Staple exports from Bengal mid-18th century — UPSC Prelims PYQ 2018

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

1. Raw cotton, oil seeds and opium
2. Sugar, salt, zinc and lead
3. Copper, silver, gold, spices and tea
4. Cotton, silk, saltpetre and opium

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• In the mid-18th century, the goods exported by the East India Company from Bengal—such as spices, cotton textiles, silk, saltpetre, tea, and opium—were traded in vast quantities.

Answer: (d) Cotton, silk, saltpetre and opium; Difficulty Level: Medium