Q. The original aim of the East India Company was
(a) To colonise
(b) To trade
(c) To find a market for its manufactured goods
(d) To explore India raw materials
Ans: (b) To trade
Explanation: The original aim of the East India Company was (b) To trade.
When the East India Company was initially established in 1600, its primary objective was to engage in trade with the East Indies, which included the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The company was granted a royal charter by Queen Elizabeth I of England, which authorized it to pursue trade in the region.
The East India Company sought to establish profitable trading relations with the Indian subcontinent by importing valuable goods such as spices, textiles, indigo, silk, and tea, and exporting manufactured goods from England. The company initially focused on acquiring spices from the East Indies, hence its name, but later shifted its attention to India due to the abundance of valuable resources and commodities available there.
While the East India Company’s activities in India eventually led to its involvement in territorial acquisition and governance, the original aim of the company was primarily focused on trade rather than colonization or exploration of raw materials.
Therefore, the correct answer is (b) To trade.
