Who among the following Mughal ruler of India gave permission to the British to establish their first factory in surat?

Correct option is B

The correct answer is option (b): Jahangir
Explanation:
The British East India Company was established in 1600 in England with the purpose of trade in the East.
The company sought to establish a base in India to trade in spices, textiles, and other goods.
Permission to Establish the Factory:
In 1613, Emperor Jahangir, the Mughal ruler of India, granted permission to the British East India Company to establish their first factory in Surat, Gujarat.
This permission was granted after Sir Thomas Roe, an envoy of King James I of England, visited Jahangir's court in 1615 and successfully negotiated trading rights.
Incorrect Options:
A. Aurangzeb: Aurangzeb ruled much later (1658–1707) and was known for his strict policies. By his time, the British were already established in India.
C. Bahadurshah Zafar: He was the last Mughal emperor (1837–1857) and played no role in the early arrival of the British in India.
D. Shahjahan: Though Shahjahan ruled during the early 17th century (1628–1658), the British were already established in Surat during his reign.
  

Information Booster:

Important Mughal Rulers and Their Role/Interaction with the East India Company:

• Jahangir (1605–1627)
  Key Facts:
  Jahangir granted the East India Company permission to trade in India.
  In 1613, he allowed the British to establish their first factory in Surat.
  Sir Thomas Roe, the ambassador of King James I of England, visited Jahangir's court in 1615 and negotiated commercial privileges for the British.
  
• Aurangzeb (1658–1707)
  Key Facts:
  Aurangzeb focused on expanding the empire but faced internal rebellions and challenges from Marathas, Sikhs, and Rajputs.
  By Aurangzeb's time, the British had established trading posts in Madras (1639), Bombay (1668), and Calcutta (1690).
  Aurangzeb allowed the British to collect taxes in Bengal temporarily but maintained a strong stance against foreign intervention in politics.
  
• Muhammad Shah (1719–1748)
  Key Facts:
  His reign witnessed the decline of Mughal power and the rise of regional powers like the Marathas, Sikhs, and the Nawabs of Bengal.
  The Battle of Plassey (1757) occurred after his reign, during the Nawab of Bengal's time.
  
• Shah Alam II (1759–1806)
  Key Facts:
  Shah Alam II was the emperor during the Battle of Buxar (1764).
  After the British victory, the Mughal emperor became a puppet under British control.
  The Treaty of Allahabad (1765) granted the British Diwani rights (revenue collection) in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
  
• Bahadur Shah II (Bahadur Shah Zafar) (1837–1857)
  Key Facts:
  The last Mughal emperor.
  Played a symbolic role in the 1857 Revolt (India’s First War of Independence), where Indian rebels declared him their leader.
  After the revolt, the British defeated the rebels, deposed Bahadur Shah Zafar, and exiled him to Rangoon (Burma).