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Question No. 216Interactive Test Mode
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Q216. The staple commodities of export by the English East Indian Company from Bengal in the middle of the 18th century were

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

Select the correct option below (or cross out options to eliminate)

Official Answer Key & Detailed Solution

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Official UPSC Answer KeyUPSC Prelims 2018 • Modern History

Correct Answer: Option (D) — Cotton, silk, saltpeter and opium

Concept & Option Breakdown

Standard Reference Verified

In the mid-18th century, Bengal was a major commercial center from which the East India Company exported cotton textiles, raw silk, saltpeter (potassium nitrate, essential for gunpowder production in European wars), and opium.

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Question Specifications & Syllabus Mapping

Examination & YearUPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2018 (Q216)
Paper & Marking SchemeGS Paper I • 2 Marks (-0.66 Negative for incorrect response)
Syllabus Subject & TopicModern History → Early Colonial Period
Official Answer KeyOption (D) — Cotton, silk, saltpeter and opium

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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Prelims 2018 Q216

What is the official answer for UPSC Prelims 2018 GS Paper I Question 216 (Modern History)?

The official UPSC answer key for this 2018 Modern History (Early Colonial Period) question is Option (D): "Cotton, silk, saltpeter and opium". Correct attempts carry 2 Marks with -0.66 Negative penalty for wrong answers.

Which UPSC Prelims syllabus topic does this 2018 question belong to?

This question belongs to GS Paper I under the subject "Modern History" and micro-topic "Early Colonial Period". You can explore all repeated questions from Early Colonial Period in Acme AI's 3D Prelims PYQ Realm or practice 50 full-length and sectional tests in the APT Prelims Test Series.

How can I solve this Early Colonial Period UPSC Prelims question using option elimination?

To solve Early Colonial Period questions in UPSC Prelims, identify extreme modifiers, verify core NCERT conceptual definitions, and eliminate mutually contradictory statement pairs before locking your final option.

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