Establishment and Expansion of British Dominion in India – UGC NET – Practice Questions

Siraj-ud-Daula (1756-1757)

1. The earliest English settlement in eastern India was established in:
A. Madras
B. Hariharpur and Balasore
C. Surat
D. Bombay

2. The first English factory in Bengal was established at Hugli in:
A. 1633
B. 1664
C. 1651
D. 1698

3. Who granted permission to the English to establish a factory at Hugli?
A. Sultan Shuja
B. Murshid Quli Khan
C. Farrukh Siyar
D. Alivardi Khan

4. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer.

A. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
B. A-II, B-IV, C-I, D-III
C. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
D. A-IV, B-I, C-II, D-III

5. The annual payment fixed for English trade privileges in Bengal was:
A. Rs. 1200
B. Rs. 3000
C. Rs. 5000
D. Rs. 7000

6. Which among the following was NOT a major item of English trade in Bengal?
A. Silk
B. Saltpetre
C. Tea
D. Sugar

7. Assertion (A): Company officials frequently misused dastaks.
Reason (R): Dastaks enabled free movement of goods without payment of duties.

A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
C. (A) is true but (R) is false.
D. (A) is false but (R) is true.

8. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer.

A. A-II, B-III, C-I, D-IV
B. A-I, B-II, C-IV, D-III
C. A-II, B-III, C-I, D-IV
D. A-IV, B-I, C-II, D-III

9. The English obtained Zamindari of Sutanuti, Kalikata and Govindpur in:
A. 1651
B. 1672
C. 1717
D. 1698

10. Fort William was constructed by the English at:
A. Patna
B. Calcutta
C. Qasim Bazar
D. Balasore

11. Who was the first President of Fort William?
A. Sir Charles Eyre
B. Robert Clive
C. Admiral Watson
D. Sir Thomas Roe

12. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer.

A. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
B. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
C. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
D. A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I

13. Which Mughal emperor issued the Farman of 1717?
A. Aurangzeb
B. Bahadur Shah I
C. Farrukh Siyar
D. Muhammad Shah

14. Assertion (A): Company servants were exempted from paying taxes on private trade under the Farman of 1717.
Reason (R): The Farman applied only to Company trade and not private trade of servants.

A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation.
B. (A) is false but (R) is true.
C. Both (A) and (R) are false.
D. (A) is true but (R) is false.

15. Which Nawabs strongly objected to the misuse of dastaks?
A. Siraj-ud-Daula and Mir Jafar
B. Murshid Quli Khan and Siraj-ud-Daula
C. Alivardi Khan and Mir Qasim
D. Murshid Quli Khan and Alivardi Khan

16. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer.

A. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
B. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
C. A-IV, B-II, C-I, D-III
D. A-III, B-IV, C-II, D-I

17. Siraj-ud-Daula succeeded to the throne of Bengal after:
A. Murshid Quli Khan
B. Alivardi Khan
C. Mir Qasim
D. Shuja-ud-Din

18. Ghasiti Begum was associated with:
A. Patna
B. Purnea
C. Dacca
D. Chandernagore

19. Assertion (A): Siraj-ud-Daula opposed special privileges enjoyed by the English.
Reason (R): He wanted English trade to function like in the time of Murshid Quli Khan.

A. Both (A) and (R) are false.
B. (A) is false but (R) is true.
C. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation.
D. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation.

20. The French settlement in Bengal was located at:
A. Hugli
B. Pondicherry
C. Karaikal
D. Chandernagore

21. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer.

A. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
B. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
C. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
D. A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I

22. One major reason for conflict between Siraj-ud-Daula and the English was:
A. Spread of Christianity
B. Refusal of English to pay taxes
C. English support to Marathas
D. Portuguese intervention

23. Siraj-ud-Daula ordered both French and English to:
A. Expand trade
B. Stop silk trade
C. Pull down fortifications
D. Shift settlements

24. Assertion (A): The French obeyed Siraj-ud-Daula’s orders regarding fortifications.
Reason (R): The English refused while the French complied.

A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation.
B. Both are true but unrelated.
C. (A) is true but (R) is false.
D. (A) is false but (R) is true.

25. Qasim Bazar factory was seized by Siraj-ud-Daula in:
A. 1755
B. 1756
C. 1757
D. 1760

26. Fort William was captured by Siraj-ud-Daula on:
A. 9 February 1757
B. 23 June 1757
C. 20 June 1756
D. 10 July 1756

27. The Black Hole incident is associated with:
A. Fort William, Calcutta
B. Fort St. George, Madras
C. Surat Factory
D. Bombay Castle

28. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer.

A. A-I, B-II, C-IV, D-III
B. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
C. A-II, B-I, C-III, D-IV
D. A-IV, B-III, C-I, D-II

29. According to the Black Hole narrative, approximately how many English prisoners survived?
A. 10
B. 15
C. 23
D. 46

30. The English escaped after the fall of Calcutta to:
A. Madras
B. Bombay
C. Chandernagore
D. Fulta

31. Assertion (A): Siraj-ud-Daula underestimated the English after capturing Calcutta.
Reason (R): He allowed the English to escape with their ships and returned to Murshidabad.

A. Both (A) and (R) are false.
B. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
C. (A) is true but (R) is false.
D. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation.

32. A strong naval and military force came from Madras under:
A. Sir Charles Eyre and Watson
B. Clive and Cornwallis
C. Col. Clive and Admiral Watson
D. Hastings and Watson

33. Hugli was plundered and Calcutta was reoccupied by the English in:
A. Early 1757
B. Late 1756
C. Mid 1758
D. Early 1760

34. The Treaty of Alinagar was signed on:
A. 20 June 1756
B. 9 February 1757
C. 23 June 1757
D. 12 August 1765

35. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer.

A. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
B. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
C. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
D. A-IV, B-II, C-I, D-III

36. Under the Treaty of Alinagar, the Nawab agreed to:
A. Expel the French from Bengal
B. Surrender Bengal to the Company
C. Stop trade in Bengal
D. Restore Company rights and compensate losses

37. Assertion (A): The misuse of dastaks caused financial loss to Bengal.
Reason (R): Company officials evaded taxes on private trade.

A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B. Both are true but (R) is not the correct explanation.
C. (A) is false but (R) is true.
D. Both are false.

38. Which among the following villages was NOT obtained under the Zamindari grant of 1698?
A. Sutanuti
B. Kalikata
C. Hugli
D. Govindpur

39. The privilege of issuing dastaks was granted by:
A. Alivardi Khan
B. Sultan Shuja
C. Farrukh Siyar
D. Aurangzeb

40. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer.

A. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
B. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
C. A-IV, B-III, C-I, D-II
D. A-I, B-IV, C-II, D-III

41. Which among the following was a rival of Siraj-ud-Daula?
A. Shaukat Jang
B. Mir Qasim
C. Shaista Khan
D. Murshid Quli Khan

42. The English fortified Calcutta mainly due to:
A. Maratha invasion
B. Fear of Anglo-French conflict
C. Portuguese threat
D. Nawab’s orders

43. Assertion (A): Siraj-ud-Daula viewed unauthorized fortification as a challenge to his sovereignty.
Reason (R): Fortification was carried out without his permission.

A. (A) is false but (R) is true.
B. Both are false.
C. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation.
D. Both are true but unrelated.

44. Which settlement served as the refuge of the English after escaping Calcutta?
A. Madras
B. Balasore
C. Hugli
D. Fulta

45. The main English trade item used in gunpowder production was:
A. Sugar
B. Cotton
C. Saltpetre
D. Silk

46. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer.

A. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
B. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
C. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
D. A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I

47. Which statement best explains the conflict between Bengal Nawabs and the English Company?
A. Religious intolerance
B. Economic privileges and misuse of trade exemptions
C. Territorial expansion into South India
D. Portuguese rivalry

48. The Black Hole incident occurred in the year:
A. 1755
B. 1756
C. 1757
D. 1764

49. Assertion (A): Company servants enjoyed unrestricted private trade under the Farman of 1717.
Reason (R): They had to pay taxes like Indian merchants for private trade.

A. Both are true and (R) explains (A).
B. Both are false.
C. (A) is false but (R) is true.
D. (A) is true but (R) is false.

50. Which of the following English settlements was in Orissa?
A. Patna
B. Qasim Bazar
C. Hugli
D. Balasore

51. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer.

A. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
B. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
C. A-III, B-IV, C-I, D-II
D. A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I

52. Siraj-ud-Daula captured Fort William before the:
A. Battle of Buxar
B. Battle of Plassey
C. Carnatic Wars
D. Treaty of Allahabad

53. The Nawab who signed the Treaty of Alinagar was:
A. Alivardi Khan
B. Mir Jafar
C. Siraj-ud-Daula
D. Murshid Quli Khan

54. The English reoccupied Calcutta with assistance from:
A. Bombay Presidency
B. Portuguese navy
C. Madras Presidency
D. Dutch merchants

55. Assertion (A): The Treaty of Alinagar strengthened the English position in Bengal.
Reason (R): It restored Company rights and compensated losses.

A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation.
B. Both are true but unrelated.
C. (A) is true but (R) is false.
D. Both are false.

56. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer.

A. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
B. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
C. A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I
D. A-I, B-IV, C-II, D-III

57. The immediate consequence of Siraj-ud-Daula’s victory at Calcutta was:
A. Temporary English withdrawal to Fulta
B. Battle of Buxar
C. Annexation of Bengal
D. French conquest of Bengal

58. Which Mughal office did Sultan Shuja hold in Bengal?
A. Diwan
B. Viceroy
C. Subedar of Bihar
D. Faujdar

59. The English demanded restoration of privileges through the Treaty of Alinagar because:
A. They lost Madras
B. They feared Dutch invasion
C. They suffered losses during conflict with Siraj-ud-Daula
D. They wanted alliance with the French

60. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer.

A. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
B. A-IV, B-III, C-I, D-II
C. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
D. A-III, B-IV, C-II, D-I