industries before the Industrial Revolution?
➤ Answer: Before the Industrial Revolution, most industries were based on handicrafts and small-scale production in homes or workshops. The cottage industry and guilds controlled production.

 

What were guilds?
➤ Answer: Guilds were associations of craftsmen and traders that regulated quality, wages, and prices of goods. They controlled trade before industrialization.

 

Why did merchants turn to the countryside for production in the 18th century?
➤ Answer:

Urban guilds restricted expansion of trade.

Cheap labour was available in villages.

Merchants could control production and reduce costs.

 

What was the Spinning Jenny?
➤ Answer: The Spinning Jenny was an invention by James Hargreaves (1764) that allowed a single worker to spin multiple threads at once, increasing productivity in textile industries.

 

How did steam power revolutionize industries?
➤ Answer:

Increased production speed in factories.

Machines replaced manual labour, reducing costs.

Enabled mass production of goods.

Why did industrialization start in Britain?
➤ Answer:

Availability of coal and iron.

Technological advancements (steam engine, power loom).

Strong banking system for investment.

 

What role did railways play in industrialization?
➤ Answer:

Helped transport raw materials and finished goods faster.

Expanded markets and trade.

Encouraged urbanization and industrial growth.

 

Why were factories initially opposed by some people?
➤ Answer:

Workers feared job loss due to machines.

Handloom weavers and artisans suffered.

Poor working conditions in early factories.

 

How did industrialization change the social structure?
➤ Answer:

Growth of the working class and capitalist class.

Urbanization increased.

Women and children were employed in large numbers.

 

What was the Luddite Movement?
➤ Answer: It was a protest by skilled workers in Britain (1811-1817) against machines that replaced their jobs.

11-20: Industrialization and Its Impact on India

Who set up the first cotton textile mill in India and when?
➤ Answer: Cowasji Nanabhoy Davar set up the first mill in Bombay (1854).

What impact did British rule have on Indian industries?
➤ Answer:

Decline of handicrafts due to cheap machine-made imports.

High taxes on Indian goods but free trade for British products.

Raw materials exported, reducing local industrial growth.

 

Why did Indian weavers face hardship in the 19th century?
➤ Answer:

British textiles flooded the market, reducing demand for hand-woven cloth.

British controlled raw material prices, making it expensive for weavers.

Heavy taxation on Indian goods.

 

What was the Swadeshi Movement? How did it help Indian industries?
➤ Answer:

Encouraged boycott of British goods and promoted Indian-made products.

Increased demand for Indian textiles and small-scale industries.

Inspired Indian entrepreneurs like Tata and Birla.

 

Which were the major Indian industrial centres during British rule?
➤ Answer:

Bombay and Ahmedabad (Textiles)

Calcutta (Jute)

Jamshedpur (Steel – TISCO)

 

What role did the Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO) play in Indian industrialization?
➤ Answer:

Established in 1907 by Jamsetji Tata.

Reduced India's dependence on British steel.

Provided employment and technological advancement.

 

Why did Indian businessmen face difficulties under British rule?
➤ Answer:

British policies favoured British industries over Indian ones.

High import duties were imposed on Indian goods.

No financial support from British banks.

 

Why did Indian industries grow during World War I?
➤ Answer:

British factories focused on war production, reducing imports to India.

Indian factories filled the gap in textile and steel production.

Increased demand for Indian industrial goods.

 

What were the effects of industrialization on Indian society?
➤ Answer:

Growth of factories and urban centres.

Decline of cottage industries.

Increase in working-class population.

 

What was the role of trade unions in industrialized India?
➤ Answer:

Fought for better wages and working conditions.

Opposed child labour and long working hours.

Organized protests and strikes against unfair treatment.

21-30: Labour System and Social Changes

What were the working conditions in early factories?
➤ Answer:

Long working hours (12-14 hours).

Low wages and job insecurity.

Poor sanitation and safety standards.

 

Why was child labour common in early factories?
➤ Answer:

Children were cheap labour.

Easier to control by factory owners.

Required for small and delicate machine work.

 

How did industrialization lead to urbanization?
➤ Answer:

Factories attracted workers, increasing city populations.

New transport systems helped connect cities.

Growth of slums due to rapid migration.

 

How did industrialization affect women workers?
➤ Answer:

Employed in textile and garment factories.

Paid lower wages than men.

Faced long hours and unsafe working conditions.

 

What laws were introduced to improve labour conditions?
➤ Answer:

Factory Act of 1819 (regulated child labour).

Factory Act of 1847 (reduced working hours).

Trade union laws (gave workers rights to protest).

How did industrialization create a new middle class?
➤ Answer:

Rise of factory owners and entrepreneurs.

More educated professionals (bankers, managers).

Increased demand for skilled workers.

 

Why did industrialists prefer machines over hand labour?
➤ Answer:

Machines produced goods faster.

Reduced labour costs.

Helped in mass production.

 

What was the main source of energy for early industries?
➤ Answer: Coal and steam power.

 

Which city in India became famous for its jute industry?
➤ Answer: Calcutta (Kolkata).

 

Which Indian industry was most affected by British policies?
➤ Answer: Textile industry.