Correct Option
The correct option is (a) 4-2-1-3.
Explanation
The transition of power in India during the 18th century is marked by the decline of the Mughal Empire and the simultaneous rise of the British East India Company as a political power. This period is defined by specific military victories and administrative treaties that consolidated British rule in Bengal.
Chronological Analysis
- Death of Aurangzeb (1707): The death of Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707 marks the beginning of the decline of the Mughal Empire, leading to the rise of autonomous regional states and increasing European intervention in Indian politics.
- Battle of Plassey (1757): Fought on June 23, 1757, this battle saw the British East India Company, led by Robert Clive, defeat the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah. This victory laid the foundation for British political rule in India.
- Battle of Buxar (1764): Fought on October 22, 1764, the British forces led by Hector Munro defeated the combined armies of Mir Qasim (Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Awadh), and Shah Alam II (Mughal Emperor). This was a decisive military victory that demonstrated British superiority.
- Appointment of Company as Diwan of Bengal (1765): Following the Battle of Buxar, the Treaty of Allahabad was signed in 1765. Under this treaty, Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II granted the Diwani rights (right to collect revenues) of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha to the East India Company, formally integrating them into the administrative framework of India.
Correct Sequence: 4 (1707) → 2 (1757) → 1 (1764) → 3 (1765).
Key Takeaway: The British conquest of India began politically with the Battle of Plassey (1757), was militarily solidified by the Battle of Buxar (1764), and was legally formalized through the grant of Diwani rights (1765).