The first British presidency (a regional headquarters under a President) in India was established at:

The first British presidency in India was established at Surat, on the western coast of Gujarat, in the early 17th century.

About the Surat factory and presidency:

• The English East India Company set up its first permanent factory (trading post) at Surat in 1613, with the permission of the Mughal emperor.
• The head of the factory was called the "President", and the Surat factory, with its subordinate factories, came to be known as a "presidency".
• The President of Surat controlled the Company's trade in western India, the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.
• Surat was the most important port of the Mughal empire and a great centre of trade.

The shift to Bombay:

• In 1668, the Company acquired Bombay from the English Crown (which had received it from the Portuguese).
• Bombay had a better natural harbour and was safer from attacks.
• Surat was attacked by Shivaji in 1664 and 1670, which disrupted trade.
• In 1687, the headquarters of the Company's western presidency was transferred from Surat to Bombay.

The three presidencies:

Over time, the Company's territories were organised into three presidencies:

• The Bombay Presidency (western India).
• The Madras Presidency (southern India).
• The Bengal Presidency (eastern India), with Calcutta as its headquarters.
• Each was headed by a Governor (earlier President) and Council.
• Calcutta later became the capital of British India.

The decline of Surat:

• Surat declined in the 18th century, as Bombay grew and the Mughal empire weakened.
• Today, Surat is a major city of Gujarat, famous for diamond cutting and textiles.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Madras, Calcutta and Bombay became presidencies later.