Concept:The formal foundation of the British Raj began with the Battle of Plassey, which gave the British East India Company political and economic control over Bengal.
Explanation:The Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757 near the Bhagirathi river in West Bengal.
British forces under Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal, and his French allies.
This victory ended the rule of an independent Nawab and established British influence in Bengal.
The East India Company gained tax benefits, eliminated rival European merchants, and used Bengal’s revenue to fund its military and trade.
The wealth drained from Bengal, known as the Plassey Plunder, severely damaged the local economy.
With Bengal’s resources, the British secured their political and commercial supremacy in India.
Thus, the Battle of Plassey laid the groundwork for the British Raj, which later expanded across India.
The other options—Third Battle of Panipat (1761), Battle of Buxar (1764), and Revolt of 1857—were either fought later or did not directly start British rule.
Answer:Battle of Plassey