The Age of Industrialization – Short Answer Type Questions
Class 10
Social Science – History
NCERT • CBSE Board Exams
Chapter 4 – The Age of Industrialization
Book: India and the Contemporary World – II
Topics: Before the Industrial Revolution • Hand Labour and Steam Power • Industrialization in the Colonies • Factories Come Up • The Peculiarities of Industrial Growth • Market for Goods
Topics: Before the Industrial Revolution • Hand Labour and Steam Power • Industrialization in the Colonies • Factories Come Up • The Peculiarities of Industrial Growth • Market for Goods
Suitable for CBSE Examination Preparation:
- CBSE Class 10 Board Examination – Social Science (History)
- Annual / Term-End School Examinations
- Class Tests, Pre-Boards and Assignment Practice
- Competency-based and Short Answer Type Question Practice
CBSE Class 10 History – Chapter 4: The Age of Industrialization (Short Answer Type Questions with Answers)
The following 50 Short Answer Type Questions with clear, easy-to-understand answers are designed strictly as per the NCERT textbook for Class 10 History – Chapter 4: The Age of Industrialization. They are ideal for CBSE Board exam preparation, school tests and structured revision.
A. Before the Industrial Revolution
Questions 1 to 10 cover proto-industrialisation, merchants, rural households and the putting-out system in Europe.
Q1. Define proto-industrialisation. How was it different from factory-based industrialisation?
Ans. Proto-industrialisation was the early phase of industrialisation in which
goods were produced on a large scale for the international market but mostly in the countryside.
Production took place in rural households under the control of merchants, not in big factories.
Unlike factory-based industrialisation, workers used their own tools at home and were not gathered under
one roof with machines.
Q2. Why did rich merchants in eighteenth-century Europe shift production from towns to the countryside?
Ans. In towns, production was controlled by guilds that limited the number of
producers and restricted the use of new techniques. Merchants who wanted to expand production and earn
from growing world trade found this system too rigid. By moving to the countryside, they could hire
cheap, flexible rural labour and organise production free from guild rules.
Q3. Explain the working of the “putting-out” system with reference to the proto-industrial period.
Ans. Under the putting-out system, a merchant clothier supplied raw material
such as wool or cotton to rural households. The peasants and their family members spun and wove cloth in their
homes during their spare time. They then returned the finished product to the merchant in exchange for
wages. The merchant controlled the process, decided the product type and sold the goods in distant markets.
Q4. How did proto-industrialisation affect the lives of rural peasants?
Ans. Proto-industrialisation gave peasants an additional source of income besides farming.
Many families used the labour of women and children to spin and weave at home. However, it also made them
dependent on merchant capital, because merchants decided the price, supplied raw material and sometimes
delayed payments. Their economic life became linked to fluctuations in distant markets.
Q5. What were guilds? Why did merchants often clash with guilds in European towns?
Ans. Guilds were associations of artisans and producers that regulated production
in towns. They controlled quality, fixed prices and often restricted entry into particular trades.
Merchants clashed with guilds because guild rules prevented them from expanding production quickly,
employing more workers, or introducing new methods to meet the growing demand of overseas markets.
Q6. Give two reasons why rural households in Europe agreed to work for merchants.
Ans. First, the population in rural Europe was rising and land was scarce, so many
peasants could not make a living only from agriculture. Second, working for merchants allowed families
to earn cash income while staying in their villages. It used family labour productively during
slack agricultural seasons and reduced their dependence on land alone.
Q7. How did proto-industrialisation lay the foundation for factory industrialisation?
Ans. Proto-industrialisation created a class of wealthy merchants who controlled
trade and production and accumulated capital. It also brought large numbers of workers under a system
of wage labour, familiarising them with commercial work. When new machines and factories appeared,
these merchants had the money and the workers had the experience to move into factory-based industrialisation.
Q8. In what way did proto-industrial production differ from small-scale craft production in towns?
Ans. Town crafts were regulated by guilds and aimed mainly at local markets.
Proto-industrial production, on the other hand, was organised by merchant capitalists and was largely
aimed at international markets. It used dispersed rural labour working at home, instead of artisan
masters working in small town workshops under guild control.
Q9. Why is the proto-industrial phase important for understanding the later Industrial Revolution?
Ans. The proto-industrial phase shows that industrialisation was not a sudden break, but a
long historical process. It prepared the economic and social ground for factories by building
networks of production, credit and trade, creating a wage-earning workforce and concentrating capital in
the hands of merchants who later became industrialists.
Q10. How did the expansion of world trade in the eighteenth century encourage proto-industrialisation?
Ans. As European countries captured colonies, demand for textiles and other goods in the
world market increased. Merchants needed more goods than town artisans could produce under guild
restrictions. To meet this growing demand, they moved to the countryside, recruited rural households and
started large-scale domestic production, which we call proto-industrialisation.
B. Hand Labour and Steam Power
Questions 11 to 20 focus on early factories, machines, hand labour, working conditions and steam power.
Q11. Why did hand labour remain important in Britain even after the introduction of machines?
Ans. Hand labour remained important because many goods were produced for a small,
specialised market and required careful finishing which machines could not easily provide. Britain
also had a large pool of cheap labour, so for some products it was cheaper to employ hand
workers than to invest in expensive machines. Seasonal demand in some industries also made flexible
hand labour more suitable than fixed machines.
Q12. How did the Industrial Revolution change the organisation of production?
Ans. Production shifted from small, scattered workshops and homes to large factories.
A large number of workers and big machines were brought together under one roof. Production became more
centralised, disciplined and time-bound. Managers could supervise workers more closely and coordinate
different stages of production more efficiently.
Q13. Give any three reasons why some people in Europe opposed the use of machines.
Ans. Firstly, many workers feared that machines would take away their jobs, leading
to unemployment. Secondly, machine-based factory work often meant longer working hours and stricter
discipline. Thirdly, traditional artisans felt that machines would destroy their skills and status as
craftsmen, reducing their importance in society.
Q14. Describe any three hardships faced by workers in early industrial Britain.
Ans. Workers often worked for 14–16 hours a day in unsafe factories with poor light
and ventilation. Wages were low and irregular, especially when trade was slow. They had no job security,
and in times of overproduction or economic crisis they could be easily dismissed, forcing them into hunger
and unemployment.
Q15. Why did many upper- and middle-class people in Europe prefer hand-made goods even when machines existed?
Ans. The wealthy associated hand-made goods with quality, artistic skill and refinement.
They believed that machine-made goods were cheap and ordinary, while hand-crafted items were unique and
luxurious. Buying such goods allowed them to display their status, taste and social superiority in society.
Q16. How did the invention of the steam engine revolutionise production?
Ans. The steam engine provided a powerful and reliable source of energy that did not depend on
human or animal muscle, or on the flow of water. It allowed factories to be located in urban centres,
run larger machines and operate for longer hours. This resulted in a great increase in the scale and speed
of production across several industries, especially textiles, mining and transport.
Q17. Explain the role of James Watt in the history of industrialisation.
Ans. James Watt improved the existing Newcomen steam engine by making it more efficient
and practical for industrial use. His separate condenser design reduced fuel consumption and allowed
steam power to be widely used in factories, mines and transport. Watt’s engine became a symbol of the
Industrial Revolution and helped spread steam-based industrialisation.
Q18. What kind of industries adopted machines more quickly and why?
Ans. Industries that produced for a mass market and required uniform, standardised
goods adopted machines more quickly. For example, cotton textile mills used spinning and weaving machines
to produce large quantities of cloth at a lower cost. The high initial investment in machines could be
recovered because they produced huge volumes of goods for expanding markets at home and abroad.
Q19. Why was the demand for labour in Britain often unstable in the early industrial period?
Ans. Demand for labour depended on fluctuations in trade and production. In times of
war or economic crisis, exports fell, factories reduced output and many workers were dismissed. Seasonal
industries also required more workers only at certain times. As a result, workers experienced periods of
employment and unemployment, making their lives insecure and uncertain.
Q20. How did workers try to improve their conditions in the early industrial period?
Ans. Workers protested against low wages and long hours by striking, destroying machines
and sometimes rioting. Over time, they formed trade unions to negotiate with employers and demand
better wages, shorter working hours and safer conditions. These collective actions pressured governments to
introduce some labour laws and regulations.
C. Industrialization in the Colonies (India)
Questions 21 to 30 deal with industrialisation under colonial rule, Indian textiles, British policies and early mills.
Q21. Describe the position of Indian textiles in the world market before British industrialisation.
Ans. Before British industrialisation, Indian textiles, especially cotton and silk, were
renowned for their fine quality and craftsmanship. Muslins from Dacca, chintz, calicos and other fabrics
were exported to Europe, Africa and Asia. European traders and companies like the East India Company
earned huge profits by exporting Indian cloth to the world market.
Q22. How did British industrialisation lead to the decline of Indian handloom textiles?
Ans. As British factories produced machine-made textiles, British industrialists wanted
to protect their industry and capture markets. High import duties were imposed on Indian textiles
entering Britain, while British cloth was allowed into India at low duties. Cheap British cloth flooded
the Indian market, reducing the demand for Indian handloom products and weakening traditional weaving.
Q23. Explain how Indian weavers were affected by British control over the cloth trade.
Ans. British traders and “gomasthas” began to directly control weavers. They gave advances to
weavers and forced them to weave cloth only for their agencies, often at low rates. Weavers lost the
freedom to sell to other buyers, and many became indebted. With the entry of cheap machine-made cloth,
they faced declining incomes, unemployment or were forced to shift to agriculture.
Q24. When and where was the first steam-powered cotton mill set up in India? What was its significance?
Ans. The first steam-powered cotton mill in India was set up in Bombay (Mumbai) in the 1850s.
Bombay’s location as a port city and its access to raw cotton made it an ideal centre. This mill marked
the beginning of modern factory industry in India and showed that, despite colonial controls, Indian
entrepreneurs could start industrial ventures.
Q25. Why did jute mills develop particularly in Bengal?
Ans. Bengal had natural advantages for jute: the region produced abundant raw jute and
had a network of rivers for cheap transport. It was also close to the port of Calcutta (Kolkata), from
where jute products could be easily exported to Britain and other countries. These factors encouraged the
growth of jute mills in Bengal.
Q26. Who were “agency houses” and what role did they play in colonial India’s economy?
Ans. Agency houses were large European trading firms that managed trade, finance and
sometimes industrial enterprises like tea plantations and jute mills. They arranged shipping, extended
loans, managed production and controlled exports. Their dominance meant that much of India’s industrial
and commercial activity remained under foreign control.
Q27. Explain briefly the contribution of Indian entrepreneurs to early industrial development.
Ans. Indian entrepreneurs, such as Dwarkanath Tagore and later the Tata family, invested in
shipping, coal mines, cotton and jute mills. Many of them had earlier worked as intermediaries for the
British, gained experience and capital, and then used their profits to start Indian-owned factories.
They played a key role in building modern industries despite colonial restrictions.
Q28. How did colonial policies create an “unequal partnership” between Britain and India in industrial matters?
Ans. Colonial policies promoted British industrial interests. India had to export raw materials
like cotton and jute at low prices and import British manufactured goods at high prices. Tariff policies
favoured British imports and discouraged Indian industries. This “unequal partnership” made India a
supplier of raw materials and a market for British goods, limiting independent industrial growth in India.
Q29. Why did many Indian industrialists support the nationalist movement?
Ans. Indian industrialists were hurt by colonial policies that favoured British firms. They faced
barriers in some sectors and heavy competition from cheap British goods. They hoped that a free and
independent India would give better protection to Indian industries and allow them to expand. Therefore,
they supported the nationalist movement and demanded economic self-reliance and protection.
Q30. In what ways was industrialisation in India different from that in Britain?
Ans. In Britain, industrialisation was driven by domestic capital and technological change.
In India, it was shaped by colonial interests. Indian industries developed later, in limited sectors
like cotton and jute, under foreign dominance. While Britain used colonies to support its industrialisation,
India was used mainly as a supplier of raw materials and a market, so its industrial growth was slower
and more restricted.
D. Factories Come Up
Questions 31 to 38 highlight early factories, Indian industrialists, workers and jobbers.
Q31. Who were the main groups that invested in factories in India in the nineteenth century?
Ans. Investment came from British managing agencies, Indian merchants who had made
money in trade, and traditional bankers and moneylenders. Some Indian business families that had earlier
worked with European companies used their profits to start cotton mills, jute mills and other factories.
Q32. From where did factories in cities like Bombay and Calcutta recruit most of their workers?
Ans. Factories mainly recruited workers from surrounding villages and small towns.
Rural poverty, lack of land and indebtedness pushed many peasants to migrate to industrial centres in
search of jobs. Over time, specific regions became linked with particular industries, and workers
maintained ties with their home villages while working in cities.
Q33. Who was a “jobber”? Explain his role in Indian factories.
Ans. A jobber was a recruitment agent and supervisor in Indian factories. He used his
social connections in villages to bring workers to the mills. Inside the factory, he often decided who
would get jobs, helped workers settle and sometimes controlled their behaviour. Jobbers could be very
influential, and workers often depended on them for employment and favours.
Q34. Describe the living conditions of industrial workers in early Indian cities.
Ans. Workers typically lived in overcrowded chawls or slums with poor sanitation and
limited water supply. Rooms were small and shared by many people. Diseases spread easily due to lack of
cleanliness. Rents were high compared to wages, so workers spent a large part of their income on housing
and struggled to maintain a decent standard of living.
Q35. Why were factory workers in India always insecure about their jobs?
Ans. Demand for industrial goods was not steady. During times of low demand or economic crisis,
mills often retrenched workers. There was no legal protection or job security. Employers could dismiss
workers easily, and a large reserve of unemployed labour meant workers could quickly be replaced. This
made employment highly insecure and uncertain for factory workers.
Q36. How did workers resist exploitation in factories in India?
Ans. Workers voiced their grievances through strikes, protests and collective actions.
They sometimes resorted to demonstrations, refusal to work, and later formed workers’ organisations and
unions to demand better wages, reduced working hours and improved conditions. Such struggles gradually
drew attention to labour issues in colonial India.
Q37. In what ways did industrialisation change the social composition of cities like Bombay?
Ans. Industrialisation led to a rapid growth of urban population. Large numbers of rural
migrants settled in the city to work in mills and docks. New social groups emerged – industrial workers,
clerks, managers and industrialists. Traditional occupations declined, and the city became marked by sharp
contrasts between wealthy business districts and poor working-class neighbourhoods.
Q38. Why were Indian factories often set up near ports or railway lines?
Ans. Ports and railway lines made it easier to import raw materials and export finished goods.
Locating factories near transport facilities reduced costs and time. For example, cotton mills in Bombay
were close to both cotton-growing areas and the port, while jute mills in Bengal were near the port of
Kolkata and river routes, making industrial operations more efficient.
E. The Peculiarities of Industrial Growth
Questions 39 to 44 focus on patterns of industrial growth, war-time boom and sectors that expanded.
Q39. Why is industrial growth in India during colonial rule described as “peculiar”?
Ans. Industrial growth was “peculiar” because it did not follow a smooth, independent pattern.
It was shaped by colonial needs and world market conditions. Growth was uneven – some sectors like
cotton and jute expanded, while heavy industries grew slowly. The pace of growth often depended on
events like wars or global depressions, rather than on domestic policies aimed at national development.
Q40. How did the First World War stimulate industrial growth in India?
Ans. During the First World War, imports of manufactured goods from Britain fell sharply because
British factories were busy with war production. Indian industries had to supply cloth, jute bags and
other goods for the war and for local consumers. This led to a rapid increase in production, more
employment and the opening of new factories, giving a strong temporary boost to Indian industry.
Q41. What happened to Indian industries after the First World War ended?
Ans. After the war, imports of British goods into India restarted, and Indian industries again
faced stiff competition from cheaper machine-made products. Some factories experienced reduced demand
and had to cut production or lay off workers. However, Indian industries had become somewhat stronger
during the war, and Indian industrialists now demanded protection against foreign competition.
Q42. Which sectors of Indian industry saw comparatively faster growth under colonial rule?
Ans. The cotton textile industry in Bombay and Ahmedabad and the jute industry in Bengal
saw relatively faster growth, as they produced goods that were in demand both in India and abroad. Some
consumer goods industries like soap, match, flour and oil mills also expanded to serve the domestic
market, especially in the early twentieth century.
Q43. Why did heavy industries develop slowly in India during the colonial period?
Ans. Heavy industries like steel and machinery needed large investments, advanced technology
and state support. The colonial government was primarily interested in serving British economic interests,
not in developing an independent industrial base in India. As a result, only a few heavy industries, such
as Tata Steel, could develop, and overall growth in this sector remained limited and slow.
Q44. How did Indian industrialists respond to foreign competition in the early twentieth century?
Ans. Indian industrialists improved the quality and range of their products, invested in
new technologies and organised themselves to demand protective tariffs from the colonial government.
Some of them supported the Swadeshi and nationalist movements, encouraging Indians to buy locally-made
goods and reduce dependence on foreign products. This helped Indian industries gain wider support at home.
F. Market for Goods
Questions 45 to 50 relate to branding, advertisements, labels, calendars and the creation of consumers.
Q45. Why did industrialists feel the need to create a market for their goods in colonial India?
Ans. With more factories producing similar goods, industrialists faced competition, so they needed
to persuade people to choose their products. Many consumers were used to traditional handmade goods
and were suspicious of machine-made items. Therefore, industrialists used various ways to create demand,
trust and desire for their brands, turning ordinary people into regular consumers of industrial products.
Q46. How were labels used as a tool for advertising and branding of cloth bundles?
Ans. Labels attached to cloth bundles carried the brand name, logo and attractive images.
They signalled quality and helped customers identify a particular manufacturer in crowded markets. Some
labels used Indian motifs, gods or national symbols to appeal to local buyers. Over time, these visuals
made certain brands more recognisable and trustworthy in the eyes of consumers.
Q47. Why did foreign manufacturers often use images of Indian gods and goddesses on their labels?
Ans. Foreign manufacturers wanted to make their goods appear familiar and acceptable to
Indian buyers. By using images of popular gods and goddesses, they tried to connect their products with
religious respect and cultural identity. These images suggested that using their cloth or products was
compatible with Indian traditions and beliefs, encouraging more people to buy them.
Q48. How did calendars and posters become powerful tools of advertisement?
Ans. Calendars and posters were distributed freely to shops and households. They were hung on
walls and remained visible throughout the year. By combining pictures of gods, national leaders or
attractive scenes with brand names, they kept the product constantly in people’s minds. Thus, calendars
and posters turned everyday spaces into permanent advertising sites.
Q49. What kind of messages did advertisements try to convey about industrial products?
Ans. Advertisements suggested that industrial products were linked with modernity, progress,
health and prosperity. Images often showed happy, well-dressed families or strong, heroic figures using
the product. Some advertisements implied that buying a certain brand could bring good luck, status or
national pride, thereby influencing people’s aspirations and choices.
Q50. In what sense did advertisements help “create” a market for goods in colonial India?
Ans. Advertisements taught people to recognise and desire particular brands. They turned simple
items like cloth, soap or oil into must-have products associated with status, cleanliness or patriotism.
By shaping tastes and preferences, advertisements gradually changed consumer habits and expanded the
demand for industrial goods, thereby creating and enlarging the market for these products in colonial India.
These 50 Short Answer Type Questions and Answers closely follow NCERT Class 10 History – Chapter 4: The Age of Industrialization and are ideal for CBSE Board exams, classroom tests and systematic chapter-wise revision.