Q. Which among the following apparently impressed Jahangir to issue a farman in 1613 A.D. to the English to establish a factory at Surat?
Answer: The defeat of Portuguese naval squadrons by the English
Notes: On March 12, 1612, Jahangir granted a firman permitting the British establishing factories at Surat, Gogha, Ahmedabad and Cambay. Thus, Surat became the first established settlement of British in India and a factory was established there in 1612-13. The newly formed company had sent four ships under Captain Thomas Best to trade with India. These were mercantile ships but were capable of defending themselves. They defeated the Portuguese, who were already there in Surat for at least 100 years. This defeat apparently so impressed the Emperor Jahangir that he granted the British squadron a firman to trade.