Q1. What was the outcome of the Battle of Buxar in 1764?
- Mir Qasim defeated the British forces
- The Marathas allied with the British and defeated the Nawab
- The British defeated Mir Qasim and his allies, solidifying their control over Bengal
- The Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II, regained his power
Correct Option: 3. The British defeated Mir Qasim and his allies, solidifying their control over Bengal.
Explanation: The passage states that the British decisively defeated Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah, and Shah Alam II at the Battle of Buxar, which led to the British consolidating their power over Bengal and surrounding areas.
Q2. What was the “Dual Government” system in Bengal?
- A system where two Nawabs ruled Bengal together
- A system where the East India Company controlled both the revenue and administration
- A joint government between the British and the Mughal Empire
- A system where the Nawab controlled the military and the British controlled the economy
Correct Option: 3. A system where the East India Company controlled both the revenue and administration.
Explanation: The “Dual Government” refers to the arrangement where the East India Company controlled the revenue (Diwani) and the military, while the Nawab retained control over some administrative duties, but had no real power.
Q3. What was the economic impact of the British policies in Bengal under the Dual Government?
- It encouraged local industries to flourish
- It caused the price of agricultural goods to rise
- It led to increased prosperity and economic stability
- It resulted in widespread poverty and economic exploitation
Correct Option: 4. It resulted in widespread poverty and economic exploitation.
Explanation: The British policies led to widespread corruption, suffering, and the draining of Bengal’s wealth. The people of Bengal were subjected to heavy taxation, exploitation by Company officials, and were left impoverished.
Q4. Which of the following best describes the condition of Bengal after the British takeover?
- Bengal flourished economically and politically under British rule
- Bengal became politically stable, with no major conflicts
- Bengal suffered severe exploitation and economic collapse, including a devastating famine
- Bengal remained independent but under British economic influence
Correct Option: 3. Bengal suffered severe exploitation and economic collapse, including a devastating famine.
Explanation: Bengal was economically drained, and its people suffered greatly due to the British policies, culminating in the famine of 1770 that killed a large portion of the population.
Q5. What was the primary cause of the famine in Bengal in 1770?
- The collapse of the Mughal Empire
- A failure of rains leading to crop failure, worsened by British policies
- A military conflict with the Marathas
- The invasion of Bengal by Haidar Ali
Correct Option: 2. A failure of rains leading to crop failure, worsened by British policies.
Explanation: The famine was caused by a failure of rains, but the effects were made worse by the Company’s policies, which drained resources from the region and left the population vulnerable.