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Question 25 of 73 · Arrival of Europeans & Expansion of British Rule
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The Treaty of Surat (1775) was signed between the Bombay government of the East India Company and:

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Answer: Option D — Raghunath Rao (Raghoba)

Detailed Solution

The Treaty of Surat was signed in March 1775 between the English East India Company's Bombay government and Raghunath Rao (Raghoba), a claimant to the post of Peshwa.

Background:

  • After the death of Peshwa Madhav Rao I in 1772, his younger brother Narayan Rao became Peshwa.
  • Narayan Rao was murdered in 1773, and his uncle, Raghunath Rao, was suspected of involvement.
  • Raghunath Rao claimed the Peshwaship.
  • However, Narayan Rao's widow gave birth to a son, Madhav Rao II (Sawai Madhav Rao), and the Maratha council led by Nana Phadnavis (the "Barbhai council") declared the infant the Peshwa.
  • Raghunath Rao fled and sought English help.

The Treaty of Surat (1775):

  • The Bombay government agreed to help Raghunath Rao become the Peshwa, by providing him with troops.
  • In return, Raghunath Rao promised to give the English Salsette and Bassein (Vasai), and a share of the revenue of Surat and Bharuch.
  • He also agreed to pay for the English troops.

Results:

  • This treaty led to a war between the Company and the Marathas.
  • The Calcutta Council (the Supreme Government) under Warren Hastings disapproved of the treaty, as it claimed control over the other presidencies.
  • In 1776, the Calcutta Council signed the Treaty of Purandar with the Maratha council, cancelling the Treaty of Surat, but the treaty was not fully implemented.
  • The war continued, and the English suffered a major defeat at Wadgaon (1779).

About Nana Phadnavis:

  • He was a Maratha minister and statesman, often called the "Maratha Machiavelli" for his diplomatic skill.
  • He led the Maratha administration during the minority of Madhav Rao II.

About Raghunath Rao:

  • He was a brother of Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao, and had led Maratha armies to Punjab (1758).
  • His son, Baji Rao II, later became the last Peshwa.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Nana Phadnavis led the Maratha council.
  • ✗Mahadji Scindia was a Maratha chief.
  • ✗Madhav Rao I had died in 1772.

Quick tip

Remember: Treaty of Surat (1775) = Bombay government and Raghunath Rao (Raghoba); Nana Phadnavis = "Maratha Machiavelli".

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Arrival of Europeans & Expansion of British Rule — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Arrival of Europeans & Expansion of British Rule, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers the arrival of the Portuguese, Dutch, English, Danes and French in India, the growth of the East India Company, and the battles, wars and treaties through which British power expanded, including the Battles of Plassey and Buxar, the Anglo-Mysore, Anglo-Maratha and Anglo-Sikh wars, and policies such as subsidiary alliance and the doctrine of lapse. Typical questions ask which battle was fought in which year and between whom, which treaty ended which war, and which Governor-General introduced a policy. For example, the Battle of Plassey (1757) was fought between Robert Clive and Siraj-ud-Daulah, and the Treaty of Allahabad (1765) gave the Company the diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Practise the arrival of Europeans and expansion of British rule questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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