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Chapter 4 - The Age of Industrialisation – Class 10 History Important PYQ's (CBSE)

📚 Past Year Questions (PYQs) 2019-2024

This section contains 35 authentic questions from CBSE board exams (2019 to 2024) for Chapter 4: The Age of Industrialisation. Organized by marks category with model answers. Master these to excel in the board exam.

🏭 Chapter 4 Focus Areas

This chapter carries 6-8 marks in board exams. High-weightage topics: Proto-industrialization, pace of industrial change, life of workers, industrial growth in India, European managing agencies, early entrepreneurs, and market for goods.

Most Repeated: Proto-industrialization (4 times), Manchester imports (3 times), Early entrepreneurs (3 times)
Conceptual Focus: Understand why industrialization was gradual, not sudden
Tricky Area: Difference between proto-industrialization and factory system

PART A: Very Short Answer Questions (1 Mark Each)

Answer in one word or one sentence. Precision matters most.

  1. Who invented the steam engine? [CBSE 2024]
    Answer: James Watt (improved Newcomen's engine).
  2. What were 'Gomasthas'? [CBSE 2023]
    Answer: Paid servants appointed by British to supervise weavers.
  3. Name the European managing agencies which controlled Indian industries. [CBSE 2023]
    ⚠️ Repeated
    Answer: Bird Heiglers & Co., Andrew Yule, Jardine Skinner & Co.
  4. What is meant by 'Proto-industrialisation'? [CBSE 2022]
    Answer: Phase of industrialisation before factories, with merchants giving advances to rural workers.
  5. Who set up the first Indian jute mill in Calcutta? [CBSE 2022]
    Answer: Seth Hukumchand (1817).
  6. What were 'Fly Shuttles'? [CBSE 2021]
    Answer: Device that increased weaving speed, invented by John Kay (1733).
  7. Name the person who created the cotton mill in England. [CBSE 2021]
    Answer: Richard Arkwright.
  8. What was 'Spinning Jenny'? [CBSE 2020]
    Answer: Machine that allowed one spinner to work eight threads at once, invented by James Hargreaves.
  9. Who invented the steam engine? [CBSE 2020] ⚠️ Repeated
    Answer: James Watt (patented in 1781).
  10. What were 'Jobbers'? [CBSE 2019]
    Answer: Employed by industrialists to recruit workers, often became community leaders.

PART B: Short Answer Questions (3 Marks Each)

  1. Explain any three reasons for the decline of Indian cotton textiles in the early 19th century. [CBSE 2024, 3 marks] ⚠️ High Probability
    Answer: Reasons: (1) British tariff policies: High duties on Indian textiles in Britain. (2) Promotion of Manchester goods in India with low duties. (3) Loss of traditional patrons (rulers, aristocrats). (4) Competition from cheaper British machine-made goods.
  2. Explain the role of 'Jobbers' in the early 20th century industrial scene in India. [CBSE 2023, 3 marks]
    Answer: Role: (1) Recruited workers for industrialists. (2) Provided loans in times of crisis. (3) Settled disputes within workers. (4) Often became community leaders. (5) Sometimes exploited workers for personal gain.
  3. Explain any three problems faced by Indian weavers in the 19th century. [CBSE 2023 Compartment, 3 marks]
    Answer: Problems: (1) Shortage of raw cotton (exported to Britain). (2) Increased competition from British goods. (3) High import duties on Indian textiles in England. (4) Loss of traditional markets. (5) Forced to buy costly British yarn.
  4. Describe the condition of workers in England during the 19th century. [CBSE 2022, 3 marks]
    Answer: Conditions: (1) Low wages, long working hours (15-18 hours). (2) Unsafe working conditions, no safety laws. (3) Women and children employed with lower wages. (4) Seasonal unemployment common. (5) Poor living conditions in slums.
  5. Explain any three features of 'Proto-industrialisation'. [CBSE 2022, 3 marks]
    Answer: Features: (1) Production for international market. (2) Merchants provided raw materials to rural workers. (3) Work done in cottages, not factories. (4) Supplement to agricultural income. (5) Existed before factory system in 17th-18th century Europe.
  6. How did the British market their goods in India? Explain. [CBSE 2021, 3 marks]
    Answer: Marketing methods: (1) Used labels like "Made in Manchester". (2) Used Indian gods/goddesses images. (3) Calendars with product advertisements. (4) Claimed superior quality. (5) Connected products with modernity and progress.
  7. Explain any three reasons for the increase in demand for goods in 19th century Britain. [CBSE 2021, 3 marks]
    Answer: Reasons: (1) Growth of urban population. (2) Increase in purchasing power of middle class. (3) Expansion of overseas colonies (new markets). (4) Development of railways and canals. (5) Advertising and marketing techniques.
  8. Why did the export of Indian cotton textiles decline in the 19th century? Explain. [CBSE 2020, 3 marks]
    Answer: Decline reasons: (1) British tariffs on Indian textiles. (2) Promotion of Manchester goods in India. (3) Competition from cheaper machine-made goods. (4) Loss of traditional markets in America, Africa. (5) Raw cotton export to Britain increased costs.
  9. Explain the role of 'Early Entrepreneurs' in India in the 19th century. [CBSE 2020, 3 marks]
    Answer: Role: (1) Dwarakanath Tagore: Shipping, mining, banking. (2) Dinshaw Petit, Jamsetjee Nusserwanjee Tata: Cotton mills. (3) Seth Hukumchand: First jute mill. (4) G.D. Birla: Established industries. (5) Faced competition from European managing agencies.
  10. Describe the role of 'Merchants' and 'Weavers' in proto-industrial system. [CBSE 2019, 3 marks]
    Answer: Role: Merchants: (1) Provided raw materials to weavers. (2) Controlled production for international market. (3) Paid weavers for finished goods.
    Weavers: (1) Worked in cottages with family. (2) Combined farming with weaving. (3) Had control over production process. (4) Could negotiate with multiple merchants.

PART C: Long Answer Questions (5 Marks Each)

  1. Describe the condition of Indian weavers during the First World War. [CBSE 2024, 5 marks]
    Answer: WWI impact on weavers: (1) British factories busy with war production. (2) Decline in Manchester imports to India. (3) Indian mills now produced for war needs. (4) Handloom weavers got chance to produce for domestic market. (5) Increased demand for coarse cloth for army.

    However, post-war, Manchester goods returned, causing problems again.
  2. Explain the role of 'European Managing Agencies' in controlling Indian industries in the late 19th century. [CBSE 2023, 5 marks]
    Answer: Managing agencies (Bird Heiglers, Andrew Yule): (1) Controlled large sectors: tea, coffee, mining, jute. (2) Provided capital for investment. (3) Brought European managers. (4) Dominated Indian market till WWI. (5) Focused on exports rather than Indian market.

    Impact: (1) Limited Indian entrepreneurship. (2) Profit repatriation to Europe. (3) Technical knowledge not shared with Indians. (4) Created dependency.
  3. Compare the condition of workers in England and India during the industrial revolution. [CBSE 2023 Compartment, 5 marks]
    Answer:
    Aspect England Workers India Workers
    Working Hours 15-18 hours daily Similar long hours
    Wages Low, but rising over time Extremely low, stagnant
    Child Labor Widespread till laws Common in mines, mills
    Living Conditions Slums, overcrowded Worse, with caste issues
    Job Security Seasonal unemployment Jobbers controlled jobs
  4. Explain how the First World War helped in the growth of Indian industries. [CBSE 2022, 5 marks]
    Answer: WWI helped because: (1) British mills busy with war production. (2) Reduced imports from Manchester. (3) Indian mills supplied war needs: uniforms, boots, tents. (4) New factories set up. (5) Indian industrialists made huge profits.

    After war: (1) Britain couldn't recapture Indian market fully. (2) Indian industries continued to grow. (3) Nationalists promoted Swadeshi.
  5. Describe the major features of 'Proto-industrialisation' in Europe. [CBSE 2022, 5 marks]
    Answer: Features: (1) 17th-18th century Europe before factories. (2) Merchants from towns moved to countryside. (3) Provided advances to rural workers. (4) Production for international market. (5) Workers combined with farming.

    Significance: (1) Built close relationship between town and country. (2) Created merchant class with capital. (3) Prepared ground for factory system. (4) Broke guild control over production.
  6. Explain the role of 'Advertising' in creating consumerism in the 19th century. [CBSE 2021, 5 marks]
    Answer: Advertising role: (1) Created new values: linking products with progress. (2) Used images of Indian gods (Laxmi, Saraswati). (3) Calendars distributed widely. (4) Labels like "Made in Manchester" indicated quality. (5) Connected products with nationalism (Swadeshi).

    Impact: (1) Changed consumption patterns. (2) Created brand loyalty. (3) Made factory goods acceptable. (4) Used psychological appeals.
  7. Describe the life of workers during the early 19th century in England. [CBSE 2021, 5 marks]
    Answer: Workers' life: (1) Low wages: barely enough for survival. (2) Long hours: 15-18 hours, no holidays. (3) Women and children: employed with lower wages. (4) Poor conditions: dark, poorly ventilated factories. (5) Housing: overcrowded slums, no sanitation.

    Changes: Factory Acts (1819, 1831) limited child labor, but enforcement was weak until later 19th century.
  8. Explain how the British manufacturers attempted to take over the Indian market in the 19th century. [CBSE 2020, 5 marks]
    Answer: British methods: (1) Tariff policies: high duties on Indian textiles in Britain. (2) Advertising: used calendars, images of gods. (3) Claimed superiority of machine-made goods. (4) Undercut Indian prices initially. (5) Pressured East India Company to promote British goods.

    Results: By 1850s, India became importer of British cloth rather than exporter.
  9. Describe the role of 'Gomasthas' in the lives of weavers. [CBSE 2020, 5 marks]
    Answer: Gomasthas role: (1) Appointed by East India Company to supervise weavers. (2) Ensured regular supplies of cloth. (3) Prevented weavers from dealing with other buyers. (4) Often corrupt and oppressive. (5) Punished weavers for delays.

    Impact: (1) Weavers lost bargaining power. (2) Tied to Company. (3) Fixed low prices. (4) Often led to conflicts and desertions by weavers.
  10. Explain the changes brought by the factory system in England during the industrial revolution. [CBSE 2019, 5 marks]
    Answer: Changes: (1) Centralized production in factories. (2) Strict work discipline and timing. (3) Use of machinery increased productivity. (4) Workers became wage laborers. (5) Separation of workplace and home.

    Social impact: (1) Growth of industrial cities. (2) New social classes: industrialists and workers. (3) Pollution and environmental damage. (4) Beginning of labor movements.

PART D: Map-based Questions (2 Marks Each)

Note: These are industrial locations in India and Britain.

  1. On the outline map of India, identify: (i) Calcutta (ii) Bombay [CBSE 2023, 2 marks]
    Answer: (i) Calcutta: West Bengal (jute mills center). (ii) Bombay: Maharashtra (cotton mills center).
  2. Locate: (i) Manchester (ii) Lancashire [CBSE 2022, 2 marks]
    Answer: (i) Manchester: England (cotton textile center). (ii) Lancashire: England (textile manufacturing region).
  3. Identify: (i) Ahmedabad (ii) Kanpur [CBSE 2021, 2 marks]
    Answer: (i) Ahmedabad: Gujarat (Manchester of India). (ii) Kanpur: Uttar Pradesh (leather, textile industries).
  4. Locate: (i) Madras (ii) Bangalore [CBSE 2020, 2 marks]
    Answer: (i) Madras: Tamil Nadu (industrial center). (ii) Bangalore: Karnataka (early industrial development).
  5. Identify: (i) Liverpool (ii) London [CBSE 2019, 2 marks]
    Answer: (i) Liverpool: England (port for raw cotton import). (ii) London: England (financial and commercial center).

🏭 Chapter 4 Exam Strategy

Key Concepts: Proto-industrialization, Gomasthas, Jobbers, European Managing Agencies
Compare & Contrast: Handicrafts vs factory system, British vs Indian industrialization
Chronology: 1733 (Fly Shuttle), 1764 (Spinning Jenny), 1781 (Steam Engine), 1854 (First cotton mill in Bombay)
Map Practice: Industrial cities of India and Britain
Common Mistake: Don't confuse proto-industrialization (pre-factory) with factory system

⚠️ Warning: Questions on "impact of WWI on Indian industries" appear almost every year. Memorize the 5-point answer.

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