East India Company and Nawab of Bengal

1. Which of the following statements are true of Shah Alam II? 1. He j

Which of the following statements are true of Shah Alam II?

  • 1. He joined Mir Jafar of Bengal to fight the British.
  • 2. He joined Mir Qasim of Bengal and Shuja-ud-Daulah of Awadh to fight the British.
  • 3. He was defeated by the British.
  • 4. He lived at Allahabad as a pensioner of the British.

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2, 3 and 4
1, 2 and 4
1, 3 and 4
2 and 3 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2019
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Statements 2, 3, and 4 are true regarding Shah Alam II.
– Shah Alam II (reigned 1760-1788 and 1788-1806) joined forces with Mir Qasim, the deposed Nawab of Bengal, and Shuja-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Awadh, to form a confederacy against the British East India Company.
– This alliance was defeated by the British forces under Hector Munro at the Battle of Buxar in 1764.
– Following his defeat, Shah Alam II signed the Treaty of Allahabad in 1765 with the British. According to this treaty, he granted the Diwani (right to collect revenue) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the British East India Company. In return, he was granted territories of Kara and Allahabad and was promised an annual pension, living for several years as a pensioner of the British in Allahabad.
– Statement 1 is incorrect as Mir Jafar was installed as Nawab of Bengal by the British after the Battle of Plassey and was a puppet ruler; he did not ally with Shah Alam II against the British in 1764.
The Battle of Buxar was a crucial turning point in Indian history, firmly establishing the British East India Company’s dominance in Bengal and opening the way for their eventual control over much of the Indian subcontinent. Shah Alam II’s status was reduced to that of a titular head dependent on the British.

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2. The staple commodities of export by the English East India Company fro

The staple commodities of export by the English East India Company from Bengal in the middle of the 18th century were

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Raw cotton, oil-seeds and opium
Sugar, salt, zinc and lead
Copper, silver, gold, spices and tea
Cotton, silk, saltpetre and opium
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2018
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In the mid-18th century, particularly after gaining significant political influence in Bengal (like post-Battle of Plassey 1757), the English East India Company dramatically increased its exports from the region.
The staple commodities of export by the EIC from Bengal during this period included textiles (cotton and silk fabrics), saltpetre (potassium nitrate, essential for gunpowder), and increasingly, opium. Bengal was a major producer of silk, cotton, and saltpetre. Opium, while initially traded, became a massive export commodity, especially towards China, funding the purchase of Chinese goods like tea and silk.
Option A includes oil-seeds, which were less prominent than textiles or saltpetre as *staple* exports. Option B includes commodities that were either less significant exports (sugar, salt) or primarily imports (zinc, lead). Option C includes precious metals (copper, silver, gold) which were primarily imported into India to purchase goods for export, and tea, which became a major EIC export from India much later, in the 19th century. Spices were more associated with trade from South India and the East Indies initially. Therefore, cotton, silk, saltpetre, and opium accurately represent the major staples exported from Bengal by the EIC in the mid-18th century.

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3. Which one of the following statements about the Treaty of Allahabad is

Which one of the following statements about the Treaty of Allahabad is NOT correct ?

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It was signed in the year 1765
The Mughal Emperor by a farman formally granted the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa to the East India Company
Awadh was restored to its Nawab on payment of Rs. 50 Lakhs
Banaras and the Surrounding tracts were detached from Awadh and handed over to Shah Alam II
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UPSC CAPF – 2017
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The statement “Banaras and the Surrounding tracts were detached from Awadh and handed over to Shah Alam II” is NOT correct regarding the Treaty of Allahabad.
The Treaty of Allahabad was signed in 1765 after the Battle of Buxar. Under this treaty, the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II granted the Diwani (right to collect revenue) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the East India Company. Awadh was returned to Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah on payment of a war indemnity.
Statements A, B, and C are correct provisions of the Treaty of Allahabad. Specifically, Kara and Allahabad (not Banaras) were detached from Awadh and given to the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II. Banaras remained under the control of the Nawab of Awadh, although it was under the Raja Chet Singh who was a tributary.

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4. Which one of the following was the cause of the Battle of Plassey ?

Which one of the following was the cause of the Battle of Plassey ?

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The English levied heavy duties on the goods entering Calcutta
Siraj-ud-Daulah suspected that the English favoured his rivals
The English began to fortify Calcutta
Siraj-ud-Daulah was instigated by the French
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UPSC CAPF – 2010
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One of the major immediate causes for the conflict between Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, and the British East India Company leading to the Battle of Plassey was the English fortifying their factory in Calcutta (Fort William) without the Nawab’s permission. This act was seen by the Nawab as a blatant disregard for his authority and a threat to his sovereignty. He ordered the fortifications to be demolished, which the English refused, escalating tensions.
– Causes for Plassey included the British misuse of trade privileges (farman), lack of respect for the Nawab’s authority, and competition with the French.
– The fortification of Calcutta without permission was a direct provocation that led Siraj-ud-Daulah to attack and capture Calcutta in 1756.
– The recapture of Calcutta by Clive and the subsequent conspiracy and battle at Plassey followed this event.
Other factors included the shelter given to the political fugitive Krishnadas by the English, and disputes over trade duties, but the fortification issue was a significant immediate trigger for the Nawab’s military action against Calcutta.

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5. Which among the following statements is/are correct ? 1. The Battle

Which among the following statements is/are correct ?

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  • 1. The Battle of Plassey was won by the British more by their diplomatic skill than by their strength of arms.
  • 2. The Battle of Buxar was culminated with the Treaty of Allahabad and settlement with the Nawab of Awadh.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2010
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Statement 1 is correct. The Battle of Plassey (1757) was not a significant military confrontation in terms of scale or duration. Robert Clive’s victory was largely secured by his secret pact with Mir Jafar, the commander of Siraj-ud-Daulah’s army, and other influential figures like Jagat Seth. Mir Jafar’s troops stood by and did not participate in the battle, ensuring the Nawab’s defeat.
Statement 2 is correct. The Battle of Buxar (1764) was a decisive military victory for the British against the combined forces of Mir Qasim (Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Awadh), and Emperor Shah Alam II. This battle culminated in the Treaty of Allahabad, signed in 1765, which formalized the British control over Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa through the grant of Diwani rights and established relations with the Nawab of Awadh and the Mughal Emperor.
– Battle of Plassey (1757): Marked the beginning of British political influence in India; outcome heavily influenced by conspiracy.
– Battle of Buxar (1764): Decisive military victory; led to the Treaty of Allahabad (1765).
– Treaty of Allahabad: Secured Diwani rights for the EIC in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa; settled relationships with Awadh and the Mughal Emperor.
While Plassey established the British as a dominant force, Buxar solidified their power and laid the administrative foundation for their rule in eastern India.

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6. Which one of the following battles could be seen as laying the formal

Which one of the following battles could be seen as laying the formal foundation of the British Raj in India?

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Third Battle of Panipat
Battle of Plassey
Battle of Buxar
Revolt of 1857
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2022
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The Battle of Buxar could be seen as laying the formal foundation of the British Raj in India.
While the Battle of Plassey (1757) marked the beginning of the British political influence in Bengal and paved the way for their eventual dominance, the Battle of Buxar (1764) was more decisive in establishing the formal foundation of British rule. In the aftermath of Buxar, the British East India Company was granted the Diwani rights (right to collect revenue) of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha by the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II through the Treaty of Allahabad (1765). This grant provided the Company with significant administrative and financial power, transitioning their role from a trading company to a territorial power with formal legal authority, thus laying the formal foundation of the British Raj.
The Third Battle of Panipat (1761) significantly weakened the Marathas but did not establish British rule. The Revolt of 1857 led to the transfer of power from the British East India Company to the British Crown in 1858, marking the consolidation of British rule, but the foundation was laid earlier. The Battle of Plassey was significant for establishing political control, but Buxar provided the formal administrative and financial basis for direct rule.

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7. East India Company, to begin with, exported Indian goods to Western co

East India Company, to begin with, exported Indian goods to Western countries. Which one of the following is NOT one of the goods in the trade?

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Muslin
Calico
Silk
Wool
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2020
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The correct answer is Wool.
The East India Company’s initial trade from India to Europe consisted mainly of goods highly demanded in the West. These included spices, cotton textiles (like Muslin and Calico), silk, indigo, saltpetre, etc. Muslin (fine cotton), Calico (plain cotton), and Silk were major textile exports from India. Wool was a significant commodity produced in Europe, particularly Britain, and was not a primary export item from India to the West during this period.
Britain was historically a major producer and exporter of woollen textiles. The EIC’s trade was focused on bringing exotic goods and raw materials from the East to Europe, not exporting European staples like wool to India.

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8. In the context of eighteenth century India, what was ‘Dastak’?

In the context of eighteenth century India, what was ‘Dastak’?

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Signature
Land document
Trade permit
Tax on textiles
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2023
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In the context of 18th-century India, ‘Dastak’ referred to a trade permit or pass. These passes were granted to the English East India Company by Mughal emperors, particularly after the grant of *diwani* rights in Bengal (1765), allowing the Company and its officials to trade goods without paying inland customs duties (tolls). The misuse of these *dastaks* by Company servants for private trade without paying duties became a major source of conflict with the local nawabs, notably leading up to the Battle of Plassey.
– ‘Dastak’ was a permit for trade.
– It exempted the holder from paying customs duties.
– Primarily associated with the English East India Company’s trade in Bengal in the 18th century.
– The misuse of *dastaks* undermined the revenue base of the Bengal Nawab and gave the English Company an unfair advantage over other traders (Indian and European).
– This was one of the factors contributing to the decline of the Mughal Empire’s authority and the rise of the English East India Company’s political power.

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9. The work Siyar-ul-Mutakherin, which describes the Battle of Plassey, 1

The work Siyar-ul-Mutakherin, which describes the Battle of Plassey, 1757, was written by

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Salabat Jung
Qasim Khan
Ghulam Husain
Ram Mohan Roy
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2020
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Siyar-ul-Mutakherin is a historical text written by Ghulam Husain Khan Tabatabai.
This work is a significant source for the history of India, covering the period from the decline of the Mughal Empire to the early years of British rule in Bengal, including details of the Battle of Plassey (1757).
Ghulam Husain Khan Tabatabai was a nobleman and historian. The Siyar-ul-Mutakherin provides an Indian perspective on the events leading up to and following the Battle of Plassey, offering valuable insights into the political and social conditions of the time.

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