Critically appraise some of the shortfalls of the industrial policy pursued by the British colonial administration.

The state of Industrial sector on the eve of independence was as follows:

De industrialisation- British followed systematic de-industrialisation by destroying the handicraft industry. The primary motive behind deindustrialisation was twofold:

(i)                 To get raw material from India at cheap rate and to make India an exporter of raw material for British Industries

(ii)               To sell British manufactured goods in Indian Market at higher prices in this way they exploited India through the device of double taxation.

Lopsided industrial structure- British rulers did not develop modern industries nor did they develop heavy industries. Industrial development was unbalanced and lopsided. Agricultural based industries like cotton textile and Jute industries were started during 1850-55 in India. Capital goods industries were lacking.