British Conquest – Bengal Top 100 MCQs With Answer and Explanation

1. Who was the first Nawab of Bengal, virtually independent of the Mughal Empire?
A) Alivardi Khan
B) Siraj-ud-Daulah
C) Murshid Quli Khan
D) Shuja-ud-Daulah

2. Who succeeded Murshid Quli Khan as Nawab of Bengal?
A) Alivardi Khan
B) Shuja-ud-Daulah
C) Siraj-ud-Daulah
D) Mir Jafar

3. The last independent Nawab of Bengal before British rule was____________.
A) Alivardi Khan
B) Siraj-ud-Daulah
C) Mir Jafar
D) Mir Qasim

4. The British East India Company established its first factory in Bengal at____________.
A) Murshidabad
B) Calcutta
C) Hooghly
D) Kasimbazar

5. Which Mughal emperor granted the East India Company the Farman of 1717?
A) Aurangzeb
B) Bahadur Shah I
C) Farrukhsiyar
D) Shah Alam II

6. Why did Siraj-ud-Daulah oppose the British?
A) Fortification of Calcutta without his permission
B) Misuse of Farman of 1717
C) Refusal to pay taxes
D) All of the above

7. The capture of Calcutta by Siraj-ud-Daulah in 1756 is associated with____________.
A) Treaty of Alinagar
B) Black Hole Tragedy
C) Plassey
D) Buxar

8. The British recaptured Calcutta from Siraj-ud-Daulah in 1757 under____________.
A) Eyre Coote
B) Robert Clive
C) Hector Munro
D) Warren Hastings

9. The Treaty of Alinagar (1757) was signed between____________.
A) Siraj-ud-Daulah and French
B) Siraj-ud-Daulah and British
C) Mir Jafar and British
D) Alivardi Khan and British

10. The most important cause of conflict between Siraj-ud-Daulah and British was____________.
A) Fortification of Calcutta
B) Black Hole Tragedy
C) Misuse of trade privileges
D) All of the above

11. Which European power supported Siraj-ud-Daulah against the British in Bengal?
A) French
B) Dutch
C) Portuguese
D) Danes

12. The capital of Bengal under Siraj-ud-Daulah was____________.
A) Calcutta
B) Murshidabad
C) Patna
D) Dhaka

13. The British strengthened their position in Bengal mainly because of____________.
A) Superior military
B) Treachery of Indian allies
C) Financial resources
D) All of the above

14. Siraj-ud-Daulah was betrayed in Plassey by____________.
A) Mir Jafar
B) Rai Durlabh
C) Jagat Seths
D) All of the above

15. Mir Jafar was promised Nawabship of Bengal by____________.
A) French
B) Portuguese
C) British
D) Dutch

16. The “Jagat Seths” were____________.
A) European generals
B) French traders
C) Indian bankers
D) Dutch officers

17. The Black Hole Tragedy took place in____________.
A) Calcutta
B) Murshidabad
C) Patna
D) Chandernagore

18. The European rival of the British in Bengal was mainly____________.
A) French
B) Dutch
C) Portuguese
D) Danes

19. The English East India Company’s headquarters in Bengal was____________.
A) Madras
B) Bombay
C) Calcutta
D) Chandernagore

20. Alivardi Khan was known for resisting____________.
A) Marathas
B) British
C) Sikhs
D) Afghans

21. The Maratha invasions of Bengal led to the introduction of____________.
A) Sardeshmukhi tax
B) Chauth
C) Both a & b
D) None

22. Who among the following was not a Nawab of Bengal?
A) Murshid Quli Khan
B) Alivardi Khan
C) Mir Qasim
D) Shuja-ud-Daulah

23. The real cause of British victory in Bengal was____________.
A) Superior artillery
B) Naval power
C) Indian betrayal
D) Mughal support

24. The Nawabs of Bengal who resisted the British most strongly were____________.
A) Alivardi Khan & Siraj-ud-Daulah
B) Mir Jafar & Mir Qasim
C) Murshid Quli Khan & Shuja-ud-Daulah
D) All of the above

25. Which Nawab’s reign saw the beginning of direct conflict with the British?
A) Murshid Quli Khan
B) Alivardi Khan
C) Siraj-ud-Daulah
D) Mir Jafar

26. The Battle of Plassey was fought in____________.
A) 1748
B) 1757
C) 1761
D) 1764

27. The opponents in the Battle of Plassey were____________.
A) British vs French
B) Siraj-ud-Daulah vs British East India Company
C) Marathas vs Mughals
D) British vs Awadh

28. The immediate cause of the Battle of Plassey was____________.
A) Company’s refusal to pay duties
B) Fortification of Calcutta without Nawab’s permission
C) Misuse of Farrukhsiyar’s Farman
D) All of the above

29. Which event just before Plassey made the conflict unavoidable?
A) Black Hole Tragedy (1756)
B) Treaty of Alinagar (1757)
C) Capture of Chandernagore
D) Attack on Patna

30. The Black Hole Tragedy was exaggerated by____________.
A) Holwell
B) Robert Clive
C) Eyre Coote
D) Jagat Seth

31. The British forces at Plassey were led by____________.
A) Eyre Coote
B) Hector Munro
C) Robert Clive
D) Warren Hastings

32. The Nawab’s army at Plassey was commanded by____________.
A) Mir Jafar
B) Rai Durlabh
C) Yar Lutuf Khan
D) All of the above

33. The strength of Siraj-ud-Daulah’s army at Plassey was approximately____________.
A) 10,000
B) 20,000
C) 50,000
D) 80,000

34. The betrayal at Plassey was led by____________.
A) Mir Jafar
B) Rai Durlabh
C) Jagat Seths (bankers)
D) All of the above

35. The conspiracy against Siraj-ud-Daulah was hatched at____________.
A) Murshidabad
B) Calcutta
C) Plassey
D) Patna

36. The French supported Siraj from their base at____________.
A) Pondicherry
B) Chandernagore
C) Karaikal
D) Mahe

37. The actual fighting at Plassey lasted for____________.
A) 18 hours
B) 24 hours
C) One week
D) A month

38. Who was installed as Nawab of Bengal after Plassey?
A) Mir Jafar
B) Mir Qasim
C) Shuja-ud-Daulah
D) Alivardi Khan

39. The Battle of Plassey is often described as____________.
A) A true military victory
B) A battle won by diplomacy and treachery
C) A religious war
D) A naval war

40. The real architect of Plassey victory was____________.
A) Robert Clive’s tactics
B) Mir Jafar’s betrayal
C) Jagat Seths’ financial support
D) All of the above

41. The financial reward given to the British after Plassey was approximately____________.
A) 1 crore rupees
B) 2 crore rupees
C) 3 crore rupees
D) 5 crore rupees

42. Robert Clive received how much personally after Plassey?
A) 50,000 rupees
B) 1 lakh rupees
C) 2 lakh rupees
D) 2 crore rupees

43. The victory at Plassey gave the British control over____________.
A) Bengal
B) Bihar
C) Orissa
D) All of the above

44. Which Nawab later replaced Mir Jafar as he failed to satisfy British demands?
A) Mir Qasim
B) Alivardi Khan
C) Shuja-ud-Daulah
D) Siraj-ud-Daulah

45. The defeat of Siraj-ud-Daulah at Plassey proved significant because____________.
A) It marked the first British political victory in India
B) It made Bengal the base of British power
C) It gave Company enormous resources
D) All of the above

46. The Jagat Seths supported the British mainly because____________.
A) They wanted to expand trade
B) They feared Siraj-ud-Daulah’s hostility
C) They preferred Mir Jafar as Nawab
D) All of the above

47. The French role in Plassey was limited because____________.
A) They lacked reinforcements from Europe
B) They were outnumbered
C) They were defeated at Chandernagore earlier
D) All of the above

48. Siraj-ud-Daulah was captured and killed after Plassey by____________.
A) Robert Clive
B) Mir Jafar’s men
C) French soldiers
D) Marathas

49. The Battle of Plassey gave the British____________.
A) Political control of Bengal
B) Huge financial resources
C) A strategic base for expansion
D) All of the above

50. The Battle of Plassey (1757) is regarded as the____________.
A) First Anglo-Maratha War
B) Foundation of British Empire in India
C) End of Mughal Empire
D) Beginning of French rule

51. The Battle of Buxar was fought in____________.
A) 1757
B) 1761
C) 1764
D) 1765

52. The opponents in the Battle of Buxar were____________.
A) British vs Siraj-ud-Daulah
B) British vs Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah & Shah Alam II
C) British vs Nadir Shah
D) British vs Marathas

53. The Nawab of Bengal at the Battle of Buxar was____________.
A) Siraj-ud-Daulah
B) Mir Jafar
C) Mir Qasim
D) Shuja-ud-Daulah

54. The Nawab of Awadh in the Battle of Buxar was____________.
A) Saadat Khan
B) Shuja-ud-Daulah
C) Asaf-ud-Daula
D) Ghazi-ud-Din

55. The Mughal emperor in the Battle of Buxar was____________.
A) Alamgir II
B) Shah Alam II
C) Bahadur Shah I
D) Muhammad Shah

56. The British commander at the Battle of Buxar was____________.
A) Robert Clive
B) Eyre Coote
C) Hector Munro
D) Stringer Lawrence

57. The significance of the Battle of Buxar was____________.
A) Confirmed British supremacy in Bengal
B) Gave Company political control of Awadh and Bihar
C) Mughals became British dependents
D) All of the above

58. The Battle of Buxar is considered more decisive than Plassey because____________.
A) Plassey was based on betrayal
B) Buxar was a true military victory
C) It defeated three major Indian powers together
D) All of the above

59. The Treaty of Allahabad (1765) was signed after____________.
A) Plassey
B) Buxar
C) Wandiwash
D) Panipat

60. By the Treaty of Allahabad, the Mughal emperor granted the Company____________.
A) Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa
B) Zamindari rights
C) Jagirdari
D) Military rights

61. Diwani rights meant____________.
A) Judicial powers
B) Military powers
C) Revenue collection rights
D) Administrative powers

62. The Treaty of Allahabad forced Shuja-ud-Daulah to____________.
A) Surrender Awadh
B) Pay 50 lakh rupees indemnity
C) Accept a British Resident
D) Both b & c

63. Under the Treaty of Allahabad, Shah Alam II____________.
A) Was restored to Delhi
B) Granted Diwani rights to the Company
C) Lived at Allahabad under Company protection
D) All of the above

64. The Dual Government in Bengal was introduced by____________.
A) Robert Clive
B) Warren Hastings
C) Lord Cornwallis
D) Eyre Coote

65. Dual Government meant____________.
A) British and French ruled Bengal jointly
B) Nawab handled administration, Company collected revenue
C) Mughals and Marathas ruled Bengal
D) British Parliament and Company both ruled

66. The biggest consequence of Dual Government was____________.
A) Prosperity of Bengal
B) Exploitation and famine
C) Strong Nawabs
D) Mughal revival

67. The Bengal famine of 1770 was worsened by____________.
A) Failure of monsoon
B) Company’s revenue greed
C) Export of food grains
D) All of the above

68. Who abolished the Dual Government in Bengal?
A) Robert Clive
B) Warren Hastings
C) Lord Cornwallis
D) Shah Alam II

69. The significance of the Treaty of Allahabad was____________.
A) Beginning of British political rule in India
B) End of Mughal independence
C) British control over Bengal revenue
D) All of the above

70. Which Mughal emperor granted the Diwani rights?
A) Farrukhsiyar
B) Shah Alam II
C) Alamgir II
D) Bahadur Shah I

71. Mir Qasim shifted his capital from Murshidabad to____________.
A) Patna
B) Calcutta
C) Monghyr
D) Dacca

72. Mir Qasim tried to modernize his army with the help of____________.
A) French
B) Dutch
C) Portuguese
D) Danes

73. The significance of Mir Qasim’s defeat was____________.
A) End of Nawabs’ independence in Bengal
B) British supremacy confirmed
C) Bengal became the Company’s stronghold
D) All of the above

74. Who is often called the “true founder of British rule in India”?
A) Robert Clive
B) Warren Hastings
C) Lord Cornwallis
D) William Pitt

75. The real power in Bengal after 1765 lay with____________.
A) Nawab of Bengal
B) Mughal emperor
C) East India Company
D) Jagat Seths

76. Dual Government in Bengal was introduced by____________.
A) Warren Hastings
B) Robert Clive
C) Lord Cornwallis
D) Shah Alam II

77. Dual Government in Bengal lasted from____________.
A) 1757–1764
B) 1765–1772
C) 1761–1768
D) 1772–1780

78. In the Dual Government system, the Company____________.
A) Collected revenue (Diwani)
B) Controlled army
C) Avoided direct administration
D) All of the above

79. In the Dual Government system, the Nawab of Bengal retained____________.
A) Responsibility for administration and justice
B) Control of army
C) Power over finance
D) All of the above

80. The biggest drawback of Dual Government was____________.
A) Prosperity of Bengal
B) Anarchy and lawlessness
C) Mughal revival
D) French return

81. The Bengal famine occurred in____________.
A) 1757
B) 1764
C) 1770
D) 1780

82. The famine of 1770 killed approximately____________.
A) 1 million
B) 3 million
C) 5 million
D) 10 million

83. One major reason for the Bengal famine of 1770 was____________.
A) Failure of monsoon
B) Excessive revenue demand by Company
C) Export of food grains
D) All of the above

84. Who abolished Dual Government in Bengal?
A) Robert Clive
B) Warren Hastings
C) Lord Cornwallis
D) William Pitt

85. Warren Hastings’ abolition of Dual Government marked____________.
A) Beginning of Company’s direct administration
B) End of Nawab’s importance
C) Start of British governance in India
D) All of the above

86. Which Nawab became a pensioner of the Company after 1765?
A) Siraj-ud-Daulah
B) Mir Qasim
C) Mir Jafar
D) Najm-ud-Daulah

87. After 1765, the Nawab of Bengal retained control only over____________.
A) Army
B) Finance
C) Administration and justice in name only
D) Revenue

88. The Company’s main interest in Bengal after 1765 was____________.
A) Good governance
B) Revenue extraction
C) Industrial development
D) Justice reform

89. The economic drain from Bengal after 1765 is often called____________.
A) Plunder of Bengal
B) Economic Reforms
C) Bengal Enrichment
D) Zamindari Boom

90. The Diwani rights made the Company____________.
A) Traders only
B) Rulers in practice
C) Mughal allies
D) Nawab’s dependents

91. Who described the Bengal administration after 1765 as “a state of anarchy”?
A) Warren Hastings
B) Robert Clive
C) William Pitt
D) Edmund Burke

92. The wealth acquired from Bengal was called____________.
A) Plunder
B) Indian Tribute
C) Drain of Wealth
D) Both a & c

93. The Dual Government benefitted the Company because____________.
A) They collected revenue without responsibility
B) They avoided expenses of administration
C) They enjoyed unchecked exploitation
D) All of the above

94. The Bengal Famine of 1770 proved that____________.
A) Dual Government was a failure
B) Company was only interested in profit
C) Peasants and artisans were worst hit
D) All of the above

95. Which Governor-General introduced reforms to check Company corruption after Bengal misrule?
A) Warren Hastings
B) Lord Cornwallis
C) William Pitt
D) Lord Wellesley

96. The foundation of British territorial empire in India was laid by____________.
A) Plassey (1757)
B) Buxar (1764)
C) Treaty of Allahabad (1765)
D) All of the above

97. Bengal became the financial base of British rule because____________.
A) It was rich in resources
B) It provided revenue for wars
C) It allowed purchase of Indian goods without bullion export
D) All of the above

98. The Nawab of Bengal after Buxar was____________.
A) Mir Qasim
B) Najm-ud-Daulah
C) Siraj-ud-Daulah
D) Shuja-ud-Daulah

99. The Bengal model of conquest showed that____________.
A) British preferred indirect control first
B) They used trade to gain political power
C) They used diplomacy and betrayal effectively
D) All of the above

100. The British conquest of Bengal is significant because ____________.
A) It ended Nawab’s independence
B) It gave Company financial strength
C) It began colonial exploitation of India
D) All of the above