30 GK MCQs – The Advent of Europeans in India
(Useful for OSSSC, OSSC, OPSC, SSC, Railway, Banking & Odisha Competitive Exams)
1. Who was the first European to reach India by sea?
A. Christopher Columbus
B. Vasco da Gama
C. Ferdinand Magellan
D. Marco Polo
✅ Answer: B. Vasco da Gama
2. Vasco da Gama reached which Indian port in 1498?
A. Goa
B. Surat
C. Calicut (Kozhikode)
D. Madras
✅ Answer: C. Calicut (Kozhikode)
3. Vasco da Gama landed in India during the reign of:
A. Akbar
B. Zamorin of Calicut
C. Sher Shah
D. Aurangzeb
✅ Answer: B. Zamorin of Calicut
4. Which European nation first established trade with India?
A. Dutch
B. British
C. Portuguese
D. French
✅ Answer: C. Portuguese
5. The Portuguese established their first factory in India at:
A. Surat
B. Cochin
C. Goa
D. Bombay
✅ Answer: B. Cochin
6. Who was the first Portuguese Governor in India?
A. Albuquerque
B. Francisco de Almeida
C. Vasco da Gama
D. Cabral
✅ Answer: B. Francisco de Almeida
7. Who introduced the Blue Water Policy?
A. Vasco da Gama
B. Francisco de Almeida
C. Albuquerque
D. Nuno da Cunha
✅ Answer: B. Francisco de Almeida
8. Who captured Goa in 1510?
A. Almeida
B. Albuquerque
C. Vasco da Gama
D. Cabral
✅ Answer: B. Albuquerque
9. Goa became the capital of the Portuguese in:
A. 1498
B. 1510
C. 1526
D. 1600
✅ Answer: B. 1510
10. The English East India Company was established in:
A. 1498
B. 1510
C. 1600
D. 1664
✅ Answer: C. 1600
11. The English East India Company received a Royal Charter from:
A. Queen Victoria
B. Queen Elizabeth I
C. King James I
D. Charles II
✅ Answer: B. Queen Elizabeth I
12. The first English factory in India was established at:
A. Surat
B. Madras
C. Bombay
D. Calcutta
✅ Answer: A. Surat
13. The British obtained permission to trade from:
A. Akbar
B. Jahangir
C. Shah Jahan
D. Aurangzeb
✅ Answer: B. Jahangir
14. Sir Thomas Roe came to India in the court of:
A. Akbar
B. Jahangir
C. Shah Jahan
D. Humayun
✅ Answer: B. Jahangir
15. The Dutch East India Company was founded in:
A. 1498
B. 1600
C. 1602
D. 1664
✅ Answer: C. 1602
16. The French East India Company was established in:
A. 1664
B. 1600
C. 1707
D. 1498
✅ Answer: A. 1664
17. The headquarters of the French in India was:
A. Goa
B. Surat
C. Pondicherry
D. Bombay
✅ Answer: C. Pondicherry
18. Who founded Pondicherry?
A. Dupleix
B. Francois Martin
C. Lally
D. Bussy
✅ Answer: B. Francois Martin
19. Which European power introduced the cartaz (passport) system?
A. British
B. Portuguese
C. Dutch
D. French
✅ Answer: B. Portuguese
20. The Battle of Swally (1612) was fought between:
A. British and Portuguese
B. British and French
C. Dutch and Portuguese
D. British and Dutch
✅ Answer: A. British and Portuguese
21. The Battle of Plassey was fought in:
A. 1757
B. 1764
C. 1746
D. 1773
✅ Answer: A. 1757
22. The Battle of Buxar was fought in:
A. 1757
B. 1764
C. 1761
D. 1748
✅ Answer: B. 1764
23. The Battle of Wandiwash (1760) was fought between:
A. British and Portuguese
B. British and French
C. Dutch and French
D. British and Dutch
✅ Answer: B. British and French
24. Which European power was finally successful in establishing political control over India?
A. Portuguese
B. Dutch
C. French
D. British
✅ Answer: D. British
25. The first Carnatic War took place between:
A. British and Portuguese
B. British and French
C. British and Dutch
D. French and Portuguese
✅ Answer: B. British and French
26. Who was the famous French Governor-General in India?
A. Clive
B. Dupleix
C. Cornwallis
D. Wellesley
✅ Answer: B. Dupleix
27. The capital of the Portuguese possessions in India was:
A. Cochin
B. Goa
C. Surat
D. Bombay
✅ Answer: B. Goa
28. Which European country established factories at Pulicat and Nagapattinam?
A. Portuguese
B. Dutch
C. British
D. French
✅ Answer: B. Dutch
29. Which Mughal Emperor granted the English the right to establish a factory at Surat?
A. Akbar
B. Jahangir
C. Shah Jahan
D. Aurangzeb
✅ Answer: B. Jahangir
30. Arrange the arrival of European powers in India in the correct order:
A. Portuguese → Dutch → English → French
B. English → Portuguese → French → Dutch
C. Dutch → Portuguese → English → French
D. French → Portuguese → English → Dutch
✅ Answer: A. Portuguese → Dutch → English → French
Important Revision Points
- 1498 – Vasco da Gama reached Calicut.
- 1510 – Albuquerque captured Goa.
- 1600 – English East India Company established.
- 1602 – Dutch East India Company established.
- 1664 – French East India Company established.
- 1612 – Battle of Swally.
- 1746–1763 – Carnatic Wars.
- 1757 – Battle of Plassey.
- 1760 – Battle of Wandiwash.
- 1764 – Battle of Buxar.