The correct option is (c).
Explanation
The East India Company established its commercial foothold in Bengal during the mid-17th century. This expansion involved setting up factories, acquiring territorial rights, and securing trade privileges through royal orders (farmans) from the Mughal administration.Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: The first English factory in Bengal was established on the banks of the river Hugli in 1651. This was done with the permission of Shah Shuja, the then Subedar of Bengal.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: In 1698, the Company acquired the zamindari rights over three specific villages: Sutanuti, Govindpur, and Kalikata. Kalikata was included in this acquisition, not excluded. These three villages eventually grew into the city of Calcutta (Kolkata).
- Statement 3 is Correct: Emperor Aurangzeb issued a farman granting the Company the right to trade duty-free. However, this right was granted only to the Company for its official trade, but officials often misused it for their private trade, refusing to pay taxes, which caused significant revenue loss to Bengal.
Key Takeaway:
The British presence in Bengal originated with the 1651 Hugli factory and was consolidated through the acquisition of zamindari rights over Sutanuti, Kalikata, and Govindpur, alongside the privilege of duty-free trade granted by Aurangzeb.