2007 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2007 · General Studies

Question 60: History and Culture

Who among the following Europeans were the last to come to pre-independence India as traders?

aDutch
bEnglish
cFrench
dPortuguese

AnswerThe answer is (c).

The Portuguese arrived first (1498), then the Dutch (1602), the English (1600 charter, first factory 1613) and the Danes (1620). The French East India Company was set up in 1664 and came last of the major European trading companies. Remember the order: Portuguese, Dutch, English, Danes, French.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) The Dutch came in 1602.
  • (b) The English company was chartered in 1600.
  • (c) Correct: the French came last, in 1664.
  • (d) The Portuguese were first, in 1498.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2007, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.