Topics: Later Mughals, Regional States, European Arrival, and British Economy
Level 1 :Easy
1. Who were known as the “King Makers” in Later Mughal history, responsible for placing four emperors on the throne between 1713 and 1720?
A. The Turani Nobles
B. The Sayyid Brothers (Abdulla Khan and Hussain Ali)
C. The Irani Group
D. The Rohillas
2. Which was the first European fort constructed in India (1503)?
A. Fort William (Calcutta)
B. Fort St. George (Madras)
C. Fort Emmanuel (Kochi)
D. Fort Angelo (Kannur)
3. Tipu Sultan died fighting the British during which war?
A. First Anglo-Mysore War
B. Second Anglo-Mysore War
C. Third Anglo-Mysore War
D. Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799)
4. Who was the first Governor-General of Bengal appointed under the Regulating Act of 1773?
A. Lord Clive
B. Warren Hastings
C. Lord Cornwallis
D. Lord Wellesley
5. The “Sunset Law” is associated with which land revenue system?
A. Ryotwari System
B. Mahalwari System
C. Permanent Settlement (Zamindari)
D. Izaredari System
6. Which Nawab of Bengal shifted his capital from Murshidabad to Munger (Monghyr) to escape the intrigues of the Company?
A. Mir Jafar
B. Mir Qasim
C. Sarfaraz Khan
D. Najm-ud-Daula
7. The “Treaty of Amritsar” (1809) fixed which river as the boundary between the British dominion and Ranjit Singh’s empire?
A. Ravi
B. Beas
C. Sutlej
D. Chenab
8. Which European power established their headquarters at “Tranquebar” on the Coromandel Coast?
A. Portuguese
B. Dutch
C. Danes (Danish)
D. French
9. Who was the Maratha Peshwa popularly known as “Nana Saheb”?
A. Balaji Vishwanath
B. Baji Rao I
C. Balaji Baji Rao
D. Madhav Rao
10. The state of Awadh was annexed by Lord Dalhousie in 1856 on the grounds of:
A. Doctrine of Lapse
B. Misgovernance (Maladministration)
C. Failure to pay subsidiary dues
D. Plotting against the British
11. In 1615, who arrived at the court of Jahangir as the official ambassador of King James I of England?
A. William Hawkins
B. Thomas Roe
C. Ralph Fitch
D. John Mildenhall
12. Who founded the independent state of the “Jats” at Bharatpur?
A. Churaman and Badan Singh
B. Suraj Mal
C. Gokula
D. Rajaram
13. The first railway line in India was opened in 1853 between:
A. Calcutta and Raniganj
B. Bombay and Thane
C. Madras and Arcot
D. Delhi and Agra
14. Which city was the capital of the Carnatic state (Arcot) in the 18th century?
A. Trichinopoly
B. Arcot
C. Tanjore
D. Madurai
15. The “Subsidiary Alliance” was first accepted by which Indian ruler (even before Wellesley formally defined it)?
A. The Peshwa
B. The Nawab of Awadh
C. The Nizam of Hyderabad
D. The King of Travancore
LEVEL 2: MEDIUM
16. Match the Maratha Confederate families with their seats of power:
| Family | Seat/Capital |
| A. Gaekwad | 1. Indore |
| B. Holkar | 2. Baroda |
| C. Scindia | 3. Nagpur |
| D. Bhonsle | 4. Gwalior |
Codes:
A. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
B. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
C. A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
D. A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
17. Which of the following statements about the “Battle of St. Thome” (1746) is correct?
A. It was fought between the French and the British.
B. It was fought between the French forces and the forces of Anwar-ud-din (Nawab of Carnatic).
C. The Nawab’s large army defeated the small French force.
D. It marked the beginning of the Second Carnatic War.
18. Arrange the establishment of the following East India Companies in chronological order:
- French
- English
- Portuguese
- Dutch
Codes:
A. 3, 4, 2, 1
B. 3, 2, 4, 1
C. 4, 3, 2, 1
D. 3, 2, 1, 4
19. Regarding the “Izaredari System” introduced by Warren Hastings in 1772, consider the following:
- The right to collect revenue was auctioned to the highest bidder.
- It was initially for a period of 5 years.
- It was a great success and stabilized the revenue.
Which statement(s) is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
20. Who among the following is credited with the introduction of the printing press in India (in Goa, 1556)?
A. The British missionaries
B. The Dutch traders
C. The Portuguese Jesuits
D. The French East India Company
21. The “Treaty of Allahabad” (1765) was signed between:
A. Robert Clive, Shuja-ud-Daula, and Shah Alam II
B. Robert Clive and Mir Qasim
C. Hector Munro and Mir Jafar
D. Warren Hastings and Shuja-ud-Daula
22. Which of the following was NOT a member of the “Jacobin Club” set up in Seringapatam?
A. French soldiers
B. Tipu Sultan
C. Haider Ali
D. None of the above (Tipu was a member)
23. The “Massacre of Amboyna” (1623) resulted in:
A. The expulsion of the Portuguese from Indonesia.
B. The English shifting their focus from the Spice Islands (Indonesia) to India.
C. The Dutch leaving India completely.
D. A war between France and England.
24. The revolt of Velu Thampi Dalawa (1805) took place in which state?
A. Mysore
B. Travancore
C. Kittur
D. Satara
25. Match the British Generals with the battles they won:
| Battle | British General |
| :— | :— |
| A. Battle of Plassey | 1. Sir Eyre Coote |
| B. Battle of Wandiwash | 2. Robert Clive |
| C. Battle of Buxar | 3. Hector Munro |
| D. Fourth Mysore War | 4. Lord Wellesley |
Codes:
A. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
B. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
C. A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
D. A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
26. “Outram Report” was the basis for the annexation of which state?
A. Jhansi
B. Satara
C. Awadh
D. Nagpur
27. Assertion (A): The British introduction of Railways in India was a case of “Premature Modernization.”
Reason (R): It was introduced to serve British colonial interests (troop movement and extraction of raw materials) rather than Indian industrial growth.
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.
28. Who wrote the famous account of the “Black Hole Tragedy,” which many historians believe was exaggerated?
A. Robert Clive
B. J.Z. Holwell
C. Watson
D. William Watts
29. The term “Chauth” collected by the Marathas was:
A. A tax of 10% on the land revenue paid to the Marathas to avoid their raids.
B. An additional tax of 25% for the upkeep of the Emperor.
C. A toll tax on roads.
D. A religious tax similar to Jizya.
30. Which Governor-General followed the policy of “Ring Fence” (defense of neighbors’ frontiers to safeguard one’s own)?
A. Lord Wellesley
B. Warren Hastings
C. Lord Hastings
D. Lord Dalhousie
LEVEL 3: DIFFICULT
31. Consider the following statements regarding the “Tripartite Treaty” of 1838:
- It was signed between the British, Ranjit Singh, and Shah Shuja.
- It aimed to place Shah Shuja on the throne of Kabul.
- Ranjit Singh agreed to let the British army pass through Punjab to attack Afghanistan.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
32. The “Treaty of Salbai” (1782) is often considered a diplomatic victory for the British because:
A. It gave them control over the entire Deccan.
B. It secured peace with the Marathas for 20 years, allowing the British to crush Mysore.
C. The Marathas agreed to the Subsidiary Alliance immediately.
D. It forced the French to leave India.
33. With reference to the “Home Charges” in the context of the Drain of Wealth, which of the following constituted the Home Charges?
- Dividend to the shareholders of the East India Company.
- Interest on public debt raised in England.
- Pensions and furloughs of British officers.
- Purchases of military stores in England.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2, 3 and 4 only
C. 1, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
34. Who among the following Mughal Emperors was the first to become a pensioner of the East India Company?
A. Ahmed Shah
B. Alamgir II
C. Shah Alam II
D. Akbar II
35. Consider the following pairs of “Independent Kingdoms” and their “Nature of Origin”:
- Succession States: Hyderabad, Awadh, Bengal.
- Warrior/Rebel States: Marathas, Sikhs, Jats.
- Independent Kingdom (outside Mughal sphere): Mysore.
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
36. Why did the British East India Company sell the territory of Kashmir to Gulab Singh in 1846 (Treaty of Amritsar)?
A. They could not manage the cold climate.
B. To recover the war indemnity which the Lahore Durbar could not pay.
C. To create a buffer state against Russia.
D. Gulab Singh was the legitimate heir of Ranjit Singh.
37. The “Dual System” of government in Bengal (1765-72) failed primarily because:
A. The Nawab had power but no responsibility, while the Company had responsibility but no power.
B. The Company had power without responsibility, and the Nawab had responsibility without power.
C. The French interfered in the administration.
D. The Mughal Emperor refused to recognize it.
38. Which of the following statements about the “Danes” (Denmark) in India is correct?
A. They were the strongest naval power after the Portuguese.
B. Their main focus was missionary activities rather than commerce.
C. They sold all their settlements in India to the British in 1845.
D. Both B and C.
39. Regarding the “Rohilla War” (1774), Warren Hastings was criticized (and later impeached) because:
A. He lent a British brigade to the Nawab of Awadh to crush the Rohillas for a monetary sum.
B. He annexed Rohilkhand against the orders of the Directors.
C. He signed a treaty with the Marathas against the Rohillas.
D. He refused to protect the Rohillas from Afghan invasion.
40. Identify the historical personality:
- He was a Brahmin administrator and statesman.
- He served as the Dewan of Mysore under Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan, and the Wodeyars.
- He was known for his financial skills but criticized for collaborating with the British after Tipu’s death.
Who is he?
A. Mir Alam
B. Purnaiah
C. Salar Jung
D. Nana Phadnavis
41. The British policy of “Commercialization of Agriculture” in the 19th century led to:
- Growth of a unified national market.
- Breakdown of the self-sufficient village economy.
- Prosperity for the majority of the peasantry.
Which statements are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
42. Which battle is often described with the phrase: “A defeat for the British, but a victory for the Company”? (Hint: It relates to the internal corruption vs military discipline).
Actually, this is a trick question. Let’s rephrase for clarity/standardization.
Q42. Which event is described as “The Loot of 1757-1772” where Company officials returned to England as “Nabobs”?
A. The period between Plassey and the Regulating Act.
B. The period of Subsidiary Alliances.
C. The period of William Bentinck.
D. The Post-Mutiny period.
43. Consider the following statements about the “Sanyasi Rebellion” (1763-1800):
- It is the backdrop of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s novel Anandamath.
- The immediate cause was the restriction on pilgrims visiting holy places.
- It was completely suppressed by Lord Wellesley.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
44. What was the “Alphonso de Albuquerque’s” strategy to ensure Portuguese dominance in the Indian Ocean?
A. Convert the Mughal Emperor to Christianity.
B. Occupy key strategic ports (Aden, Ormuz, Malacca) to control trade routes.
C. Build a massive land army to defeat the Marathas.
D. Ally with the Dutch against the English.
45. Assertion (A): The Regulating Act of 1773 created a Supreme Court in Calcutta.
Reason (R): It was intended to administer justice to Indians according to their own personal laws.
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.
46. Which Maratha Chief was the last to sign a Subsidiary Alliance with the British?
A. The Peshwa
B. The Scindia
C. The Holkar
D. The Bhonsle
47. The “Permanent Settlement” created a new class of landlords. What happened if a Zamindar failed to pay the fixed revenue on the fixed date?
A. He was imprisoned.
B. His Zamindari was auctioned off.
C. The revenue demand was lowered for the next year.
D. He was replaced by a British officer.
48. In the context of the Anglo-French rivalry, what was the significance of the “Treaty of Paris” (1763)?
A. It restored Pondicherry to the French but forbade them from fortifying it.
B. It allowed the French to maintain a standing army in Bengal.
C. It gave the French equal trading rights as the British.
D. It divided India into French and British spheres of influence.
49. Who among the following founded the “Bangash Pathan” state in Farrukhabad?
A. Ali Muhammad Khan
B. Muhammad Khan Bangash
C. Daud Khan
D. Hafiz Rahmat Khan
50. “The armor of the isolate self-sufficient village was pierced by the steel rail.” This statement highlights the impact of:
A. British Land Revenue Systems.
B. The introduction of Railways.
C. Christian Missionaries.
D. The English Education Act.