In which year did the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II appoint the East India Company as the Diwan of Bengal?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option 4- 1765
In 1765, after the Battle of Buxar in 1764, the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II issued the Diwani to the East India Company. This effectively granted the Company the right to collect revenue (Diwani) on behalf of the Mughal Empire in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. This decision was made in the aftermath of the Mughal Empire's decline and the Company's increasing influence in India.
The appointment of the East India Company as the Diwan of Bengal marked a significant shift in the Company's role in India. Previously, the Company had primarily been involved in trading activities, but with the acquisition of the Diwani, it gained control over the fiscal administration of a vast territory. This move allowed the Company to generate substantial revenue, strengthen its control over Bengal, and lay the foundation for British colonial rule in India.