Every free question on Advent of Europeans & British Expansion (History of India) from past WBCS Preliminary Examination and WBCS Main Examination papers, newest first, each with its answer and a short explanation. Free to read.
Answer: (B) 1498
Vasco da Gama reached Calicut (Kozhikode) in May 1498 after rounding the Cape of Good Hope. He had set sail from Lisbon in 1497, which is the tempting wrong option; 1757 is the Battle of Plassey and 1598 has no link to his voyage.
Answer: (B) The Nizam of Hyderabad
The Nizam of Hyderabad was the first to sign Lord Wellesley's Subsidiary Alliance, in 1798. The Nawab of Awadh followed in 1801 and the Peshwa (Baji Rao II, not Balaji Baji Rao) in 1802 by the Treaty of Bassein.
Answer: (D) Shah Alam II
After the Battle of Buxar, Shah Alam II granted the Company the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa by the Treaty of Allahabad in 1765. Farrukhsiyar's farman of 1717 gave only trade privileges, which makes it the tempting wrong option.
Answer: (B) the Marathas.
By the Treaty of Bassein (1802), Peshwa Baji Rao II accepted the Subsidiary Alliance with the English East India Company, which led to the Second Anglo-Maratha War. The Nizam had signed in 1798, Tipu had died in 1799, and the Sikhs signed no such treaty.
Answer: (B) Lord Dalhousie
Lord Dalhousie (1848–56) used the Doctrine of Lapse to annex states such as Satara, Jhansi and Nagpur whose rulers died without a natural heir. Wellesley is linked with the Subsidiary Alliance and Cornwallis with the Permanent Settlement.
Answer: (B) 1757
The Battle of Plassey was fought on 23 June 1757, when Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah after Mir Jafar's betrayal. 1756 is the year Siraj-ud-Daulah captured Calcutta, followed by the 'Black Hole' episode. 1780 marks the start of the Second Anglo-Mysore War. 1790 marks the start of the Third Anglo-Mysore War, which ended with the Treaty of Seringapatam in 1792.
Answer: (B) 1764
The Battle of Buxar was fought on 22 October 1764, when Hector Munro defeated the combined forces of Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah of Awadh and the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II. 1765 is the year of the Treaty of Allahabad, by which the Company gained the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. In 1795 the Marathas defeated the Nizam at the Battle of Kharda. In 1800 Lord Wellesley founded Fort William College in Calcutta.
Answer: (A) Farrukhsiyar
The Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar issued the farman of 1717, allowing the English East India Company to trade duty-free in Bengal for a yearly payment of ₹3,000; it is often called the Company's Magna Carta. Its misuse through dastaks later caused conflict with the Nawabs of Bengal. Jahangir received Sir Thomas Roe in 1615. Jahandar Shah ruled briefly (1712–13) before being overthrown and killed by Farrukhsiyar with the help of the Sayyid brothers.
Answer: (B) Surat
The English East India Company set up its first Indian factory at Surat in 1613 after obtaining trading rights from Emperor Jahangir.
Answer: (B) Tipu Sultan
Inspired by the French Revolution and his alliance with revolutionary France, Tipu Sultan planted a "Tree of Liberty" at his capital, Srirangapatnam.
Answer: (A) 1498 A.D.
The Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama landed at Calicut on the Malabar coast in May 1498, having discovered the sea route to India around the Cape of Good Hope — opening the era of direct European maritime trade with India.
Answer: (B) 1764
The Battle of Buxar was fought in 1764 between the East India Company and the combined forces of Mir Qasim (Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daula (Nawab of Awadh), and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II; the Company's decisive victory led to the Treaty of Allahabad (1765) and the grant of Diwani rights over Bengal.
Answer: (A) French East India Co. and English East India Co.
The three Carnatic Wars (1746-1763) were fought primarily between the French and English East India Companies (each allied with rival local claimants) for control and influence over South India, and ended with British dominance in the region.
Answer: (D) Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan of Mysore (ruled 1782-99) sought French help against the British: he sent embassies to France, corresponded with Napoleon, allowed a Jacobin Club at Seringapatam, planted a 'Tree of Liberty' and was addressed as 'Citizen Tipu'. His father Haidar Ali also used French officers, but among the options the French alliance is identified with Tipu, who died defending Seringapatam in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799). Safdar Jang was Nawab of Awadh and Mir Qasim was Nawab of Bengal (Battle of Buxar).
Answer: (B) Mir Jafar
The Battle of Buxar (22 October 1764) was fought by Hector Munro against the combined forces of the deposed Nawab Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah of Awadh and the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II. Mir Qasim had already been removed in 1763 and the Company had restored Mir Jafar, who was the Nawab of Bengal until his death in February 1765 (succeeded by Najm-ud-Daulah). The battle led to the Treaty of Allahabad (1765) and the grant of Diwani.
Answer: (A) Alexander Cunningham
Sir Alexander Cunningham is considered the father of Indian Archaeology. He founded the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 1861 and served as its first Director-General. He conducted extensive excavations at sites including Sanchi, Sarnath, and Harappa.
Answer: (A) Lord Wellesley.
Tipu Sultan's final defeat and death occurred on 4 May 1799 in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War during the Siege of Seringapatam, under the command of Governor-General Lord Wellesley. Cornwallis defeated Tipu in the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1792) but did not kill him.
