📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Bengal: Plassey to Buxar
- Battle of Plassey (23 June 1757) — Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah; Mir Jafar's betrayal.
- Battle of Buxar (1764) — English (Hector Munro) vs Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah (Awadh) and Shah Alam II.
- Treaty of Allahabad (1765) — Company got the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa; dual government in Bengal (1765–72), ended by Warren Hastings.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- Buxar is considered more decisive than Plassey, as three powers were defeated together.
📌 2. Mysore, Maratha & Sikh Wars
| War | Treaty / outcome |
|---|---|
| Anglo-Mysore I (1767–69) | Treaty of Madras — Haider Ali successful |
| Anglo-Mysore II (1780–84) | Treaty of Mangalore; Haider died (1782) |
| Anglo-Mysore III (1790–92) | Treaty of Seringapatam — Tipu lost half his kingdom (Cornwallis) |
| Anglo-Mysore IV (1799) | Tipu killed at Seringapatam (Wellesley) |
| Anglo-Maratha I (1775–82) | Treaty of Salbai (1782) |
| Anglo-Maratha II (1803–05) | After Bassein (1802); Maratha chiefs defeated |
| Anglo-Maratha III (1817–18) | Peshwaship ended (Hastings) |
| Anglo-Sikh I (1845–46) | Treaty of Lahore |
| Anglo-Sikh II (1848–49) | Annexation of Punjab (Dalhousie, 1849) |
- Tipu Sultan — "Tiger of Mysore"; inspired by the French Revolution, planted a "Tree of Liberty" at Seringapatam, member of the Jacobin Club; used rockets.
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh — Treaty of Amritsar (1809) with the British; possessed the Kohinoor.
📌 3. Policies of Expansion & Acts
| Policy / Act | Key point |
|---|---|
| Subsidiary Alliance (1798, Wellesley) | First — Hyderabad (1798); Indian states paid for British troops and kept a Resident |
| Doctrine of Lapse (Dalhousie) | First — Satara (1848); then Jaitpur, Sambalpur, Jhansi (1853), Nagpur (1854) |
| Annexation of Awadh (1856) | On grounds of "misgovernance" — Wajid Ali Shah |
| Regulating Act 1773 | Governor of Bengal → Governor-General (Warren Hastings); Supreme Court at Calcutta (1774) |
| Pitt's India Act 1784 | Board of Control; dual control |
| Charter Acts 1813 / 1833 / 1853 | 1813: trade monopoly ended (except tea and China), ₹1 lakh for education; 1833: Governor-General of India (Bentinck); 1853: open competition for civil services |
- Permanent Settlement (1793, Cornwallis) — zamindari in Bengal; Ryotwari (Munro, Reed — Madras, Bombay); Mahalwari (NW Provinces, Punjab).
💡 Memory Tip: Subsidiary Alliance = Wellesley; Lapse = Dalhousie; Permanent Settlement = Cornwallis.
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. When was the Battle of Plassey fought? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
On 23 June 1757 Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah at Plassey.
On 23 June 1757 Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah at Plassey.
Q2. Who did NOT fight the English at Buxar (1764)? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Siraj-ud-Daulah died in 1757; Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah and Shah Alam II fought at Buxar.
Siraj-ud-Daulah died in 1757; Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah and Shah Alam II fought at Buxar.
Q3. What did the Company get by the Treaty of Allahabad (1765)? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Shah Alam II granted the Company diwani (revenue) rights.
Shah Alam II granted the Company diwani (revenue) rights.
Q4. Who introduced the Subsidiary Alliance? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Wellesley introduced it in 1798; Hyderabad was first.
Wellesley introduced it in 1798; Hyderabad was first.
Q5. Which was the first state annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Satara was annexed first, in 1848.
Satara was annexed first, in 1848.
Q6. Who introduced the Permanent Settlement (1793)? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Cornwallis fixed permanent revenue with zamindars in Bengal.
Cornwallis fixed permanent revenue with zamindars in Bengal.
Q7. What happened in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799)? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Tipu was killed defending Seringapatam.
Tipu was killed defending Seringapatam.
Q8. Under the Regulating Act (1773), who became the first Governor-General of Bengal? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Warren Hastings became the first Governor-General of Bengal.
Warren Hastings became the first Governor-General of Bengal.
Q9. Which Act created the post of Governor-General of India? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The Charter Act 1833 made William Bentinck the first Governor-General of India.
The Charter Act 1833 made William Bentinck the first Governor-General of India.
Q10. Which Governor-General annexed Punjab? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
After the Second Anglo-Sikh War, Dalhousie annexed Punjab in 1849.
After the Second Anglo-Sikh War, Dalhousie annexed Punjab in 1849.
Q11. The First Anglo-Maratha War ended with the Treaty of: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The Treaty of Salbai (1782) ended it.
The Treaty of Salbai (1782) ended it.
Q12. The Ryotwari system is associated with: Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Thomas Munro and Alexander Reed introduced it in Madras.
Thomas Munro and Alexander Reed introduced it in Madras.
Q13. On what ground was Awadh annexed (1856)? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Dalhousie accused Wajid Ali Shah of misrule.
Dalhousie accused Wajid Ali Shah of misrule.
Q14. Which was the first state to accept the Subsidiary Alliance? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
The Nizam of Hyderabad signed first, in 1798.
The Nizam of Hyderabad signed first, in 1798.
Q15. Who introduced Dual Government in Bengal? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Clive set it up in 1765; Hastings ended it in 1772.
Clive set it up in 1765; Hastings ended it in 1772.
Q16. A key provision of the Charter Act 1813 was: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
In 1813 the trade monopoly ended and ₹1 lakh was set for education.
In 1813 the trade monopoly ended and ₹1 lakh was set for education.
Q17. Where did Tipu Sultan plant the 'Tree of Liberty'? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Inspired by the French Revolution, he planted it at his capital Seringapatam.
Inspired by the French Revolution, he planted it at his capital Seringapatam.
Q18. The Treaty of Amritsar (1809) was signed between the British and: Practice
Correct answer: (C)
It made the Sutlej the boundary of Ranjit Singh's kingdom.
It made the Sutlej the boundary of Ranjit Singh's kingdom.
Q19. The Supreme Court at Calcutta (1774) was set up under the: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Set up in 1774 under the Regulating Act; Chief Justice Elijah Impey.
Set up in 1774 under the Regulating Act; Chief Justice Elijah Impey.
Q20. The 'Board of Control' was created by: Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Pitt's India Act created it to oversee the Company's political affairs.
Pitt's India Act created it to oversee the Company's political affairs.