Question: Which one of the following is not true regarding the impact of the First World War on India?
A Defence expenditure resulted in increased taxes.
B Forced recruitment of soldiers was introduced in the villages
C Income tax was introduced and customs duties increased
D The hardships ended with the war as the British introduced the Rowlatt Act
Answer: The hardships ended with the war as the British introduced the Rowlatt Act
| Impact of the first world war on India | Description |
| Economic effects
| · Defense expenditure during the war led to increased taxes on the Indian population. · Income tax was introduced, and customs duties were raised to generate revenue. |
| Recruitment and troop contributions | · Forced recruitment of Indian soldiers was introduced, leading to widespread conscription. · Over a million Indian troops served overseas, contributing significantly to the war effort. · Many soldiers faced harsh conditions and discrimination in the military. |
| Rise of nationalism | · The war and the sacrifices made by Indians increased nationalistic sentiments. · Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and others used the war’s impact to push for greater self-governance. |
| Jallianwala bagh massacre | · The repressive Rowlatt Act (1919) imposed by the British government led to widespread protests. · In Amritsar, this culminated in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, where British troops fired on a crowd of unarmed Indian protesters. |
| Widespread hardships and famine | · The war created extreme economic hardships, leading to food shortages and price inflation. · An outbreak of influenza further added to the crisis. |
| The Rowlatt act and Satyagraha | · The British government passed the infamous Rowlatt Act, giving extensive powers to the police to arrest any person without reason. · The Act was meant to curtail the country’s increasing nationalist upsurge. |