European Trade in India

Choose the Correct Answer

Correct Answer : Option a

Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: The French company was controlled and regulated by the French government. It was a State concern and was regulated and controlled by governmental policies, which sometimes caused delays in decision-making and restricted its flexibility in responding quickly to business opportunities or threats.

Statement 2 is not correct: The Royal Navy of Britain was not only the largest, it was the most advanced of its times. The victory against the Spanish Armada and against the French at Trafalgar had put the Royal Navy at the peak of the European naval forces. In India too, the British were able to defeat the Portuguese and the French due to strong and fast movement of the naval ships. The English learnt from the Portuguese the importance of an efficient navy and improved their own fleet technologically.

Statement 3 is not correct: The English East India Company did have territorial ambitions. Its military and political activities, particularly after the Battle of Plassey (1757), led to the establishment of significant territorial control in India. While the French were also involved in territorial conflicts, the English were equally, if not more, ambitious. Unlike the British, who balanced their territorial ambitions with strong commercial interests, the French neglected their commercial interests, which negatively impacted their financial stability and ability to compete with the British in the long run.