1) Data caution (important framing)
Colonial-era economic data have limitations:
- incomplete surveys,
- inconsistent methods,
- underreporting. Still, broad trends are studied for exam purposes.
2) Demographic trends (broad)
2.1 Population growth pattern
- Early colonial period: slow growth (high mortality).
- Later: population rose gradually with some mortality decline, but living conditions remained harsh.
2.2 High mortality and health conditions
- limited public health infrastructure,
- epidemics and famines contributed to mortality.
3) Occupational structure (key CUET idea)
Occupational structure refers to share of workforce in:
- agriculture,
- industry,
- services.
Colonial India had:
- very high dependence on agriculture,
- limited industrial absorption of labour,
- slow structural transformation.
Deindustrialization reinforced agricultural crowding.