The Economic History of Modern India and British Raj

By Dr. Shashikesh Kr. Gond | Banaras Hindu University

Learners enrolled: 70

ABOUT THE COURSE:

The presented course provides information on various aspects of modern Indian economic history during the British Raj. Through this course, students will not only understand the various dimensions related to the current Indian economy, markets, banking and agriculture but will also be able to know about its historical aspect. Apart from this, the course also discusses in detail the formation of modern Indian industries, railways, banking system, agricultural policies, irrigation system and famines in British India.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: UG & PG level

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Elective
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	8 weeks
Category :	History
Credit Points :	2
Level :	Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date :	18 Aug 2025
End Date :	10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends :	18 Aug 2025
Exam Registration Ends :	29 Aug 2025
Exam Date :	25 Oct 2025 IST
NCrF Level	4.5 — 7.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1: Indian Economy in the middle of 18th Century & advent of British East India company.

Week 2: Economy Exploitation itsMechanism, magnitude and effects; Agrarian conditions.

Week 3: Land settlement in colonial India North, East, West and South Indian: Permanent,Mahalawar,Raiyatawri, Malguzari and Talukdri revenue settlements and theirsocio-economic consequences.

Week 4: Irrigation, famine and Agriculture policy of British rule.

Week 5: Deindustrialization, Views and debates of nationalist thinkers.Commercialization of agriculture; drain of wealth duringthe first half of 19th Century.

Week 6: Evolving the modern jute and Textile industry in 19th century. Internal and external trade opium, cotton, indigo, tea, sugar, grains.

Week 7: Development of transport and communication services in India with special difference to the telegraph and Railway.Motive behind railway construction and socio economic constituencies of Railway.

Week 8: Historiography debate on colonial economy.Rise and growth of modern banking , finance andcurrency policy.

Books and references

1-Dutt, R.P., India today, 1945.

2-Dutt. R.C., the Economic History of India, 1908.

3-Baden Powell, land systems in British India

4-Chandra Bipin, the rise and growth of economic nationalism in India

5-Dharma Kumar (ed.) The Cambridge economic history of India. vol.II. (1750 to1970), Cambridge, 1982.

6-Gadgil D.R., The industrial evolution of India in recent times: 1860-1939

7-Roy, tirthankar, the economic history of India: 1857-1947, OUP, New Delhi, 2002.

8-Tomlinson, B.R., the economy of modern India, 1860-1970, Cambridge, 1993

9-Bayly, C.A., empire and information: intelligence gathering and social communication in India, 1780-1870, New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996.

10-SabyasachiBhatytachrya: Essays of Modern Indian economic history

11-SumitSarkar: Modern Indian economic history

Instructor bio

Dr. Shashikesh Kr. Gond

Banaras Hindu University

Dr. Shashikesh Kumar Gond Assistant Professor, Department of History VKM, BHU Specialization - Modern Indian history.
Area of interest economy transport and communication history of modern India 10 years teaching experience.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: 25 October 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 6 assignments out of the total 8 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup. It will have the logos of INI and BHU.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- INI team