As we completed the first chapter earlier, let’s look into Chapter 2 of the NCERT History book for class 8. Here, we are presenting 20 MCQ questions, 10 fill-in-the-blank-type questions, and 10 true and false questions. Be sure to check out more Class 8 History MCQ questions we have.
The chapter “From Trade to Territory – The Company Establishes Power” deals with how East India Company transformed itself from a trading organization to a political power in India. The key historical events dealt with in the chapter are –
- Battle of Plassey
- Battle of Buxar
These 2 battles were turning points in establishing British rule in India.
This chapter will also covers policies like the Doctrine of Lapse and the subsidiary alliance system. These are the 2 primary strategies used by the British to expand their control over Indian territories. Below are key points of the chapter –
- 1600: East India Company formed
- 1757: Battle of Plassey establishes Company power
- 1765: Diwani rights granted to British
- 1784: Pitt’s India Act regulates Company
- 1799: Tipu Sultan defeated at Seringapatam
- 1801: Subsidiary alliance imposed on Awadh
- 1829: Rani Channamma leads anti-British resistance
- 1839-1849: Wars lead to Punjab annexation
- Doctrine of Lapse: Policy of annexation
- 1856: Awadh annexed by British
- 1857: Sepoy Mutiny challenges British rule
- Warren Hastings: Introduced judicial reforms
- Regulating Act of 1773: Established Supreme Court
- Subsidiary Alliance System: Expanded British control
- British paramountcy: Claimed supreme authority
10 MCQ Questions for Class 8 History Chapter 2 “From Trade to Territory – The Company Establishes Power,” with Answers
20 multiple-choice questions based on Chapter 2, “From Trade to Territory – The Company Establishes Power,” of the NCERT History book:
1. The East India Company acquired a charter from Queen Elizabeth I in the year:
a) 1600
b) 1700
c) 1757
d) 1857
Answer:
a) 1600
2. The Battle of Plassey was fought in:
a) 1757
b) 1764
c) 1776
d) 1857
Answer:
a) 1757
3. Who became the Nawab of Bengal after Alivardi Khan?
a) Sirajuddaulah
b) Mir Qasim
c) Mir Jafar
d) Shujauddaulah
Answer:
a) Sirajuddaulah
4. The Diwani rights in Bengal were granted to the East India Company by:
a) Aurangzeb
b) Bahadur Shah Zafar
c) Mir Jafar
d) Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II
Answer:
d) Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II
5. The first English factory in Bengal was set up on the banks of the river:
a) Ganga
b) Yamuna
c) Hugli
d) Brahmaputra
Answer:
c) Hugli
6. Robert Clive played a significant role in the:
a) Battle of Plassey
b) Battle of Buxar
c) Revolt of 1857
d) Battle of Panipat
Answer:
a) Battle of Plassey
7. The Doctrine of Lapse was implemented by:
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Warren Hastings
c) Lord Cornwallis
d) Lord Curzon
Answer:
a) Lord Dalhousie
8. Tipu Sultan was the ruler of:
a) Bengal
b) Awadh
c) Mysore
d) Hyderabad
Answer:
c) Mysore
9. The subsidiary alliance system was introduced by:
a) Lord Wellesley
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Lord Clive
d) Lord Hastings
Answer:
a) Lord Wellesley
10. The Battle of Buxar was fought in the year:
a) 1757
b) 1764
c) 1776
d) 1857
Answer:
b) 1764
11. The East India Company was established in:
a) 1600
b) 1700
c) 1757
d) 1857
Answer:
a) 1600
12. Who was the Nawab of Bengal during the Battle of Plassey?
a) Alivardi Khan
b) Mir Qasim
c) Sirajuddaulah
d) Shujauddaulah
Answer:
c) Sirajuddaulah
13. The Battle of Buxar was fought in:
a) 1757
b) 1764
c) 1776
d) 1857
Answer:
b) 1764
14. Who was installed as the Nawab of Bengal after the Battle of Plassey?
a) Alivardi Khan
b) Mir Jafar
c) Sirajuddaulah
d) Shujauddaulah
Answer:
b) Mir Jafar
15. Who was the ruler of Mysore who opposed the British?
a) Haidar Ali
b) Tipu Sultan
c) Nana Sahib
d) Ranjit Singh
Answer:
b) Tipu Sultan
16. The subsidiary alliance system was used by the British to:
a) Increase trade
b) Establish political control
c) Promote cultural exchanges
d) Develop infrastructure
Answer:
b) Establish political control
17. Who among the following was not a Governor-General of India?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Warren Hastings
c) Lord Wellesley
d) Sirajuddaulah
Answer:
d) Sirajuddaulah
18. The Doctrine of Lapse was used to:
a) Collect taxes
b) Annex territories
c) Establish trading rights
d) Reform local laws
Answer:
b) Annex territories
19. Tipu Sultan was defeated in the Battle of:
a) Plassey
b) Buxar
c) Seringapatam
d) Panipat
Answer:
c) Seringapatam
20. The East India Company acquired Diwani rights in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in:
a) 1765
b) 1772
c) 1784
d) 1857
Answer:
a) 1765
Match the columns for Class 8 History Chapter 2
Question 1
| Column A: Events/Concepts | Column B: Descriptions/Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Battle of Plassey | A. Policy under which if an Indian ruler died without a male heir, his kingdom would become part of Company territory |
| 2. Doctrine of Lapse | B. 1757, marked the beginning of British political control in India |
| 3. Subsidiary Alliance | C. System where Indian states were not allowed to have their own armed forces and were to be protected by the Company |
| 4. Diwani Rights | D. The right to collect land revenue in Bengal, granted to the East India Company by the Mughal emperor |
| 5. Sepoy Army | E. Indian soldiers serving in the East India Company’s army |
Answer:
| Column A: Events/Concepts | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Battle of Plassey | B. 1757, marked the beginning of British political control in India |
| 2. Doctrine of Lapse | A. Policy under which if an Indian ruler died without a male heir, his kingdom would become part of Company territory |
| 3. Subsidiary Alliance | C. System where Indian states were not allowed to have their own armed forces and were to be protected by the Company |
| 4. Diwani Rights | D. The right to collect land revenue in Bengal, granted to the East India Company by the Mughal emperor |
| 5. Sepoy Army | E. Indian soldiers serving in the East India Company’s army |
Question 2
| Column A: Key Terms/Events | Column B: Descriptions/Implications |
|---|---|
| 1. The Battle of Buxar | A. A system that placed Indian rulers under the authority of British residents |
| 2. Subsidiary Alliance | B. Marked the East India Company’s victory and the start of its political control in India |
| 3. Charter Act of 1813 | C. Ended the Company’s trade monopoly except in tea and trade with China |
| 4. Commercialization of Agriculture | D. Encouraged Indian farmers to grow cash crops |
| 5. Tipu Sultan’s resistance | E. Notable opposition to British expansion in South India |
Answer:
| Column A: Key Terms/Events | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. The Battle of Buxar | B. Marked the East India Company’s victory and the start of its political control in India |
| 2. Subsidiary Alliance | A. A system that placed Indian rulers under the authority of British residents |
| 3. Charter Act of 1813 | C. Ended the Company’s trade monopoly except in tea and trade with China |
| 4. Commercialization of Agriculture | D. Encouraged Indian farmers to grow cash crops |
| 5. Tipu Sultan’s resistance | E. Notable opposition to British expansion in South India |
Fill in the Blanks Questions for Class 8 History Chapter 2 “From Trade to Territory – The Company Establishes Power,”
Presenting 10 fill-in-the-blank questions for Chapter 2 of the NCERT History book for class 8 –
1. The East India Company acquired a charter from Queen Elizabeth I in the year ___.
Answer:
1600
2. The Battle of Plassey was fought in the year ___.
Answer:
1757
3. Sirajuddaulah, the Nawab of Bengal, was defeated by the British in the Battle of ___.
Answer:
Plassey
4. The Diwani rights, which gave the Company the right to collect revenue, were granted by ___.
Answer:
Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II
5. Robert Clive was an important figure in the establishment of the Company’s power after the Battle of ___.
Answer:
Plassey
6. The Doctrine of Lapse, which allowed the annexation of Indian states, was implemented by ___.
Answer:
Lord Dalhousie
7. Tipu Sultan, the ruler of ___, was known for his strong opposition to British rule.
Answer:
Mysore
8. The subsidiary alliance system, which brought Indian states under British influence, was introduced by ___.
Answer:
Lord Wellesley
9. The Battle of ___, fought in 1764, was another significant victory for the British in India.
Answer:
Buxar
10. In 1765, the East India Company obtained the right to collect revenues from Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa after the Treaty of ___.
Answer:
Allahabad
True or False type Questions for Class 8 History Chapter 2 “From Trade to Territory – The Company Establishes Power,”
Find 10 true or false questions based on Chapter 2 of the NCERT History book for class 8 –
1. The East India Company was formed in 1600 to expand British trade to the East Indies.
Answer:
True
2. The Battle of Plassey marked the beginning of British political control in India.
Answer:
True
3. Tipu Sultan was the ruler of Bengal.
Answer:
False
4. The Doctrine of Lapse was a policy used by the British to annex Indian states without male heirs.
Answer:
True
5. Warren Hastings was the first Governor-General of India.
Answer:
True
6. The subsidiary alliance system was introduced by Lord Dalhousie.
Answer:
False
7. The Battle of Buxar was primarily fought against the Marathas.
Answer:
False
8. Robert Clive was a key figure in the Battle of Plassey.
Answer:
True
9. The East India Company obtained the Diwani rights, or the right to collect revenue, in Bengal after the Battle of Plassey.
Answer:
False
10. Mir Jafar was installed as the Nawab of Bengal by the British after the Battle of Plassey.
Answer:
True
These questions are designed to test students understanding of key events and policies during the early British colonization of India.
Class 8 Social Science History MCQ
- MCQ on How, When and Where for Class 8
- MCQ on Ruling the Countryside for Class 8
- MCQ on Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age for Class 8
- MCQ on When People Rebel, 1857 and After for Class 8
- MCQ on Civilising the “Native”, Educating the Nation for Class 8
- MCQ on Women, Caste and Reform for Class 8
- MCQ on Making of the National Movement: 1870s–1947 for Class 8
1 Comment
Helping to understand the chapter in a easy way….. So that I scored good marks.