TNPSC Group 1 · Unit 4 – History of Tamil Nadu: British Conquest and Establishment of British Rule
British Conquest of Tamil Nadu – TNPSC Group 1 MCQ Practice Set
Question 1
Which battle is considered the decisive event that established British supremacy over the Nawab of Arcot and effectively began British control over the Carnatic region?
Answer: B
The Battle of Wandiwash (1760) fought between the British under Sir Eyre Coote and the French under Comte de Lally was the decisive battle that ended French power in India and established British supremacy in the Carnatic. After this battle, Pondicherry fell to the British in 1761.
Exam Trick
Remember ‘Wandiwash = Winding down of French power’. Eyre Coote defeated Lally — W for Win of British, W for Wandiwash.
Question 2
The First Carnatic War (1746–1748) was a spillover of which European war?
Answer: C
The First Carnatic War (1746–1748) was a direct consequence of the War of Austrian Succession (1740–1748) in Europe. When England and France became enemies in Europe, their respective East India Companies clashed in India. It ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748).
Exam Trick
First Carnatic War → First half of 18th century → Austrian Succession. ‘A’ for Austrian, ‘A’ for Aix-la-Chapelle ending it.
Question 3
Who was the Nawab of Arcot during the Second Carnatic War and was supported by the French against the British-backed candidate?
Answer: B
During the Second Carnatic War (1749–1754), Chanda Sahib was supported by the French under Dupleix as the claimant to the Nawabship of Arcot, while the British supported Muhammad Ali. Anwaruddin Khan was killed at the Battle of Ambur (1749) by Chanda Sahib’s forces. Chanda Sahib was eventually killed in 1752.
Exam Trick
Chanda Sahib = French Candidate. ‘C’ for Chanda, ‘C’ for Company Française (French Company). He was captured and killed at Trichinopoly.
Question 4
The Polygar Wars in Tamil Nadu were fought between the British and local chieftains called Palayakkarars. In which year did the famous Veerapandiya Kattabomman resist the British and was eventually executed?
Answer: B
Veerapandiya Kattabomman, the Palayakkarar of Panchalankurichi, was captured and publicly hanged on 16 October 1799 at Kayattar by the British under Colonel Agnew after the Second Polygar War. His resistance is celebrated as an early act of defiance against British colonial rule in Tamil Nadu.
Exam Trick
Remember: 1799 = same year as Tipu Sultan’s death (Fourth Anglo-Mysore War). Two great resistances ended in 1799 — Tipu in Mysore, Kattabomman in Tamil Nadu.
Question 5
By which treaty did the British finally annex the Carnatic (Arcot) region and abolish the Nawabship permanently?
Answer: B
In 1801, the British forced a Subsidiary Alliance on the Nawab of Arcot, effectively annexing the Carnatic region. The Nawab ceded his territories to the British East India Company in exchange for a pension. This ended the independent Nawabship of Arcot and brought Tamil Nadu fully under direct British administration.
Exam Trick
1801 Subsidiary Alliance = Surrender of Arcot. Think ‘1801 = British boot on Carnatic’. The Nawab gave land, got pension — Nawabship ended permanently.
