Answer the following question in 50-70 words: (Any 2) 1. How did the two famines help British fortune in India? 2. Distribution of fresh water is highly uneven in the world. Justify this statement. 3. What is a national emergency?
Answer the following question in 50-70 words: (Any 2) 1. How did the two famines help British fortune in India? 2. Distribution of fresh water is highly uneven in the world. Justify this statement. 3. What is a national emergency
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
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Short Answers (Any 2)
1. How did the two famines help British fortune in India?
The two major famines—the Bengal Famine of 1770 and the Great Famine of 1876–78—helped the British consolidate control by weakening local rulers and farmers. British policies like heavy taxation and grain exports worsened the famines, yet the British profited through land acquisitions, resource extraction, and forced labor, strengthening their economic and political grip over India.
2. Distribution of fresh water is highly uneven in the world. Justify this statement.
Fresh water is unevenly distributed due to geographic, climatic, and seasonal differences. Some regions like Canada and Brazil have abundant water, while others like North Africa and the Middle East face extreme scarcity. Water availability also varies with rainfall, river systems, and population density, leading to imbalances between demand and supply, which affect agriculture, health, and development.
Explanation
The Bengal Famine of 1770 and the Great Famine of 1876–78 significantly contributed to the British Empire’s consolidation of power in India. During these famines, millions perished due to starvation and disease, largely exacerbated by British colonial policies. The British East India Company continued to collect high taxes and forced the cultivation of cash crops like indigo and opium, reducing the land used for food production. Instead of providing relief, the British exported grains to Europe, prioritizing profits over people’s lives.
As local rulers, landlords, and farmers lost power and resources, the British took over their lands and imposed stricter administrative control. The weakened social and economic fabric allowed the British to expand infrastructure like railways—primarily used to move raw materials out of India—and establish a centralized bureaucracy. Thus, while the Indian population suffered, the British economy flourished through increased resource exploitation and political dominance.
In the case of fresh water distribution, geography plays a major role. Some countries lie in river-rich or rain-heavy areas, while others are desert-like or mountainous, limiting water access. Human activities such as pollution, deforestation, and overuse also impact water availability. Moreover, population growth and urbanization place additional pressure on freshwater sources. Countries with poor water access often struggle with agriculture, sanitation, and public health, deepening global inequality.
Therefore, both the famines in India and the uneven distribution of freshwater globally highlight how environmental and political factors combine to create imbalances in power, resources, and human welfare
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