Question

The "Begging Bowl" status in India with regards to chronic food shortage was referred during:

• A. 1940s
• B. 1950s
• C. 1960s
• D. 1970s

Hint:

The 1943 Bengal famine killed an estimated 2-3 million people, prompting the "Begging Bowl" characterization.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: The Bengal famine of 1943 and WWII disruptions first pushed India into heavy dependence on imported food grain.
Step 2: This dependency was already established before the 1950s five-year-plan era.
Step 3: The situation only reversed after the Green Revolution of the 1960s, which came later.
Step 4: The correct answer is 1940s.