Official Answer Key & Detailed Solution
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Correct Answer: Option (A) — 1 only
Concept & Option Breakdown
Standard Reference Verified- Statement 1 is correct: The Portuguese were the first Europeans to set up a trading post at Pondicherry in the early 16th century, followed by the Danes and the Dutch.
- Statement 2 is incorrect: The Dutch and Danes had established trade posts before the French firmly acquired and developed Pondicherry starting in 1673–74.
- Statement 3 is incorrect: The British occupied Pondicherry multiple times during Anglo-French conflicts (e.g., in 1761, 1778, and 1793), returning it to the French under subsequent peace treaties.
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