British Expansion

Anglo-Indian Wars, Policies & Annexations (1–50)

The Battle of Plassey (1757) was fought between:
a) British vs Marathas
b) British vs French
c) British vs Siraj-ud-Daulah
d) British vs Tipu Sultan
✅ c) British vs Siraj-ud-Daulah
👉 This battle laid the foundation of British rule in India.
The Battle of Buxar (1764) was fought between British and:
a) Shuja-ud-Daulah
b) Shah Alam II
c) Mir Qasim
d) All of the above
✅ d) All of the above
👉 The victory gave British Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
Which Governor-General introduced the Subsidiary Alliance?
a) Warren Hastings
b) Cornwallis
c) Wellesley
d) Dalhousie
✅ c) Wellesley
👉 It was a diplomatic strategy to control Indian states.
The first Indian state to accept Subsidiary Alliance was:
a) Hyderabad
b) Awadh
c) Mysore
d) Gwalior
✅ a) Hyderabad
👉 Signed in 1798 under Nizam.
The Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by:
a) Lord Wellesley
b) Lord Cornwallis
c) Lord Canning
d) Lord Dalhousie
✅ d) Lord Dalhousie
👉 It led to annexation of many Indian states.
Which state was annexed using the Doctrine of Lapse?
a) Awadh
b) Hyderabad
c) Satara
d) Punjab
✅ c) Satara
👉 It was the first state annexed in 1848.
Who was the last Nawab of Awadh?
a) Wajid Ali Shah
b) Shuja-ud-Daulah
c) Saadat Khan
d) Asaf-ud-Daulah
✅ a) Wajid Ali Shah
👉 Awadh was annexed in 1856 citing misgovernance.
The Fourth Anglo-Mysore War ended with the death of:
a) Haider Ali
b) Siraj-ud-Daulah
c) Tipu Sultan
d) Mir Qasim
✅ c) Tipu Sultan
👉 He died in 1799 defending Srirangapatnam.
The Treaty of Bassein (1802) was signed by the British and:
a) Maratha Confederacy
b) Scindia of Gwalior
c) Peshwa Baji Rao II
d) Bhonsle of Nagpur
✅ c) Peshwa Baji Rao II
👉 It led to the Second Anglo-Maratha War.
The Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–18) resulted in:
a) Defeat of Marathas
b) End of Maratha Confederacy
c) Annexation of Peshwa’s territories
d) All of the above
✅ d) All of the above
Who fought the Anglo-Sikh Wars?
a) Ranjit Singh
b) Dalip Singh
c) Nana Sahib
d) Tipu Sultan
✅ b) Dalip Singh
👉 Ranjit Singh died before the wars began.
The First Anglo-Sikh War ended with the:
a) Treaty of Amritsar
b) Treaty of Buxar
c) Treaty of Lahore
d) Treaty of Surat
✅ c) Treaty of Lahore
👉 Signed in 1846 after Sikh defeat.
The Punjab was annexed by British in:
a) 1843
b) 1846
c) 1849
d) 1853
✅ c) 1849
👉 After the Second Anglo-Sikh War.
Anglo-Burmese wars resulted in annexation of:
a) Assam
b) Arakan
c) Tenasserim
d) All of the above
✅ d) All of the above
👉 First Anglo-Burmese War led to British expansion in East.
First Anglo-Burmese War ended with:
a) Treaty of Lahore
b) Treaty of Salbai
c) Treaty of Yandabo
d) Treaty of Bassein
✅ c) Treaty of Yandabo
👉 Signed in 1826.
Who annexed Sindh?
a) Lord Wellesley
b) Lord Ellenborough
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord Bentinck
✅ b) Lord Ellenborough
👉 After war with Talpur rulers in 1843.
The First Anglo-Maratha War ended with:
a) Treaty of Purandar
b) Treaty of Surat
c) Treaty of Salbai
d) Treaty of Bassein
✅ c) Treaty of Salbai
👉 Signed in 1782.
The dual government in Bengal was started by:
a) Robert Clive
b) Warren Hastings
c) Cornwallis
d) Dalhousie
✅ a) Robert Clive
👉 Began in 1765 with Diwani and Nizamat separated.
Who ended dual government in Bengal?
a) Warren Hastings
b) William Bentinck
c) Dalhousie
d) Cornwallis
✅ a) Warren Hastings
👉 Ended in 1772 to centralize power.
Who was the first Governor-General of India?
a) Clive
b) Warren Hastings
c) Cornwallis
d) Dalhousie
✅ b) Warren Hastings
👉 Appointed in 1773.
The British East India Company became Diwan of Bengal in:
a) 1757
b) 1765
c) 1772
d) 1784
✅ b) 1765
👉 After Battle of Buxar via Farman from Shah Alam II.
Treaty of Allahabad was signed after:
a) Battle of Plassey
b) Battle of Buxar
c) First Anglo-Maratha War
d) Anglo-Sikh War
✅ b) Battle of Buxar
👉 In 1765 with Shah Alam II.
Who was Governor-General during Anglo-Maratha Wars?
a) Hastings
b) Dalhousie
c) Wellesley
d) Canning
✅ c) Wellesley
👉 Known for Subsidiary Alliance policy.
Anglo-Nepal War ended with:
a) Treaty of Salbai
b) Treaty of Bassein
c) Treaty of Sugauli
d) Treaty of Yandabo
✅ c) Treaty of Sugauli
👉 Signed in 1816.
After which war was Awadh annexed?
a) Anglo-Maratha War
b) Anglo-Sikh War
c) No war – annexed via misrule
d) Anglo-Nepal War
✅ c) No war – annexed via misrule
👉 Under Doctrine of Misgovernance.
The Company first got Bombay from:
a) Portugal
b) Dutch
c) Mughals
d) Marathas
✅ a) Portugal
👉 Given as dowry in 1661.
Mysore was finally annexed after:
a) 3rd War
b) 4th War
c) Treaty of Salbai
d) Treaty of Bassein
✅ b) 4th War
👉 After Tipu Sultan’s death in 1799.
Which of these was NOT annexed by Doctrine of Lapse?
a) Jhansi
b) Nagpur
c) Awadh
d) Satara
✅ c) Awadh
👉 Annexed on grounds of misrule.
The Subsidiary Alliance involved:
a) Military alliance
b) Financial aid
c) Stationing of British troops
d) Transfer of administration
✅ c) Stationing of British troops
👉 Indian states had to pay for them.
What did the British get from Battle of Buxar?
a) Bombay
b) Calcutta
c) Diwani rights of Bengal
d) Delhi
✅ c) Diwani rights of Bengal
👉 Marked beginning of Company rule.
Treaty of Salbai was signed in:
a) 1761
b) 1765
c) 1782
d) 1799
✅ c) 1782
👉 After First Anglo-Maratha War.
Treaty of Yandabo was signed with:
a) Marathas
b) Burmese
c) Afghans
d) French
✅ b) Burmese
👉 Ended First Anglo-Burmese War.
Treaty of Bassein (1802) was signed with:
a) Scindia
b) Holkar
c) Peshwa Baji Rao II
d) Ranjit Singh
✅ c) Peshwa Baji Rao II
In Anglo-Sikh Wars, British faced:
a) Dalip Singh
b) Ranjit Singh
c) Sardar Patel
d) Shah Alam II
✅ a) Dalip Singh
👉 After Ranjit Singh's death.
Which state was annexed in 1853 under Doctrine of Lapse?
a) Nagpur
b) Jhansi
c) Satara
d) Berar
✅ d) Berar
👉 Administered by British from Nizam.
British annexed Sindh after defeating:
a) Peshwa
b) Talpur rulers
c) Ranjit Singh
d) Tipu Sultan
✅ b) Talpur rulers
Who fought in Battle of Plassey?
a) Siraj-ud-Daulah vs Clive
b) Clive vs Baji Rao
c) Hastings vs Tipu
d) Lally vs Clive
✅ a) Siraj-ud-Daulah vs Clive
Warren Hastings introduced:
a) Doctrine of Lapse
b) Permanent Settlement
c) Judicial Reforms
d) Subsidiary Alliance
✅ c) Judicial Reforms
Dalhousie is remembered for:
a) Armed struggle
b) Liberal reforms
c) Doctrine of Lapse
d) Drain of wealth
✅ c) Doctrine of Lapse
Who introduced Permanent Settlement?
a) Dalhousie
b) Cornwallis
c) Wellesley
d) Bentinck
✅ b) Cornwallis
👉 Fixed land revenue system.
Treaty of Amritsar (1846) was signed between:
a) British and Nepal
b) British and Ranjit Singh
c) British and Gulab Singh
d) British and Mysore
✅ c) British and Gulab Singh
👉 Transferred Kashmir.
Which year was Punjab annexed?
a) 1846
b) 1849
c) 1857
d) 1853
✅ b) 1849
Who suppressed the Sanyasi Rebellion?
a) Dalhousie
b) Warren Hastings
c) Clive
d) Cornwallis
✅ b) Warren Hastings
Wellesley's policy aimed to:
a) Expand French influence
b) Limit Indian autonomy
c) Extend British control
d) End slavery
✅ c) Extend British control
Which of the following marked the end of Mughal influence?
a) Battle of Buxar
b) Annexation of Delhi
c) 1857 Revolt
d) Treaty of Allahabad
✅ c) 1857 Revolt
Treaty of Purandar was signed with:
a) Shivaji
b) Baji Rao I
c) Aurangzeb
d) Raghunath Rao
✅ a) Shivaji
👉 Signed in 1665.
Which policy led to unrest in 1857?
a) Subsidiary Alliance
b) Doctrine of Lapse
c) Ryotwari
d) Factory Act
✅ b) Doctrine of Lapse
The Nawab of Awadh was deposed in:
a) 1848
b) 1853
c) 1856
d) 1857
✅ c) 1856
👉 By Dalhousie citing misrule.
British conquest in India was completed by:
a) Dalhousie
b) Canning
c) Curzon
d) Hastings
✅ a) Dalhousie
Battle of Plassey established British rule in:
a) Bombay
b) Bengal
c) Delhi
d) Punjab
✅ b) Bengal