[very_short_answer] In the decades following Independence, India did not apply trade barriers uniformly to al…

Question

[very_short_answer] In the decades following Independence, India did not apply trade barriers uniformly to all imported goods. What principle guided the government in deciding which imports to allow and which to restrict? Give one example to support your answer.

Accepted Answer

## Model Answer The government allowed only **essential imports** and restricted non-essential ones to protect domestic industries from foreign competition. For example, India allowed imports of machinery, fertilisers, and petroleum, but restricted consumer goods. ## Explanation The key principle is **protection of domestic producers** — especially infant industries in the 1950s–60s. Examiners expect you to state the principle and back it with a specific example from the text (machinery/fertilisers/petroleum). Avoid vague answers like "to control trade."

Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question