Question 67 from UPSC CSE 2018 - Modern History

Question

The staple commodities of export by the English East India Company from Bengal in the middle of the 18th century were

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Cotton, silk, saltpetre, and opium

Strategy: - Identify Bengal's primary 18th-century exports, focusing on fine textiles and raw materials vital for European trade.
- Exclude commodities not historically prominent from Bengal, such as specific metals, spices, and certain crops.
- Confirm the selection by matching known export patterns, specifically including cotton, silk, saltpetre, and opium.

Key Info: During the mid-18th century, Bengal served as a crucial export hub under the English East India Company, focusing on specific commodities.

Major export items included:
- **Cotton textiles**: Bengal's muslin and cotton fabrics were globally renowned, primarily exported to Europe and Southeast Asia.
- **Silk**: Bengal silk was highly prized in international markets, particularly Britain.
- **Saltpetre (potassium nitrate)**: Essential for gunpowder, Bengal's saltpetre was chiefly exported to Europe for military applications.
- **Opium**: Opium from Bengal and Bihar was increasingly exported to China by the Company.

Commodities not prominently exported from Bengal during this period, and thus not matching the region's commercial profile, include metals (zinc, lead, silver, gold), spices, and tea (more associated with southern/western India or China/Assam). Raw cotton and oilseeds were also more common exports from western India. Therefore, cotton, silk, saltpetre, and opium accurately represent Bengal's key exports in Company trade.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: Raw cotton, oil-seeds, and opium

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: Sugar, salt, zinc, and lead

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Copper, silver, gold, spices, and tea