The "Farman" issued by Aurangzeb granted the East India Company:

Correct Option

The correct option is

The right to trade duty-free.

Explanation

Royal Farmans (imperial decrees) issued by Mughal Emperors were instrumental in defining the legal and commercial status of European trading companies in India. These decrees often regulated customs duties and trading rights within specific provinces.

Detailed Analysis

Context of the Grant: In 1691, a Farman was issued during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb regarding the East India Company's operations in Bengal.

• Privilege Granted: The Farman granted the East India Company the right to carry on trade in Bengal without paying customs duties (duty-free trade).
• Condition: In lieu of customs duties, the Company was required to pay a fixed annual sum of Rs. 3,000 to the imperial treasury.

Analysis of Incorrect Options:

• The right to mint coins in Bombay.: The right to mint coins in Bombay (which would be valid throughout the Mughal Empire) was granted by Emperor Farrukhsiyar in his Farman of 1717, not by Aurangzeb.
• The ownership of the city of Calcutta.: The Company acquired the Zamindari rights of three villages (Sutanuti, Gobindapur, and Kalikata) in 1698 from Prince Azim-us-Shan, the Subahdar of Bengal. This led to the development of Calcutta but was not a direct grant of city ownership via Aurangzeb's Farman.
• The right to keep a private army.: The right to maintain a private army was not the subject of this specific trade-related Farman.

Key Takeaway: Aurangzeb's Farman of 1691 exempted the East India Company from paying customs duties on their trade in Bengal in exchange for a fixed annual payment of Rs. 3,000.