Medieval and Modern Indian History

The First Anglo-French War (1748-1754) occurred before Robert Clive's active career in India. Clive's key achievements - the Dual Government in Bengal (1765), Treaty of Allahabad (1765), and occupation of Arcot (1751) - all came during the later Anglo-French conflicts (Second and Third Carnatic Wars). Clive was not involved in the First Anglo-French War.

Correct Answer: D, C, B, A

The British proclaimed 'Now India is ours' after the Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805). This war defeated the Maratha forces of Scindia and Bhonsle, giving the British control over large parts of India and marking a turning point in their dominance.

The British East India Company established its earliest trading post at Surat in 1612-13, followed by Madras (Chennai) in 1639. Bombay came next in 1661-1668 when it was acquired from the Portuguese as part of Catherine of Braganza's dowry, and finally Calcutta in 1690. This chronology reflects the Company's gradual expansion from western to eastern India over nearly a century.

The Diwani rights for Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa were granted to the East India Company by Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II in 1765 following the Battle of Buxar. This pivotal moment, formalized in the Treaty of Allahabad, gave the Company the right to collect revenues while leaving administrative authority nominally with the Nawab. This marked the beginning of formal British political control in India.

The Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy purportedly devised by Lord Dalhousie, who was the Governor General of India between 1848 and 1856. 

Battle of Plassey was fought between Siraj-ud-Daulah and Robert Clive.

All of the above

The Third Battle of Panipat was fought in 1761 between the forces of the Maratha Empire on one side and a coalition of the King of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Durrani with two Indian Muslim allies—the Rohilla Afghans of the Doab, and Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh on the other. The Marathas fought under the command of Sadashivrao Bhau. The Jats and Rajputs did not support the Marathas. Their withdrawal from the ensuing battle played a crucial role in its result.

Favouring the cause of Raghunath Rao for Peshwaship after the third battle of Panipat, the English (under Lord Warren Hastings) came in conflict with the Marathas. On being defeated, the British had to sign the humiliating 'Convemtion of Wadgaon'.

Battle of Palkhed was a land battle that took place on February 28, 1728 at the village of Palkhed, near the city of Nashik, Maharashtra, India between Baji Rao I and the Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad. The Marathas defeated the Nizam. The battle is considered an example of brilliant execution of military strategy.

Statement 1 is wrong: Raghunath Rao was the younger brother, not the son, of Nana Saheb. Statement 2 is correct: Raghunath Rao (b. 18 Aug.1734 - d. 11 Dec.1783) was Peshwa of the Maratha Empire from 1773 to 1774. Statement 3 is correct: He was instrumental in the downfall of the Peshwa clan. Statement 4 is wrong: After the defeat of the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat and his brother's death in 1761, Raghunath Rao had decided to seize the Peshwa throne for himself, but instead the throne was passed on to Madhavrao Peshwa, Son of Nanasaheb. He was appointed as a regent to the young Peshwa, but tried to interfere with the administration. He soon fell out of favour with the Peshwa, and even tried to conspire against him by joining the Nizam of Hyderabad against the Peshwa.

The Battle of Vasai was fought between the Marathas and the Portuguese rulers of Vasai, a village lying near Mumbai in the present-day state of Maharashtra, India. The Marathas were led by Chimaji Appa, a brother of Peshwa Baji Rao I. Maratha victory in this war was a major achievement of Baji Rao I reign.

The Battle of Gajendragad was fought between the Marathas under the command of Tukojirao Holkar (the adopted son of Malharrao Holkar) and Tipu Sultan from March 1786 to March 1787 in which Tipu Sultan was defeated by the Marathas. By the victory in this battle, the border of the Maratha territory extended till Tungabhadra river.