India’s foreign trade structure changed significantly under British rule. During the colonial period, what kind of goods did India primarily export?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) Raw materials
Explanation:
· Under British colonial rule, India was turned into a supplier of raw materials for British industries.
· Major exports included cotton, jute, indigo, opium, sugar, raw silk, spices, tea, and agricultural commodities.
· India became a market for British manufactured goods, destroying local industries like textiles.
· The colonial trade policy ensured drain of wealth, deindustrialization, and dependence on agriculture.
· Britain benefited from cheap Indian raw materials and sold finished products back to India at high prices.
Information Booster:
· The British followed a “one-way free trade” structure favoring British industry.
· Indian handicrafts collapsed due to heavy imports of British machine-made goods.
· The railways were introduced partly to ease transport of raw materials to ports.
· India’s export pattern shifted from manufactured goods (pre-colonial) to raw materials (colonial).
Additional Knowledge:
· Capital goods – India did not produce or export these under British rule.
· Manufactured goods – This was India’s export strength before colonization, not during.
· Automobiles – Impossible; no automobile industry existed in British India.