The two-fold motive behind the systematic deindustrialisation effected by the British :
The rule of the British-India government led to the collapse of India's world famous handicraft industries without contributing, in any significant manner, to its replacement by a modern industrial base. It created massive unemployment in India. It also created a new demand in the Indian consumer market-the increasing imports of cheap manufactured goods from Britain. The two-fold motive behind the systematic deindustrialisation effected by the British were :
(i) First, the intention was to reduce India to the status of a mere exporter of important raw materials for the upcoming modern industries in Britain and,
(ii) Second, to turn India into a sprawling market for the finished products of those industries so that their continued expansion could be ensured to the maximum advantage of their home country-Britain.