British colonial policies in India profoundly impacted traditional socio-economic structures and cultural practices. Economically, the introduction of the land revenue systems, such as the Permanent Settlement, disrupted agrarian relations. These policies favored landlords and resulted in widespread peasant exploitation and poverty. The commercialization of agriculture shifted the focus from subsistence farming to cash crops, leading to food shortages and famines.

The traditional artisan industries suffered under British rule due to the influx of cheap, machine-made goods from Britain. This deindustrialization caused widespread unemployment and economic dislocation among skilled artisans. The introduction of railways and telegraphs, while modernizing India’s infrastructure, primarily served British economic interests, facilitating resource extraction and market integration for British goods.

Culturally, British policies and education systems aimed at creating a class of English-educated Indians who could assist in administration. This led to the erosion of traditional educational institutions and a shift in societal values. The imposition of Western legal systems undermined indigenous legal practices and social norms. However, the exposure to Western ideas also sparked a renaissance in Indian thought, leading to social reform movements and the eventual rise of nationalism.