Presented at Refresher Course (ONLINE MODE) on the theme of Historical Studies in the Digital Information Era organized by the Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC) of Madurai Kamaraj University during 16-29 September, 2022

1. Economic History of India
Problems and Potentials
Dr. C. Muthuraja
Head, Post Graduate and Research Department of Economics
The American College, Madurai - 625 002, Tamil Nadu
(cmuthuraja@gmail.com) - (M-09486373765)
(Presented at Refresher Course (ONLINE MODE) on the theme of Historical Studies in the Digital
Information Era organized by the Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC) of Madurai Kamaraj
University during 16-29 September, 2022)
SINCE 1881

2. OUTLINE
 Introduction
 Economic History and Economics
 Economic History of India
 Indus Valley Civilization
 Ancient and Medieval Characteristics
 Maurya Empire
 Delhi Sultanate
 Mughal Empire
 Post–Mughal Empire
 British Rule
 Republic of India
 APPEAL !
SINCE 1881

3. Economic History
 EH is the academic study of economies or
economic events of the Past
 It analyses how past economies have changed
and the factors that have influenced economic
development
 Economic history provides one way to test
theory
 It focuses on practical questions about real
economies
 It forms essential material to making good
economic theory
 Economics therefore needs economic history
SINCE 1881

4. Economic History of India
 India was the one of the largest economies in the World for
about two and a half millennia starting around the end of 1st
millennium BC and ending around the beginning of British
rule in India
 Around 500 BC, the Mahajanapadas minted punch-marked
silver coins. The period was marked by intensive trade
activity and urban development
 By 300 BC, the Maurya Empire had united most of the
Indian subcontinent
 The Maurya Empire was followed by classical and early
medieval kingdoms
 The Indian subcontinent had the largest economy of any
region in the world for most of the interval between the 1st
and 18th centuries
SINCE 1881

5. Economic History of India
 India experienced per-capita GDP Growth in the high
medieval era, coinciding with the Delhi Sultanate in the
north and the Vijayanagara Empire in the south
 By the late 17th century, most of the Indian subcontinent
had been reunited under the Mughal Empire, which for a
time became the largest economy and manufacturing
power in the world, producing about a quarter of global
GDP
 By the 18th century, the Mysoreans had embarked on an
ambitious Economic Development Program that
established the Kingdom of Mysore as a major economic
power
 The Maratha Empire managed an effective administration
and tax collection policy throughout the core areas under
its control
SINCE 1881

6. Economic History of India
 India experienced deindustrialisation and cessation of
various craft industries under British rule
 Due to its ancient history as a trading zone and later
its colonial status, colonial India remained
economically integrated with the world, with high
levels of trade, investment and migration
 The Republic of India, founded in 1947, adopted
central planning for most of its independent history,
with extensive public ownership, regulation, red tape
and trade barriers.
 After the 1991 Economic crisis, the central
government began policy of Economic Liberalisation
 Recent Economic Policies of India linked with
IBRD/World Bank, IMF, UN and others
SINCE 1881

7. Problems to Potentials
 The Indus Valley civilisation, the first known permanent
and predominantly urban settlement, flourished between
3500 BCE and 1800 BCE. It featured an advanced and
thriving economic system.
 Its citizens practised agriculture, domesticated animals,
made sharp tools and weapons from copper, bronze and
tin, and traded with other cities.
 Evidence of well-laid streets, drainage systems and water
supply reveals their knowledge of urban planning
 Agriculture was the predominant occupation and satisfied a
village's food requirements while providing raw materials
for hand-based industries such as textile, food processing
and crafts.
 Besides farmers, people worked as barbers, carpenters,
doctors, goldsmiths and weavers
SINCE 1881

8. Problems to Potentials
 Religion played an influential role in shaping economic
activities
 Family Business-Members of a family pooled their
resources to maintain the family and invest in business
ventures
 Organisational Entities-Merchant guilds and trade
corporations played a very significant role in the economy
and social life
 Coinage - While India's many kingdoms and rulers issued
coins, barter was still widely prevalent. Villages paid a
portion of their crops as revenue while its craftsmen
received a stipend out of the crops for their services
 Maurya Empire- The improved infrastructure, combined
with increased security, greater uniformity in
measurements, and increasing usage of coins as currency,
enhanced trade
SINCE 1881

9. Problems to Potentials
 Delhi Sultanate
 It offered wide-ranging international networks, including
social and economic networks
 Agriculture
 Manufacturing
 Dominant Military Power
 British rule
 British East India Company rule-Textiles-Mining-Roads-
Indian Ordnance Factories-Paper and Publishing-Fall of
the Rupee-Agriculture and industry-Railways- Chemicals-
Economic impact of Imperialism- Relative decline in
Productivity-Absence of industrialisation
 Republic of India
 Hindu rate of growth- Socialist Boom- Capitalist Boom-
LPG-NEP-Globalisation Issues
SINCE 1881

10. Towards Just India
Role of
 INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS - POLICIES
 UNION/STATE/LOCAL GOVENMENTS
 CORPORATE INDIA
 NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS
 VOLUNTARISM THROUGH KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND
TECHNOLOGY
 YOUTH IDEAS & POWER (DEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDEND)
APPEAL
HISTORY LITERACY TO ALL
TOWARDS JUST INDIA HISTORY EDUCATION
PLEASE
EACH ONE LEARN ONE
IF NOT
EACH ONE MEET ONE AND LEARN ONE
(QUESTIONS PLEASE)
SINCE 1881