Correct Option
The correct option is (b) 2 only.
Explanation
The entry of European powers into India began with the search for sea routes to bypass Ottoman-controlled land routes. The Portuguese were the pioneers, followed by the Dutch, English, and French. The legal frameworks governing these companies, such as Royal Charters, defined their domestic monopolies but had no jurisdiction over foreign competitors.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Incorrect. The Royal Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I in 1600 gave the East India Company the sole right to trade with the East. This meant that no other trading group from England could compete with the East India Company. However, the Royal Charter carried no authority over other European powers. It could not prevent the Portuguese, Dutch, or French from competing in the Eastern markets.
- Statement 2 is Correct. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a maritime trade route to India. By the time the first English ships arrived in the early 17th century (Captain William Hawkins arrived at Surat in 1608), the Portuguese had already established a strong presence on the western coast of India, having captured Goa in 1510.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect. Vasco da Gama discovered the new sea route to India via the Cape of Good Hope and reached the port of Calicut in 1498. While he did return to India for a second expedition in 1502, the discovery of the route occurred in 1498.
Key Takeaway
Chronology of European Arrival: Portuguese (1498) → Dutch (1602) → English (1600/1608) → French (1664). The English Royal Charter created a domestic monopoly but did not exclude international competition.