In the context of eighteenth century India, what was 'Dastak'?
- A.Signature
- B.Land document
- C.Trade permit
- D.Tax on textiles
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, Trade permit. A dastak was a free pass that let the English East India Company move goods without paying internal customs duties.
The Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar's farman of 1717 allowed the Company to carry on its trade in Bengal free of duties on a yearly payment, and its officials issued dastaks to cover such goods. Company servants soon misused these passes for their own private inland trade and even sold them to Indian merchants, which cost the Nawab of Bengal heavy revenue. Mir Qasim's protest against this abuse, and his decision to abolish duties for everyone, led to war with the Company and the Battle of Buxar in 1764.
A is wrong because a dastak was a trading pass, not a signature. B is wrong because it did not record rights over land. D is wrong because it exempted goods from duties rather than being a tax.
Exam tip: Dastak: duty-free trade pass; Farrukhsiyar's farman 1717; its misuse led to Mir Qasim's clash and Buxar 1764.
Practice Questions
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1. Dipavamsa
2. Harshacharita
3. Vikramankadevacharita
4. Prithvirajavijaya
Select the correct answer from the code given below :
- A.1 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.2, 3 and 4 only
- D.1, 2, 3 and 4
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- C.Elphinstone Circle
- D.Marble Palace
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- C.Rajani Kant Sen
- D.Syed Abu Mohammad
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- A.Eighth form
- B.Fifth form
- C.Seventh form
- D.Sixth form
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- B.It encouraged the role of middlemen.
- C.Under this system, land revenue was fixed for the peasant.
- D.The ijaradar paid a fixed amount to the State treasury.
Show answer
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