Q : Why was there a sudden spurt in famines in colonial India since the mid-eighteenth century ? Give reasons.

Introduction : 

The sudden spurt in famines in colonial India since the mid-eighteenth century was largely due to British economic policies and administrative practices.

Body : 

1. Heavy taxation under land revenue systems like Zamindari and Ryotwari forced peasants to grow cash crops instead of food crops, reducing local food availability
2. Commercialization of agriculture emphasized crops like indigo, cotton, and opium, diverting land from subsistence farming and increasing vulnerability to food shortages
3. Export of food grains to Britain and other colonies decreased the supply of essential grains for local consumption
4. Neglect of investment in irrigation, storage, and transport infrastructure limited the ability to mitigate the effects of droughts, floods, or crop failures
5. Market speculation and rising grain prices during scarcity worsened food insecurity, as peasants could not afford essential supplies
6. Recurring natural calamities such as droughts and floods, combined with colonial focus on revenue collection rather than relief, led to high mortality
7. The Bengal Famine of 1770 caused millions of deaths due to revenue extraction policies and neglect of relief
8. The Great Famine of 1876–78 in the Deccan highlighted the failure of colonial administration to provide adequate relief, while continuing export of grains

In conclusion, famines in colonial India were driven by exploitative revenue policies, cash crop cultivation, food grain exports, lack of infrastructure, and vulnerability to natural disasters, reflecting systemic failures of British governance