This is a class of British policies in India with regard to economic exploitation and the interests of commerce from the British East India Company; thus, the category would be commercial policies.

-Monopoly in Trade: To begin with, the idea was to create a monopoly in the trade with India. That comprised stripping of trading rights on particular items such as spices without letting the activities of other European traders go unchecked.

Land Revenue Policies: “The Company introduced land revenue systems such as the Zamindari system to maximize revenue collection in favor of the Company. This system of tenancy often exploited Indian farmers and resulted in the accumulation of wealth by the Company.”.

– Promotion of Cash Crops: The Company encouraged cash crops such as cotton, indigo, and opium to be sold as exports to Britain at the cost of food crops, thus famines and economic hardship on the Indian farmers’ side.

De-industrialization of India: The Company positively encouraged the de-industrialization of India by policies which benefited British manufactured goods, thereby causing a demand for the product and hence increased profit to the Company.