Rise of East India Company MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Rise of East India Company - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Masulipatnam.

Key Points

• In 1608, the British East India Company decided to open a factory at Surat.
• The English ambassador Captain Hawkins arrived at Jahangir’s Court to seek permission for trade with India.

Mistake Points 

• But initially, it was turned down due to Portuguese intrigue.
• The British thus established their first (temporary) factory at Masulipatnam in 1611.
• But, the first permanent British factory was established at Surat in 1613.

The correct answer is - Chandernagore

Key Points

• Chandernagore
  • Located near Kolkata in West Bengal, Chandernagore was a prominent French colony during the 18th century.
  • In March 1757, British forces under Robert Clive attacked and captured Chandernagore during the ongoing rivalry between the British East India Company and French East India Company.
  • The conquest of Chandernagore was part of the broader strategy of the British to establish dominance in India by eliminating European competitors.
  • This event occurred shortly before the famous Battle of Plassey (June 1757), which solidified British control over Bengal.

Additional Information

• French Colonies in India
  • The French established colonies in India primarily for trade and strategic military purposes.
  • Major French colonies included:
    • Pondicherry: The most significant French settlement in South India.
    • Mahe: Located on the Malabar coast.
    • Karikal: Situated in Tamil Nadu.
    • Chandernagore: Established near Kolkata in Bengal.
  • Unlike other colonies, Chandernagore was primarily focused on trade and had limited military infrastructure, making it easier for the British to conquer.
• Anglo-French Rivalry
  • The British and French competed for supremacy in India during the 17th and 18th centuries.
  • Key conflicts included:
    • The Carnatic Wars: A series of battles fought in South India.
    • The struggle for control over Bengal and other resource-rich regions.
  • By the mid-18th century, the British emerged victorious, establishing dominance over French territories like Chandernagore.
• Battle of Plassey
  • The Battle of Plassey (1757) occurred shortly after the British conquest of Chandernagore.
  • It marked a decisive victory for the British East India Company against Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal.
  • This victory gave the British control over Bengal, paving the way for their eventual dominance across India.

The correct answer is - Tiny prison cell

Key Points

• The Black Hole of Calcutta
  • It refers to a small prison cell located in Fort William in Calcutta.
  • In 1756, British soldiers and civilians were imprisoned in this cell by Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula after he captured Calcutta.
  • The cell was infamously overcrowded, leading to the death of many prisoners due to suffocation and heat.
• Historical significance
  • This event became a key moment in the history of British colonialism in India and was widely used to justify British retaliation.
  • It led to the famous Battle of Plassey in 1757, where the British defeated Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula.

Additional Information

• Fort William
  • Fort William was a British fort in Calcutta, established to protect trading interests in Bengal.
  • The original fort was captured by Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula in 1756, leading to the Black Hole incident.
  • A new, larger fort was constructed by the British after they recaptured Calcutta.
• Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula
  • He was the last independent Nawab of Bengal, known for resisting British influence in his territory.
  • His defeat at the Battle of Plassey marked the beginning of British dominance in India.
• Battle of Plassey
  • Fought on 23rd June 1757 between the British East India Company and Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula.
  • The British victory was facilitated by the betrayal of Nawab's commander, Mir Jafar.
  • This battle is considered a turning point in Indian history, marking the start of British colonial rule.

The correct answer is - Mir Jafar

Key Points

• Mir Jafar was referred to as ‘Colonel Clive’s Jackal’ in 18th-century India.
  • Mir Jafar played a pivotal role in the Battle of Plassey (1757), which marked the beginning of British dominance in India.
  • He betrayed Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah, aligning with the British East India Company under the leadership of Robert Clive.
  • His betrayal was instrumental in the British victory at Plassey, which led to the downfall of the Nawab of Bengal.
  • The British rewarded Mir Jafar by installing him as the Nawab of Bengal, but he was largely a puppet under their control.
• The term ‘Jackal’ was used to symbolize his treachery and subservience to the British.

Additional Information

• Battle of Plassey (1757)
  • Fought between the forces of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah and the British East India Company.
  • Robert Clive led the British forces, and Mir Jafar’s betrayal ensured the British victory.
  • The battle is considered a turning point in Indian history, as it laid the foundation for British colonial rule in India.
• Mir Jafar’s Downfall
  • Mir Jafar’s rule as Nawab of Bengal was marked by increasing dissatisfaction among the local population and elites.
  • He was later replaced by Mir Qasim, another puppet Nawab, when he failed to meet British expectations.
  • This cycle of puppet rulers highlights the British strategy of exploiting local leaders for their imperialistic goals.
• Robert Clive’s Role
  • Known as the architect of British power in India, Robert Clive used manipulation and alliances with local leaders like Mir Jafar to expand British influence.
  • His victory at Plassey earned him immense wealth and recognition, though his actions were controversial even in Britain.

The correct answer is - The English and the Dutch

Key Points

• The Battle of Biderra
  • The Battle of Biderra (also spelled as Bedara) was a significant naval battle fought in 1759.
  • It occurred between the English (under the British East India Company) and the Dutch (Dutch East India Company).
  • The battle was fought near Chinsurah in Bengal, India.
• Outcome of the Battle
  • The English emerged victorious, marking the defeat of the Dutch.
  • This victory solidified the British dominance in Bengal and reduced Dutch influence in the region.

Additional Information

• Historical Context
  • During the mid-18th century, European powers like the English, Dutch, French, and Portuguese were competing for trade dominance in India.
  • The Dutch aimed to challenge the growing influence of the British East India Company in Bengal, leading to the conflict.
• Significance of the Battle
  • The English victory in the Battle of Biderra was crucial in establishing their monopoly over trade in Bengal.
  • It marked the decline of Dutch colonial ambitions in India.
• Other Related Battles
  • The Battle of Plassey (1757): Another pivotal battle where the British East India Company defeated the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies.
  • The Battle of Wandiwash (1760): Marked the end of French ambitions in India, further consolidating British dominance.

The correct answer is Lord Dalhousie.

Key Points

• The chief instrument through which Lord Dalhousie implemented his policy of annexation was the ‘Doctrine of Lapse’.
  • Under the Doctrine of Lapse, when the ruler of a protected state died without a natural heir, his/her state was not to pass to an adopted heir as sanctioned by the age-old tradition of the country.
• Lord Dalhousie came to India as the Governor-General in 1848.
• Lord Dalhousie was keen on annexing the kingdom of Avadh.

Important Points

The Correct Answer is Second Carnatic War.

Key Points:

The correct answer is 1761.

Key Points

• The British East India Company captured Pondicherry (Puducherry) from the French in the year 1761.
• Puducherry changed hands throughout the Anglo-French wars from 1742 to 1763, with the British "East India Company" capturing Puducherry from the French in 1761 and the French Company administration being restored by the Treaty of Paris in 1763.
• The British "East India Company" acquired control of the territory during the French Revolution in 1793, and it was returned to the French "East India Company" in 1814.
• When the British "East India Company" took control of India in the late 1850s, the French "East India Company" was allowed to keep their settlements in Pondicherry, Mahe, Yanam, Karaikal, and Chandernagore.​

Important Points

• The former French colonies of Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam now make up the Union Territory of Puducherry.
• The states of Tamilnadu and Kerala surround the Puducherry and Karaikal regions, while Kerala surrounds Mahe, and Andra Pradesh surrounds Yanam.
• Pondicherry was founded in 1673 after the "La Compagnie française des Indes Orientales" was granted firman by the Qiladar of Valikondapurarm, who served under the Sultan of Bijapur.
• A French Company Official named Bellanger moved into the Danish Lodge at Pondicherry on February 4, 1673.  

The correct answer is Akbar.

Key Points

When the East India Company was established, India was ruled by the Mughal emperor Akbar. (1556-1605)

• On 31 December 1600, a group of merchants who had incorporated themselves into the East India Company was given monopoly privileges on all trade with the East Indies.
• The Company’s ships first arrived in India, at the port of Surat, in 1608. 
• Sir Thomas Roe reached the court of the Mughal Emperor, Jahangir, as the emissary of King James I in 1615, and gained for the British the right to establish a factory at Surat. 

Mistake Points

• The English East India Company was incorporated by royal charter on December 31, 1600.
• Here establishment of the Company is asked not the factory.
• In 1600, a group of London merchants led by Sir Thomas Smythe petitioned Queen Elizabeth I to grant them a royal charter to trade with the countries of the eastern hemisphere. And so, the ‘Honourable Company of Merchants of London Trading with the East Indies’ – or East India Company, as it came to be known – was founded.
• At the same time as Elizabeth I was signing the East India Company (EIC) into existence in 1600, her counterpart in India – the Mughal emperor Akbar – was ruling over an empire of 750,000 square miles, stretching from northern Afghanistan in the northwest, to central India’s Deccan plateau in the south and the Assamese highlands in the northeast.
• By 1600, the Mughal empire (founded by Akbar’s grandfather, Babur, in 1526) had come of age and was embarking on a century of strong centralised power, military dominance and cultural productiveness that would mark the rule of the ‘Great Mughals’. 
• However, Sir Thomas Roe reached the court of the Mughal Emperor, Jahangir, as the emissary of King James I in 1615, and gained the British the right to establish a factory at Surat. 

The correct answer is 1651 CE.

Key Points

• In 1651, the first English factory was set up on the banks of river Hugli in Bengal.
• The East India Company convinced merchants to settle near the factory.
• By 1696, the company began building a fort around the Hugli settlement.

 Additional Information

• English East India Company:
  • The East India Company first arrived via sea route at Surat in the year 1608 for the purpose of establishing trade with India.
  • The Battle of Plassey was a decisive victory of the British East India Company over the Nawab of Bengal Siraj-Ud-Daulah and his French allies on 23 June 1757.
  • The battle consolidated the Company's presence in Bengal, which later expanded to cover much of India over the next hundred years.
  • Fort William was built in 1696 by East India Company by John Goldsborough at Calcutta.

The correct answer is 1782.

Key Points

• The First Anglo-Maratha War was won by Marathas and ended with the Treaty of Salbai.
• The Treaty of Salbai was signed on 17 May 1782, representing the Maratha Empire and the British East India Company after long negotiation to settle the outcome of the First Anglo-Maratha War II was signed between Warren Hastings and Mahadaji Scindia.
• Salbal is situated in Gwalior, MP.
• The Treaty of Salbai resulted in 20 years of relative peace between the Maratha Empire and the East India Company.
• Under the terms of this treaty, the British retained control of Broach and Salsette and acquired a guarantee that the Marathas would retake territories in the Carnatic by defeating Hyder Ali of Mysore.

Additional Information

• Anglo-Maratha War:
  • The Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805). 
    • Treaty of Surji Anjangaon in 1803.
    • Treaty of Deogaon in 1803
    • Treaty of Rajghat in 1805.
  • Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818).
    • Treaty of Gwalior in 1817.
    • Treaty of Mandsaur in 1818.

The correct answer is The French.

Key Points

• In 1760, The Battle of Wandiwash was a battle in India between the British and French.
• The battle of Wandiwash was part of the Third Carnatic War fought between the French and British colonial empires.
• The British army was led by Sir Eyre Coote and the french army was commanded by Comte de Lally.
• The war concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763.
• It itself was a part of the global Seven Years War.

Additional Information

• Total three Carnatic wars were fought between British and French
  • First Carnatic War (1740-48) - Joseph Francois duplex was a french governor and Major Stringer Lawrence from the British side.
    • The result was inconclusive.
  • Second Carnatic War (1749-54) - The war ended with the Treaty of Pondicherry, signed in 1754, which recognized Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah as the Nawab of the Carnatic.
    • Charles Godeheu replaced Dupleix.
  • Third Carnatic War (1756-63)

The correct answer is Bengal.

Key Points 

• The English East India Company (E.I.C.) built its raj in the countryside, applied its revenue policies, and saw how these policies affected diverse groups of people.
• The Bengal was the first place where colonial rule was established.
• The first attempts to reorder rural culture and establish a new regime of land rights and a new income system were made in the beginning.
• During the Age of Discovery, the region of the Indian subcontinent that was under the jurisdiction of European colonial powers was known as Colonial India.
• Conquest and trade, particularly in spices, were used to exert European authority.

The correct answer is 1765.​Key Points

• The Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II granted the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the East India Company in 1765.
• The Battle of Buxar was fought between the British and the combined forces of Mir Qasim, Shuja Ud Daulah who was the Nawab of Awadh, and the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II.
• This battle was won by the Britishers.
• The rights were granted by the Shah Alam-II.​

Additional Information

• ​Treaty of Allahabad:
  • The Treaty of Allahabad was signed on 12 August 1765, between the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, son of the late Emperor Alamgir II, and Robert Clive, of the East India Company, in the aftermath of the Battle of Buxar of 23 October 1764.
  • The Treaty marked the political and constitutional involvement and the beginning of British rule in India.
  • Based on the terms of the agreement, Alam granted the East India Company Diwani rights, or the right to collect taxes on behalf of the Emperor from the eastern province of Bengal-Bihar-Orissa.
  • These rights allowed the company to collect revenue directly from the people of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.

The correct answer is Mir Jafar.

Important Points

• The Battle of Plassey was fought in the year 1757.
• It was fought between Siraj-Ud-Daulah (Nawab of Bengal) and East India Company lead by Robert Clive.

Key Points

• The Battle of Plassey become famous because it was the first major victory the Company won in India.
• Another reason for the defeat was that Clive had managed to secure the support of Mir Jafar by promising to make him the Nawab after crushing Siraj-Ud-Daulah.

Additional Information

• Mir Jafar was made the puppet ruler of the Britishers but he could not prove himself.
• Then, the Britishers removed Mir Jafar and made Mir Qasim the Nawab of Bengal but he also complained about the policies of Britishers.
• Another famous battle took place between Mir Qasim and East India Company i.e Battle of Buxar in 1764.
• And again Mir Jafar was made the Nawab of Bengal by Britishers.