English

Infrastructure

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Estimated time: 10 minutes
CBSE: Class 12
Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education: Class 12

Introduction

  • Infrastructure refers to support facilities essential for economic activity.
  • Divided into two types:
  • Economic Infrastructure — transport, communication, energy, irrigation, monetary and financial institutions.
  • Social Infrastructure — education, training and research, health, housing, civic amenities.
CBSE: Class 12

Infrastructure Under Colonial Rule

  • Colonial-era infrastructure included railways, ports, water transport, posts and telegraphs.
  • These were built to serve British interests, not for the welfare of Indian people.
CBSE: Class 12

Railways

  • Railways were introduced but primarily used to serve colonial commercial interests.
  • Led to commercialisation of agriculture — farmers were pushed to grow cash crops for export.
  • All-weather roads were limited, restricting movement of goods and people.
  • Social benefits to Indians were minimal.
CBSE: Class 12

Other Infrastructure

  • Coast Canal — an example of water transport infrastructure developed during the colonial period.
  • Tata Airlines — an early example of aviation infrastructure in India.
  • Posts and telegraphs were developed but served administrative and colonial communication needs.
CBSE: Class 12

Condition at Independence

  • At the time of independence, India faced wide economic and social challenges.
  • Existing infrastructure was largely oriented toward serving the colonial economy, not the domestic population.
CBSE: Class 12
CISCE: Class 12
Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education: Class 12

Key Points: Infrastructure

  • Infrastructure is of two types: Economic and Social.
  • Colonial infrastructure (railways, roads, ports, water transport, posts and telegraphs) was developed mainly to serve British interests.
  • Railways promoted the commercialisation of agriculture and colonial trade.
  • All-weather roads were inadequate during British rule.
  • India inherited weak infrastructure and major economic and social challenges at independence.
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