Q4. The Battle of Buxar was fought in

(a) 1757

(b) 1764

(c) 1799

(d) 1782

The Correct Answer is (b) 1764

The correct answer is 1764. The Battle of Buxar was one of the most decisive battles in Indian history, fought on 22 October 1764 near the town of Buxar in Bihar. It was fought between the British East India Company led by Major Hector Munro and the combined forces of:

• Mir Qasim (the Nawab of Bengal)
• Shuja-ud-Daulah (the Nawab of Awadh)
• Shah Alam II (the Mughal Emperor)

After the Battle of Plassey in 1757, the Company had gained political influence in Bengal. However, Mir Qasim, who had been made Nawab, tried to assert independence by reforming his administration and removing trade privileges enjoyed by the British. This led to clashes, and finally he allied with Shuja-ud-Daulah and Shah Alam II to challenge the Company.
The British won a decisive victory at Buxar. This victory was even more significant than Plassey because:

1. It firmly established the Company as the supreme political power in Bengal and Bihar.
2. In 1765, the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II granted the Diwani rights (right to collect revenue) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the Company.
3. The Company shifted from being a trading body to becoming a political ruler.