Answer:

Since the Battle of Plassey in 1757, British established themselves as a ruling class in India. British conquest had a profound impact on Indian society which occasioned numerous socio-religious reforms among various communities and regions.

Socio-religious impact of British conquest:-

• British introduced modern Western ideas like rationalism, humanism , scientific enquiry etc.
  
  
• Indian society was steeped in orthodoxy, traditionalism and practiced various barbaric practices like Sati.
  
  
• Indians imbibed the modern ideas and thus began a quest to change the decadent practices and reform the socio-religious practices.
  
  
• The British regarded themselves as racially superior because of advanced modern ideas in the socio-religious sphere. Indian reformers urged for various reforms to efface the blot of backwardness.
  
  
• Women’s status improved a lot due to impact of modern idea of gender equality in the sphere of education, marriage etc.
  
  
• Education took the front seat with coming of the British which had direct impact on the socio- religious sphere of Indians.
  
  

How it was different from previous invasions:-

Earlier invaders were absorbed into the superior Indian culture and adopted Indian cultural and religious practices. However, the British were in the vanguard on modernity whereas the Indian society was steeped in medievalism. So the British impacted the social and cultural practices of India, rather than vice versa.

British presence and introduction of modern ideas occasioned many socio-religious reforms. These reforms paved the way for reorganization of society on the basis of equality, rationalism, humanism etc.