History Mid-Term MCQs - EIC & Mughal Decline

Q1

What was the PRIMARY economic interest of the East India Company in India?

A) Gold mining

B) Trade in spices, textiles, and raw materials

C) Religious conversion

D) Territory expansion only

Q2

Which factor gave the EIC a political opportunity to expand in India?

A) Strong Mughal central authority

B) Weakening Mughal authority and rise of fragmented regional powers

C) Support from French East India Company

D) Religious unity in India

Q3

What gave the EIC military superiority over Indian rulers?

A) Larger army numbers

B) Advanced European warfare techniques

C) Support from all Indian states

D) Superior cavalry units

Q4

When was Madras established as a major trading post?

A) 1600

B) 1639

C) 1668

D) 1690

Q5

When did the EIC acquire Bombay?

A) 1639

B) 1668

C) 1690

D) 1700

Q6

When was Calcutta founded by the EIC?

A) 1668

B) 1690

C) 1700

D) 1757

Q7

Which treaty gave the EIC significant rights and is mentioned as an example of treaties with local rulers?

A) Treaty of Plassey

B) Treaty of Allahabad (1765)

C) Treaty of Buxar

D) Treaty of Paris

Q8

Which battle in 1757 was a key EIC strategy for expansion?

A) Battle of Panipat

B) Battle of Plassey

C) Battle of Haldighati

D) Battle of Talikota

Q9

Which battle occurred in 1764 as mentioned in the EIC strategies?

A) Battle of Plassey

B) Battle of Buxar

C) Battle of Wandiwash

D) Battle of Karnal

Q10

The EIC fought wars against which Indian powers?

A) Only the Mughals

B) Anglo-Mysore and Anglo-Maratha Wars

C) Only the Marathas

D) Only Afghan invaders

Q11

What was Lord Wellesley's policy mentioned in the strategies?

A) Direct annexation

B) Subsidiary alliances

C) Treaty negotiations only

D) Peaceful trade agreements

Q12

What was Lord Dalhousie's annexation policy called?

A) Subsidiary Alliance

B) Doctrine of Lapse

C) Permanent Settlement

D) Regulating Act

Q13

Which European competitors did the EIC face in India?

A) Spanish and Italian

B) Dutch and Portuguese

C) German and Belgian

D) Russian and Chinese

Q14

What role did the EIC play in the decline of the Mughal Empire?

A) Strengthened Mughal power

B) Expanded British economic and military power through treaty manipulations and direct confrontations

C) Had no significant impact

D) Only focused on trade

Q15

The Bengal Famine of 1770 is mentioned under which section of your notes?

A) Mughal Empire decline

B) EIC expansion strategies

C) British policies

D) Religious conflicts

Q16

What was a major POLITICAL factor in the Mughal Empire's decline?

A) Strong central leadership

B) Weak successors after Aurangzeb and lack of central authority

C) Too many reforms

D) Excessive modernization

Q17

What was a major MILITARY factor in the Mughal decline?

A) Too many soldiers

B) Overextended empire, failure to modernize army, and increasing resistance from Marathas, Rajputs, and Sikhs

C) Superior technology

D) Peaceful neighbors

Q18

What were the ECONOMIC factors that contributed to Mughal decline?

A) Economic prosperity and growth

B) Decline of jagirdari system, heavy taxation, and financial mismanagement

C) Low taxation rates

D) Trade surplus with Europe

Q19

What RELIGIOUS factor contributed to Mughal decline?

A) Religious tolerance policies

B) Aurangzeb's religious policies alienated non-Muslims and created internal divisions, including killing of Sikh Guru's and jizya tax

C) Support from all religious groups

D) Religious reforms

Q20

Which Persian ruler invaded Delhi in 1739?

A) Timur

B) Nadir Shah

C) Babur

D) Akbar

Q21

When did Ahmad Shah Abdali invade India (time period mentioned)?

A) 1700-1720

B) 1748-1761

C) 1780-1800

D) 1650-1670

Q22

What happened to the EIC's interest after foreign invasions weakened the Mughal Empire?

A) They left India

B) EIC's interest increased

C) They became neutral

D) They allied with Mughals

Q23

What was a consequence of the Mughal decline regarding regional powers?

A) Centralization of power

B) Rise of regional powers: emergence of independent states like Marathas, Bengal, Awadh, and Hyderabad

C) All states remained under Mughal control

D) Foreign powers took direct control

Q24

What was the European influence consequence of Mughal decline?

A) Europeans left India

B) Growing intervention by the East India Company in Indian politics and trade

C) Europeans became allies

D) No European involvement

Q25

What was the ECONOMIC consequence of Mughal decline?

A) Economic prosperity

B) Loss of trade and agricultural productivity due to wars and instability

C) Industrial revolution

D) Increased exports

Q26

According to your focus questions, how was Aurangzeb responsible for Mughal decline?

A) He strengthened the empire

B) Through his policies and military campaigns, and his role in weakening administrative structures

C) He had no impact

D) He modernized everything

Q27

What made Mughal decline inevitable after 1707?

A) Strong leadership emerged

B) Mughal weaknesses from 1707 including succession issues and administrative decay

C) Economic boom

D) Military victories

Q28

Which groups increased their resistance during the Mughal decline?

A) British and French

B) Marathas, Rajputs, and Sikhs

C) Portuguese and Dutch

D) Arabs and Persians

Q29

What happened to the administrative structures during Aurangzeb's reign?

A) They were strengthened

B) They were weakened

C) They remained unchanged

D) They were completely reformed

Q30

What role did weak successors and administrative decay play after Aurangzeb's death?

A) They strengthened the empire

B) They accelerated Mughal decline and made it inevitable

C) They had no effect

D) They improved administration

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