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CBSE · Class 8 · Social Science

The Colonial Era in India

Standard difficulty · 20 questions · 40 marks

Name: Date: Score: ____ / 40

Write full answers in Sections B and C. Answers are on the last page — try every question first!

Section A — Choose the correct answer8 × 1 = 8 marks
1.
Vasco da Gama reached the coast near Calicut in:
  1. 1600
  2. 1757
  3. 1510
  4. 1498
2.
Who was Robert Clive?
  1. won the Battle of Plassey
  2. the Governor-General who used the Doctrine of Lapse
  3. the queen of Ullal who fought the Portuguese
  4. led the defence of Lucknow
3.
What does “mutiny” mean?
  1. one country controlling and settling another region
  2. taking over a territory and adding it to one’s own
  3. annexing a state whose ruler had no natural male heir
  4. a rebellion of soldiers against their officers
4.
Where was the main base of the Portuguese in India?
  1. Goa
  2. Kabul
  3. Pondicherry
  4. Calcutta, Madras and Bombay
5.
Travancore defeated the Dutch at Colachel in 1741; the Vellore Mutiny broke out in 1806. How many years apart were these?
  1. 65 years
  2. 62 years
  3. 66 years
  4. 75 years
6.
Which year does the book give for this: the Vellore Mutiny broke out?
  1. 1793
  2. 1858
  3. 1510
  4. 1806
7.
The Indigo Revolt lasted from 1859 to 1862. For how many years was that?
  1. 8 years
  2. 4 years
  3. 3 years
  4. 13 years
8.
According to the book, why did the British build railways in India?
  1. to spread British goods
  2. to carry all passengers free of charge
  3. to make India independent sooner
  4. to end all famines
Section B — Short answer8 × 2 = 16 marks
9.
What is colonialism?
10.
Who was each? (a) Marthanda Varma (b) Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu
11.
Explain each term: (a) mutiny (b) subsidiary alliance
12.
Which came first, and by how many years? (a) the Great Rebellion broke out (1857) (b) the Battle of Plassey was fought (1757)
13.
Name the main base in India of (a) the British (b) the Dutch
14.
How many years passed from the Battle of Plassey (1757) to 1919? From the start of Crown rule (1858)?
15.
Suppose British cloth entered India with a tax of 2% while Indian cloth entering Britain was taxed 60%. On cloth worth ₹37,000, what is the tax in each case?
16.
Say when, where or why each took place: (a) the Kol Uprising (b) the Santhal Rebellion
Section C — Longer answers4 × 4 = 16 marks
17.
How did the British East India Company gain control of Bengal?
18.
Match each with its description: (a) Dupleix (b) Vasco da Gama (c) Rani Lakshmibai. Choose from: the French Governor-General who trained sepoys; reached Calicut by sea in 1498; the queen of Jhansi in 1857.
19.
(a) Put these in order, earliest first: the Great Rebellion broke out (1857); the Vellore Mutiny broke out (1806); the Battle of Plassey was fought (1757). (b) How many years from the first to the last? (c) Pick one event and explain how it affected Indians.
20.
Explain how the British extended their control using “Doctrine of Lapse” and “princely state”.
AmbifulWorksheets
Practice that never repeats
CBSE · Class 8 · Social Science

Answer key

The Colonial Era in India · AW-8SS-TCE-2026-V1 · For parents — fold back or tear off before handing the sheet to your child.

QAnswerWorking
1(d) 1498—
2(a) won the Battle of Plassey—
3(d) a rebellion of soldiers against their officers—
4(a) Goa—
5(a) 65 years1806 − 1741 = 65
6(d) 1806—
7(c) 3 years1862 − 1859
8(a) to spread British goods—
9One country taking control of another region, settling there and imposing its political, economic and cultural systems.—
10(a) the Travancore king who won at Colachel (b) led the Santhal Rebellion—
11(a) a rebellion of soldiers against their officers (b) a ruler paying for British troops and giving up foreign policy—
12The Battle of Plassey was fought, by 100 years1857 − 1757
13(a) Calcutta, Madras and Bombay (b) the Malabar coast—
14162 years; 61 years1919 − 1757; 1919 − 1858
15British cloth: ₹740; Indian cloth: ₹22,2002% and 60% of 37000
16(a) Chota Nagpur, 1831–32, against land policies (b) 1855–56, led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu—
17At Plassey in 1757, Robert Clive won after the Nawab’s commander Mir Jafar held back his troops; the Company then took the revenue rights of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha.—
18(a) the French Governor-General who trained sepoys (b) reached Calicut by sea in 1498 (c) the queen of Jhansi in 1857—
19(a) the Battle of Plassey was fought; the Vellore Mutiny broke out; the Great Rebellion broke out (b) 100 years (c) Answers will vary; see the chapter.—
20Doctrine of Lapse: annexing a state whose ruler had no natural male heir. princely state: a state ruled by an Indian prince under British protection. Both let the Company gain power and revenue without fighting every ruler.—