The drain theory, as formulated by the nationalists, referred to the process by which, a significant part of India’s national wealth, was being exported to England for which India got no economic returns. In other words, India was made to pay an indirect, tribute to the English nation.
Needless to say, this drain of India’s wealth to England, in the form of salaries to British officers posted in India, home-charges and the profits made on the British capital invested in India, benefited England and diminished the sources for investment in India. Amiya Bagchi observes:
