SSC GD 2026 PYQ — Question 37

Correct Answer:

Cotton

Explanation:

During British colonial rule, the British forced the peasants of Maharashtra to cultivate cotton. Following the outbreak of the American Civil War, British textile mills faced an acute shortage of raw material from America, leading to a sudden surge in demand for Indian cotton. British officials and moneylenders heavily pressured Maharashtrian farmers to grow cotton by offering advances and easy credit. However, when the American Civil War ended and global cotton prices crashed, farmers found themselves trapped in immense debt, which ultimately sparked the Deccan Riots of 1875.

Additional Points:

The Deccan peasants revolted against the exploitation by moneylenders and sahukars, who demanded exorbitant interest rates and harassed farmers despite the severe economic crash in the cotton trade.

Important Questions and Answers:

Question: In which year did the Deccan Riots take place in Maharashtra?

Answer: In the year 1875.

Question: Which cash crop were the farmers of Maharashtra primarily forced to produce during British rule?

Answer: Cotton.