MCQ on Advent of European Companies in India

🟢 Easy (1–20)

Which European power was the first to arrive in India for trade?
a) Dutch
b) British
c) Portuguese ✅
d) French
Explanation: The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive, led by Vasco da Gama in 1498.
Who discovered the sea route to India?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) Vasco da Gama ✅
c) Ferdinand Magellan
d) John Cabot
Explanation: Vasco da Gama reached Calicut in 1498, opening the sea route from Europe to India.
In which year did Vasco da Gama land in Calicut?
a) 1600
b) 1498 ✅
c) 1500
d) 1556
Explanation: He landed at Calicut in 1498 during his first voyage.
Which Indian ruler welcomed Vasco da Gama at Calicut?
a) Zamorin ✅
b) Tipu Sultan
c) Krishnadevaraya
d) Shivaji
Explanation: The Zamorin was the ruler of Calicut and received Vasco da Gama.
Which was the first English trading company in India?
a) British East India Company ✅
b) Dutch East India Company
c) French East India Company
d) Portuguese Trading Company
Explanation: The British East India Company was established in 1600.
The Portuguese established their first factory in India at:
a) Surat
b) Cochin ✅
c) Goa
d) Bombay
Explanation: The first factory was established at Cochin in 1503.
The British East India Company was granted a charter by:
a) Queen Elizabeth I ✅
b) King James I
c) Queen Victoria
d) Charles II
Explanation: Queen Elizabeth I gave the charter in 1600.
The Dutch East India Company was established in:
a) 1595
b) 1602 ✅
c) 1608
d) 1615
Explanation: It was formed in 1602 to control Dutch trade in Asia.
The British set up their first factory in India at:
a) Surat ✅
b) Calcutta
c) Madras
d) Bombay
Explanation: They established their first trading post at Surat in 1613.
Who gave the British permission to trade at Surat?
a) Akbar
b) Shah Jahan
c) Jahangir ✅
d) Aurangzeb
Explanation: Jahangir allowed the English to establish a factory in Surat.
Which European power built Fort St. George?
a) Dutch
b) Portuguese
c) British ✅
d) French
Explanation: Built by the British in Madras (now Chennai) in 1644.
The French East India Company was established in:
a) 1600
b) 1664 ✅
c) 1650
d) 1670
Explanation: It was established by Colbert during Louis XIV’s reign.
Which European power was defeated in the Battle of Swally?
a) Dutch
b) French
c) Portuguese ✅
d) Danes
Explanation: The British defeated the Portuguese in 1612 at Swally (Suvali) near Surat.
Who was the British ambassador sent to Jahangir’s court?
a) Robert Clive
b) John Hawkins
c) Sir Thomas Roe ✅
d) Warren Hastings
Explanation: Sir Thomas Roe arrived at Jahangir’s court in 1615.
Who introduced printing press in India?
a) British
b) Portuguese ✅
c) French
d) Dutch
Explanation: Portuguese introduced the first printing press in Goa in 1556.
The Dutch set up their first trading post in India at:
a) Cochin
b) Pulicat ✅
c) Surat
d) Bombay
Explanation: Pulicat (Tamil Nadu) became the Dutch headquarters.
Which European country ruled over Goa until 1961?
a) British
b) Dutch
c) French
d) Portuguese ✅
Explanation: Goa remained under Portuguese rule until 1961.
Which city was ceded to the British as dowry in 1661?
a) Bombay ✅
b) Calcutta
c) Surat
d) Madras
Explanation: Bombay was given by the Portuguese to the British as part of Catherine of Braganza’s dowry.
Who was the founder of Pondicherry as a French settlement?
a) Dupleix
b) Colbert
c) Francois Martin ✅
d) La Bourdonnais
Explanation: Francois Martin established Pondicherry in 1674.
Which European nation had the least presence in India?
a) Dutch
b) Danes ✅
c) French
d) Portuguese
Explanation: Danes had limited control, mainly at Tranquebar.

🟡 Moderate (21–40)

In which year did the Danes establish their trading post at Tranquebar?
a) 1602
b) 1616 ✅
c) 1620
d) 1650
Explanation: Danish East India Company established it in 1616.
Which European company was most powerful in the 18th century?
a) Dutch
b) French
c) British ✅
d) Portuguese
Explanation: The British eventually overpowered all others.
Which of the following was not a factory of the French in India?
a) Chandernagore
b) Mahe
c) Calicut ✅
d) Karaikal
Explanation: French had no major settlement in Calicut.
Which Mughal emperor granted Bombay to the British East India Company?
a) Akbar
b) Shah Jahan
c) Aurangzeb ✅
d) Jahangir
Explanation: After acquisition from the Portuguese, Aurangzeb granted trading rights.
Who was the French Governor-General during Carnatic Wars?
a) Francois Martin
b) La Bourdonnais
c) Dupleix ✅
d) Lally
Explanation: Dupleix expanded French influence in south India.
Which European power introduced the cultivation of tobacco in India?
a) British
b) Dutch
c) Portuguese ✅
d) French
Explanation: The Portuguese introduced many crops including tobacco.
The Battle of Plassey was fought between:
a) British and Portuguese
b) British and Dutch
c) British and Nawab of Bengal ✅
d) French and Marathas
Explanation: It was fought in 1757 between British and Siraj-ud-Daulah.
What was the significance of the Battle of Swally (1612)?
a) Portuguese regained control
b) Dutch entered Gujarat
c) British secured permission to trade ✅
d) French established Pondicherry
Explanation: The victory helped British secure Surat from the Mughals.
Which European power built Fort St. David?
a) Portuguese
b) Dutch
c) British ✅
d) French
Explanation: Located near Cuddalore, taken by British in 1690.
Which treaty ended the First Carnatic War?
a) Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ✅
b) Treaty of Paris
c) Treaty of Madras
d) Treaty of Pondicherry
Explanation: It ended in 1748 restoring captured territories.
Which European power was defeated at the Battle of Buxar (1764)?
a) French
b) British
c) Dutch ✅
d) Portuguese
Explanation: Dutch influence declined after their defeat by the British.
The Treaty of Paris (1763) confirmed British control over:
a) Goa
b) Pondicherry
c) Bengal ✅
d) Bombay
Explanation: British emerged dominant; French influence reduced.
Which battle confirmed British supremacy over French in India?
a) Plassey
b) Buxar
c) Wandiwash ✅
d) Swally
Explanation: Battle of Wandiwash (1760) ended French ambitions.
The Dutch focused mainly on trade in:
a) Bengal
b) Gujarat
c) Spice Islands (Indonesia) ✅
d) Punjab
Explanation: Dutch prioritized Indonesia over India.
Who among the following did not establish a settlement in Bengal?
a) Portuguese
b) British
c) Danes
d) Spanish ✅
Explanation: The Spanish had no settlements in India.
Which port was a major base for the Portuguese in India?
a) Tranquebar
b) Goa ✅
c) Pondicherry
d) Surat
Explanation: Goa was the headquarters of Portuguese India.
Which company had monopoly rights granted by French monarchs?
a) Dutch East India Company
b) Compagnie des Indes Orientales ✅
c) Portuguese India Company
d) Royal Trading Company
Explanation: French East India Company had royal support.
Which European power introduced cashew and pineapple to India?
a) British
b) Portuguese ✅
c) Dutch
d) French
Explanation: These crops were introduced by the Portuguese.
The French lost their final foothold in India after the battle of:
a) Wandiwash ✅
b) Plassey
c) Buxar
d) Carnatic
Explanation: It was a decisive defeat in 1760.
Which European power built the first printing press in Asia?
a) British
b) Portuguese ✅
c) Dutch
d) French
Explanation: Introduced in Goa in 1556.

🔴 Hard (41–50)

Which Mughal prince was assisted by the Portuguese during a rebellion?
a) Dara Shikoh
b) Khusrau
c) Shah Shuja ✅
d) Murad
Explanation: Shah Shuja sought support from the Portuguese during war of succession.
Which British officer signed the Treaty of Allahabad with Mughal emperor Shah Alam II?
a) Lord Clive ✅
b) Warren Hastings
c) Robert Orme
d) John Clive
Explanation: After Buxar, the treaty in 1765 gave Diwani rights to the Company.
Which Dutch commander was defeated in the Battle of Chinsurah (1759)?
a) Van Imhoff
b) Admiral Speelman
c) Colonel Forde ✅
d) Pieter Boon
Explanation: British defeated the Dutch at Chinsurah.
Which Portuguese viceroy captured Goa in 1510?
a) Francisco de Almeida
b) Afonso de Albuquerque ✅
c) Vasco da Gama
d) Pedro Cabral
Explanation: He captured Goa from the Bijapur Sultanate.
Which was the French stronghold in Bengal?
a) Murshidabad
b) Chandernagore ✅
c) Cuttack
d) Baroda
Explanation: Chandernagore was a prominent French settlement.
The Danes sold their Indian settlements to the British in:
a) 1750
b) 1800
c) 1845 ✅
d) 1857
Explanation: Denmark sold Tranquebar to the British in 1845.
Who succeeded Dupleix as French Governor-General in India?
a) Lally ✅
b) Bussy
c) Francois Martin
d) Dumas
Explanation: Count de Lally took charge but failed to hold French positions.
Which European country did not have a significant naval presence in India?
a) British
b) Dutch
c) French
d) Danes ✅
Explanation: Danes lacked a strong navy in India.
Which Mughal ruler issued farman to British to trade in Bengal in 1717?
a) Shah Alam I
b) Aurangzeb
c) Farrukhsiyar ✅
d) Muhammad Shah
Explanation: Farrukhsiyar issued a significant farman granting trade privileges.
Who introduced the Cartaz system (naval pass system)?
a) British
b) Dutch
c) Portuguese ✅
d) French
Explanation: Portuguese enforced Cartaz to control trade in Indian Ocean.

🟢 Easy (1–20)

🟡 Moderate (21–40)

🔴 Hard (41–50)

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