In the opinion of Professor Sumit Sarkar the World War I impacted India in various ways:
First, Indians were recruited massively and were sent off to die in war-fronts, although the War had no direct link with the Indian people.
Second, in the War years there was a huge ‘drain of wealth’. The wealth was drained out in the form of grain and raw materials for the military needs. The situation was such that food was exported keeping Indians starved.
Third, another impact of the World War I was felt when the prices of industrial goods as also of imported manufactures went up sharply.
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Fourth, for the common people the war meant misery and fall in the standard of living.
Fifth, the far-reaching effect of the World War I, however, was the rise of Mahatma Gandhi who transformed the very nature of the Indian national movement.