The British East India Company, formally known as the East India Trading Company, was established in 1600 by a royal charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I. This powerful trading organization began its journey as a mere commercial enterprise and gradually transformed into a dominant colonial force across the Indian subcontinent. Over more than two centuries, the company controlled vast territories, maintained its own armies, and exercised governmental authority over millions of people.
The company’s influence shaped Indian politics, economy, and society in profound ways. From the Battle of Plassey in 1757 to the Revolt of 1857, the company’s actions left a permanent mark on Indian history. Students preparing for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, and State PSCs must have a thorough knowledge of this topic. The following 30 MCQs will help test and strengthen your preparation effectively.
30 MCQs on British East India Company – Indian History
1. In which year was the British East India Company established?
A) 1588
B) 1600
C) 1612
D) 1625
2. Which monarch granted the royal charter to the East India Company in 1600?
A) King James I
B) Queen Mary I
C) Queen Elizabeth I
D) King Charles II
3. What was the original name of the British East India Company at the time of its formation?
A) The Royal Trading Company of England
B) The Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East Indies
C) The British Imperial Trading Company
D) The London East Indies Merchants Association
4. Where did the East India Company set up its first trading post in India?
A) Calcutta
B) Madras
C) Surat
D) Bombay
5. In which year did the East India Company establish its first trading post at Surat?
A) 1600
B) 1608
C) 1613
D) 1620
6. Who was the first Governor-General of Bengal appointed by the British East India Company?
A) Lord Cornwallis
B) Warren Hastings
C) Lord Wellesley
D) Robert Clive
7. The Battle of Plassey was fought in which year?
A) 1747
B) 1757
C) 1761
D) 1764
8. Who led the British forces in the Battle of Plassey?
A) Lord Cornwallis
B) Arthur Wellesley
C) Robert Clive
D) Warren Hastings
9. Who was the Nawab of Bengal defeated in the Battle of Plassey?
A) Mir Jafar
B) Siraj ud-Daulah
C) Mir Qasim
D) Alivardi Khan
10. The Battle of Buxar was fought in which year?
A) 1757
B) 1761
C) 1764
D) 1769
11. Which treaty formally ended the Battle of Buxar and granted the East India Company the Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa?
A) Treaty of Allahabad
B) Treaty of Salbai
C) Treaty of Seringapatam
D) Treaty of Bassein
12. The Diwani rights granted to the East India Company in 1765 allowed them to collect:
A) Military taxes from Indian rulers
B) Revenue from Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa
C) Trade duties from all Indian ports
D) Salt taxes from northern India
13. Which act was passed in 1773 that established a framework for governing British territories in India?
A) The Pitt’s India Act
B) The Charter Act of 1793
C) The Regulating Act
D) The Indian Councils Act
14. Who was appointed as the first Governor-General of India under the provisions of the Regulating Act of 1773?
A) Lord Cornwallis
B) Warren Hastings
C) Lord Hastings
D) Lord Wellesley
15. Pitt’s India Act of 1784 was introduced primarily to:
A) Give complete authority to the East India Company
B) Establish British parliamentary control over the company’s affairs
C) Abolish the company’s trading rights in India
D) Merge the company with the British government
16. Which Governor-General introduced the Doctrine of Lapse?
A) Lord Dalhousie
B) Lord Wellesley
C) Lord Cornwallis
D) Lord Bentinck
17. Under the Doctrine of Lapse, the East India Company could annex any princely state if:
A) The ruler was found guilty of corruption
B) The ruler had no natural male heir
C) The ruler refused to pay tribute to the company
D) The state had less than a certain population
18. The Subsidiary Alliance system was introduced by which Governor-General?
A) Lord Dalhousie
B) Lord Cornwallis
C) Lord Wellesley
D) Warren Hastings
19. Which among the following Indian states was the first to accept the Subsidiary Alliance?
A) Mysore
B) Awadh
C) Hyderabad
D) Maratha Confederacy
20. The Permanent Settlement of Bengal was introduced in which year?
A) 1784
B) 1793
C) 1800
D) 1813
21. Who introduced the Permanent Settlement in Bengal?
A) Warren Hastings
B) Lord Wellesley
C) Lord Cornwallis
D) Lord Dalhousie
22. The Charter Act of 1813 ended the East India Company’s monopoly over trade with:
A) Africa
B) China
C) India
D) Southeast Asia
23. The Charter Act of 1833 made the East India Company a purely:
A) Military organization
B) Political and administrative body
C) Religious organization
D) Trading company
24. Which of the following events directly led to the end of the East India Company’s rule in India?
A) The Battle of Plassey
B) The Revolt of 1857
C) The First Anglo-Maratha War
D) The Third Anglo-Mysore War
25. After the Revolt of 1857, the governance of India was transferred to:
A) The British Parliament directly
B) The British Crown
C) The House of Commons
D) A newly formed Governor-General Council
26. The East India Company was officially dissolved in which year?
A) 1857
B) 1858
C) 1861
D) 1876
27. Which of the following was NOT a Presidency established by the East India Company in India?
A) Bengal Presidency
B) Bombay Presidency
C) Madras Presidency
D) Delhi Presidency
28. Robert Clive is also known by which title due to his role in establishing British dominance in India?
A) Clive of London
B) Clive of India
C) Clive of Bengal
D) Clive of Plassey
29. The Indian Councils Act of 1861 was introduced after the Revolt of 1857. What change did it bring?
A) It gave Indians the right to vote
B) It allowed Indians to be nominated to the Viceroy’s legislative council
C) It abolished the company’s board of directors
D) It merged all presidencies into one administrative unit
30. Which of the following was the headquarters of the East India Company in India during the later period of its rule?
A) Madras
B) Bombay
C) Calcutta
D) Delhi
Correct Answers
- B) 1600
- C) Queen Elizabeth I
- B) The Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East Indies
- C) Surat
- C) 1613
- B) Warren Hastings
- B) 1757
- C) Robert Clive
- B) Siraj ud-Daulah
- C) 1764
- A) Treaty of Allahabad
- B) Revenue from Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa
- C) The Regulating Act
- B) Warren Hastings
- B) Establish British parliamentary control over the company’s affairs
- A) Lord Dalhousie
- B) The ruler had no natural male heir
- C) Lord Wellesley
- C) Hyderabad
- B) 1793
- C) Lord Cornwallis
- C) India
- B) Political and administrative body
- B) The Revolt of 1857
- B) The British Crown
- B) 1858
- D) Delhi Presidency
- B) Clive of India
- B) It allowed Indians to be nominated to the Viceroy’s legislative council
- C) Calcutta
Conclusion
The British East India Company remains one of the most studied topics in Indian history. Its journey from a simple trading company to a colonial authority that controlled an entire subcontinent is a story of ambition, diplomacy, military power, and political manipulation. The company’s policies such as the Doctrine of Lapse, Subsidiary Alliance, and Permanent Settlement directly affected millions of Indians and reshaped the entire social and economic fabric of India.
For students preparing for UPSC, SSC CGL, Railways, and State PSC exams, mastering this topic is non-negotiable. These 30 MCQs cover the most frequently tested aspects of the East India Company’s history. Regular practice of such questions builds accuracy and speed. Revisit the answers, trace the historical timeline, and make short notes for quick revision. A strong grip on this chapter will certainly boost your score in any Indian History section.