The Colonial Era in India Class 8 MCQ

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· Jul 13, 2026 · Reviewed & updated Sep 17, 2026 · 4 min read

The Colonial Era in India Class 8 MCQ

The Colonial Era in India Class 8 MCQ

Question 1.

Who was the first European to discover the sea route to India?

(a) Christopher Columbus

(b) Ferdinand Magellan

(c) Vasco da Gama

(d) Bartholomew Diaz

Answer:

(c) Vasco da Gama


Question 2.

Vasco-da-Gama first landed in India at which place?

(a) Bombay

(b) Calicut

(c) Cochin

(d) Surat

Answer:

(b) Calicut


Question 3.

The Portuguese established their first trading centre in India at :

(a) Goa

(b) Calicut

(c) Cochin

(d) Daman

Answer:

(c) Cochin


Question 4.

The main aim of the Portuguese in India was to :

(a) Spread Christianity

(b) Conquer the Mughal Empire

(c) Trade in spices

(d) Teach Indian rulers European culture

Answer:

(c) Trade in spices


Question 5.

The Dutch East India Company was established in :

(a) 1502

(b) 1602

(c) 1652

(d) 1702

Answer:

(b) 1602


The Colonial Era in India Class 8 Assertion and Reason Questions


In the questions given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option.

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and R is the correct explanation of (A).

(b) Both (A) and (R) true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

(c) (A) is true but (R) is false.

(d) (A) is false but (R) is true.


1. Assertion (A): The Doctrine of Lapse was a key strategy used by the British to annex princely states.

Reason (R): It allowed any princely state without a natural male heir to be annexed by the British.

Answer:

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and R is the correct explanation of (A).


2. Assertion (A): The British improved India's economy and increased its share of world GDP.

Reason (R): They invested heavily in Indian industries and local trade.

Answer:

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and R is the correct explanation of (A).


The Colonial Era in India Class 8 Fill in the Blanks


Question 1.

The ............ East India Company was granted a royal charter by Queen Elizabeth I.

Answer:

British


Question 2.

The battle of ............ (1757) marked the beginning of major British political control in India.

Answer:

Plassey


Question 3.

............ was the queen of Jhansi who fought bravely in the 1857 Rebellion.

Answer:

Rani Lakshmibai


Question 4.

The Great Famine of 1876-78 killed nearly ............ million people in the Deccan region.

Answer:

eight


Question 5.

The ............ Revolt (1859-62) was a peasant uprising against forced cultivation of indigo.

Answer:

Indigo


The Colonial Era in India Class 8 True or False


Question 1.

The Dutch were the first European power to colonize India.

Answer:

False


Question 2.

The British exploited India's wealth to fund the Industrial Revolution.

Answer:

True


Question 3.

Famines under British rule were worsened by the export of grain and free-market policies.

Answer:

True


Question 4.

The British abolished all traditional village councils immediately after arriving.

Answer:

False


Question 5.

The Kol Uprising occurred in northern Bengal.

Answer:

False


The Colonial Era in India Class 8 Match the Following

Question 1.

Column AColumn B
1. Vasco da Gama(a) East India Company Governor-General (French)
2. Battle of Colachel(b) The Dutch were defeated by Travancore
3. Dupleix(c) Portuguese explorer to India in 1498
4. Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu(d) Leaders of the Santhal Rebellion
5. Macaulay(e) Advocated English education in India

Answer:

Column AColumn B
1. Vasco da Gama(c) Portuguese explorer to India in 1498
2. Battle of Colachel(b) The Dutch were defeated by Travancore
3. Dupleix(a) East India Company Governor-General (French)
4. Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu(d) Leaders of the Santhal Rebellion
5. Macaulay(e) Advocated English education in India


The Colonial Era in India Class 8 Passage Based Questions


1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

A few centuries ago, the port town of I hal (in present-day southern Karnataka) was an important trading point controlled by Rani Abbakka I. In the latter half of the 16th century, the Portuguese repeatedly attempted to take it over, but Rani Abbakka I formed strategic alliances with neighbouring kingdoms and thwarted their attempts.

She was eventually captured and died fighting in prison. Her successor, Rani Abbakka II, is reported to have created fireballs out of coconut shells and set several ships of the Portuguese navy on fire. Their inspirational stories are remembered even today through the Yakshagana, a traditional form of dance-drama.


Question 1.

Who controlled the port town of Ullal a few centuries ago?

(a) Portuguese

(b) Rani Abbakka I

(c) Rani Abbakka-II

(d) Neighboring kingdoms

Answer:

(b) Rani Abbakka I


Question 2.

In which century did the Portuguese repeatedly attempt to take over Ullal?

(a) 15th century

(b) 16th century

(c) 17th century

(d) 18th century

Answer:

(b) 16th century


Question 3.

How did Rani Abbakka I defend Ullal from the Portuguese?

(a) By forming strategic alliances

(b) By building forts

(c) By negotiating with them

(d) By fleeing the town

Answer:

(a) By forming strategic alliances


The Colonial Era in India Class 8 Map-Based Questions


Question 1.

Locate and label the following on the map of India :

1. Port established by the Dutch

2. A place of the Vellore Mutiny (1806)

3. A place associated with Rani Lakshmibai

Answer:

1. Nagapattinam port, Tamil Nadu-B

2. Vellore, Tamil Nadu-C

3. Jhansi, Madhya Pradesh-A.

Class 8 SST MCQ