Initial British policy towards the Naga Hills was primarily driven by a desire to:

The correct answer is: b) Secure borders.

The British East India Company first came into contact with the Naga people in the early 18th century. At the time, the Naga Hills were a collection of independent tribal states. The British were interested in the Naga Hills for several reasons. First, they wanted to secure their borders against the Burmese, who were also expanding into the region. Second, they were interested in the Naga Hills’ natural resources, such as timber and minerals. Third, they hoped to convert the Naga people to Christianity.

The British initially tried to establish friendly relations with the Naga people. However, the Naga were fiercely independent and resisted British attempts to control them. In 1832, the British launched a military expedition into the Naga Hills. The expedition was successful in defeating the Naga, but it also led to a long and bloody war. The war ended in 1866 with the signing of a peace treaty between the British and the Naga.

Under the terms of the peace treaty, the Naga Hills became a British protectorate. The British agreed to leave the Naga people to govern themselves, but they also imposed a number of restrictions on the Naga, such as the prohibition of headhunting. The British also established a number of Christian missions in the Naga Hills.

The British policy towards the Naga Hills was controversial. Some people argued that the British should have left the Naga people to govern themselves. Others argued that the British had a responsibility to bring civilization and Christianity to the Naga people. The British policy towards the Naga Hills remained controversial until the end of British rule in India in 1947.

The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:

• Option a) is incorrect because the British were already trading with the Naga people before they established control over the Naga Hills.
• Option c) is incorrect because the British did not have a strong interest in spreading Christianity in the Naga Hills.
• Option d) is incorrect because the British did not exploit the natural resources of the Naga Hills to a significant extent.