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NCERT Notes on
Battle of Plassey -
For UPSC

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The Battle of Plassey is considered as a crucial event in the history of India. The Battle of Plassey
took place in 1757. By the mid of 18th century, the empire of later Mughals was declining. Many Eu-
ropean countries competed for getting their hold over India. On such occasions the British East In-
dia company was involved in conflict with French for trade supremacy.
The British began to make use of local politics. Battle of Plassey was the result of it. It paved the
way for establishing British rule in India. At the end of the Battle of Plassey, Bengal was conquered
by the British army under Robert Clive.

NCERT Notes on Battle of Plassey - What is it?

• The Battle of Plassey was a decisive event that took place on 23rd June 1757.
• The battle was fought at Palashi on the banks of the River Hoogly.
• It was fought by the British East India company against the Nawab of Bengal (Siraj-ud-
Daulah) and his French allies.
• The British East India company defeated the Nawab and captured Calcutta.
• The Battle of Plassey 1757, was a huge victory for the British in South Asia and helped the
British to get a strong hold over Bengal.

NCERT Notes on Battle of Plassey - Causes

• The trade privileges provided by the Nawab of Bengal to British East India company was
rampantly misused.
• Calcutta was fortified by the British without the consent of the Nawab.

Capture of Fort William:

• It is one of the immediate causes for the Battle of Plassey.
• Following the Seven-years’ war, the British were building military operations against the
French.
• They refused to halt these operations against French.
• So, Siraj-ud-daula attacked the British in Fort William in Calcutta and captured the Fort.
• The British army turned against Siraj-ud-Dawla to retaliate

Black Hole tragedy:

• The Nawab, Siraj-ud-Daula is said to have imprisoned 146 Englishmen in a small chamber.
• It was told that 123 out of 146 Englishmen died due to suffocation.
• This aroused the anger of the Englishmen.

NCERT Notes on Battle of Plassey - Combat

• When the news about Fort William reached Madras, a strong British force was sent under
the command of Robert Clive from Madras to Calcutta in order to recapture Calcutta.
• In March 1757, the French settlement of Chandernagore was captured by the English. This
was the ignition point of the Battle of Plassey.
• Robert Clive bribed Mir Jafar, the commander-in-chief of Siraj-ud-Daula and promised to
make him the Nawab of Bengal in return for his service to the company.
• The English strengthened their position still by forming a secret alliance with the traitors of
the Nawab.
• Siraj-ud-Daula along with his French allies had 50000 soldiers, 40 canons and 10 war ele-
phants.
• All these were defeated by the handful of soldiers of the British.

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• Thus at the end of the Battle of Plassey, Siraj-ud-Daula was captured and was murdered by
Mir Jafar’s son Miran.
• After the Battle, the English captured Bengal and gradually monopolised the trades in Ben-
gal.

NCERT Notes on Battle of Plassey - Significance

• The Battle of Plassey laid the foundation for the British empire in India.
• Military supremacy over Bengal was established by British.
• The French settlements in Bengal were captured.
• Mir Jafar became the Nawab of Bengal.
• A resident was posted in the Nawab’s court.
• Mir Jaffar awarded the British with grant of zamindari of 24 parganas and huge sum of
money for their service in the Battle of Plassey.
• The victory in the Battle of Plassey 1757 increased the prestige of the British.

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Battle of Plassey (NCERT Notes) FAQs

Q1. When and between whom was the Battle of Plassey fought?
A1. The Battle of Plassey was fought between the English army headed by Robert Clive and the
Nawab (Siraj-ud-Daula) along with his French allies. The Battle was fought on june 23, 1757 in Pal-
ashi on the Banks of Hoogly river.

Q2. What are the causes of the Battle of Plassey?

A2. The main causes of the Battle of Plassey are the misuse of trade privileges by the English, for-
tification of Calcutta by the British, providing asylum to the political fugitive of Bengal, Black hole
tragedy, capture of Fort William by the Nawab.

Q3. Why is the Battle of Plassey 1757 famous in Indian History?

A3. The Battle of Plassey,1757 is famous in Indian history because it is regarded as the starting
point of British rule in India. It gave a decisive victory to the British. With British winning the battle,
the entire Bengal was captured and British established their stronghold in India with their base at
Bengal.

Q4. Who was assassinated in the Battle of Plassey?

A4. At the end of the Battle of Plassey, the Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula was captured and killed by Miran,
the son of Mir Jafar.

Q5. What is Plassey Plunder?

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A5. The Battle of Plassey is also known as the Plassey plunder. It was a battle between the English
army and the Nawab army.

Q6. Who betrayed in the Battle of Plassey?

A6. In order to strengthen the British position in India, Robert Clive bribed the Commander-in-chief
(Mir Jafar) of the Nawab. Along with Mir Jafar, Rai Durlabh, Jagat Seth, Omichand formed a secret
alliance and betrayed the Nawab in the Battle of Plassey.

Q7. What is the meaning of Black hole tragedy?

A7. The Nawab of Bengal (Siraj-ud-Daula) imprisoned 146 Englishmen in a tiny room. As a result of
suffocation 123 out of 146 Englishmen died. This tragedy is known as Black hole tragedy.