What were the motives that led the british to follow expansion policy in india
Answers
For British Government one of the main sources of revenue was land revenue.
Revenue collection could be increased by expanding the cultivation.
Uncultivated land was seen as unproductive land by the British Government officials, as it could neither help in agricultural produce nor could it produce revenue.
Cultivated farms could help in producing agricultural products needed in England, for example, wheat, cotton, jute etc.
Since all grazing lands were seen as waste lands, British colonial Government wanted to transform grazing land into cultivated farms.
Therefore, in various parts of the country, Waste Land Rules were enacted from the mid-nineteenth century.
As per wasteland rules, select individuals were given uncultivated lands.
These individuals were encouraged to settle in these lands, and they were granted concessions.
In the newly cleared areas, some of them were made headmen of villages.
So expansion of cultivation meant a problem for pastoralists and decline of pastures.