Where was the Western Presidency situated in the early period of the East India Company?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — A, Surat. In the early period of the East India Company, its centre of operations on the western coast was Surat in Gujarat, where the Company set up its first factory in 1613 under a firman from the Mughal emperor Jahangir. Surat was the headquarters of the Company's western trade until the seat was later shifted to Bombay in the late 17th century.

Why the other options are wrong — (b) Satara was a seat of Maratha power in the Deccan interior, not an East India Company presidency.  (c) Bombay became the Company's western headquarters only later (the seat moved there around 1687); in the early period it was not the western presidency — this is the main trap because 'Bombay Presidency' is the familiar name.  (d) Panaji (Goa) was the centre of Portuguese, not English East India Company, power on the west coast.

Concept: The East India Company organised its Indian trade into 'presidencies' — administrative units each headed by a President and council. On the west coast the earliest such centre was Surat (factory from 1613); it was later superseded by Bombay, which the Company obtained and developed after 1668. The other two presidencies grew at Madras (1639) in the south and Calcutta (1690) in the east.

State PCS 2018 Q23 — History PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2018 Q23 — History PYQ with Answer