1. With reference to the European presence in India, consider the following statements:
- The Danes established their main settlement at Tranquebar.
- The Dutch lost their possessions in India to the British after the Battle of Colachel.
- The French East India Company was formed before the British East India Company.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Correct Answer: (a)
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Correct. The Danes established Tranquebar (Tamil Nadu) in 1620 as their main settlement.
- Statement 2: Incorrect. The Dutch were defeated by Travancore (not British) in the Battle of Colachel (1741), one of the earliest instances of an Asian power defeating a European power.
- Statement 3: Incorrect. The French East India Company was founded in 1664, while the British East India Company was formed earlier in 1600.
2. Consider the following pairs:
| Place-European Power Associated |
| 1. Hooghly – Dutch |
| 2. Masulipatnam – English |
| 3. Pondicherry – French |
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Correct Answer: (b)
Explanation:
- 1. Hooghly – Incorrect. Hooghly was primarily a Portuguese and later a British settlement.
- 2. Masulipatnam – Correct. English set up a factory here in 1611.
- 3. Pondicherry – Correct. Became the French capital in India.
3. With reference to the Dutch in India, consider the following statements:
- They monopolized the trade in black pepper and spices in Kerala.
- They never attempted territorial conquest in India.
- The Dutch were driven out of India after the Battle of Buxar.
How many statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Correct Answer: (a)
Explanation:
- 1. Correct. The Dutch were focused on spice trade, especially in Kerala.
- 2. Incorrect. The Dutch attempted conquest, e.g., Battle of Colachel.
- 3. Incorrect. Dutch decline started after Colachel (1741), not Buxar (1764).
4. The first European power to issue coins in India was:
(a) Portuguese
(b) Dutch
(c) French
(d) Danish
Correct Answer: (a)
Explanation: The Portuguese were the first European power to issue their own coins in India, especially after their settlement in Goa.
5. Which of the following correctly matches a European power with its corresponding Indian Governor or Admiral?
(a) Portuguese – Dupleix
(b) Dutch – Van Rheede
(c) French – Almedia
(d) Danish – Albuquerque
Correct Answer: (b)
Explanation:
- Van Rheede was a Dutch commander known for the Hortus Malabaricus, a compilation on Indian medicinal plants.
- Other options mismatch European powers with unrelated personalities.
