The Battles of Plassey and Buxar have one similarity between them: The outcomes of both battles began an era of colonialism whose legacy still affects the present billion-strong populace of the Indian subcontinent.
The Battle of Plassey was fought on 23rd June 1757 between Armies of the East India Company (formed on December 31st, 1600) led by Robert Clive and Mughal Bengal led by Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah. The battle ended in a decisive victory for East India Company which gave them a stronghold to spread their influence throughout the subcontinent.
The Battle of Buxar fought between the combined armies of Mir Qasim and East India Company on 22 October 1764 was another decisive victory for the company which saw the subjugation of the provinces of Bengal and Bihar in its entirety. This gave economic leverage to the East India Company.
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This article will further examine the differences between the Battle of Plassey and the Battle of Buxar by examining factors such as their course background and long-term aftermath and others within the context of the IAS Exam
Differences between the Battle of Plassey and the Battle of Buxar
| Battle of Plassey (23rd June 1757) |
Battle of Buxar (22 October 1764) |
The immediate cause of the Battle of Plassey is attributed to the following factors :
|
Mir Qasim, who was made Nawab of Bengal upon deposing his father-in-law Mir Jafar, exerted his independence, alarming the East India Company enough to declare war on him.
The escalation between the two are said to be the immediate factors leading the Battle of Buxar |
| The Battle of Plassey was fought by Robert Clive of the East India Company and Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah, Mughal Administrator of Bengal | The Battle of Buxar was fought by an alliance of
against Hector Munroe of the East India Company |
| The East India Company forces at the Battle of Plassey Consisted of 3100 Soldiers including British and native soldiers
The Bengal Forces Consisted of 7000 infantry and 5000 Cavalry along with 15,000 horsemen and 35,000 infantry of Mir Jafar |
Historical estimates put the allied forces of Bengal and Bihar at 40,000 while putting the East India Company Forces at 7072 with 30 cannons |
| The battle was going well for the Bengal forces until Mir Jafar, bribed by Robert Clive, defected with his entire army to the East India Company, tipping the scales in their favour and delivering a decisive blow to the Bengal forces. | Although numerically superior the allied army of Bihar and Bengal lacked effective communication between them, allowing Hector Munroe to defeat them one at a time |
| The British victory at Plassey not only checked the power of other Indian kingdoms during the time but also that of other European powers who had colonial interests in the subcontinent. It led to the installation of other puppet governments in areas under East Indian Company control either through force or diplomatic measures such as the “Doctrine of Lapse” | The Battle of Buxar led to the direct control of the Gangetic-plains of Northern India by the East India Company. This caused many kingdoms to come directly under the company’s influence and eventual control. Victory for the British in the battle of Buxar delivered promise for their plans that would further help them to impose their power and authority on the Indian subcontinent |
The Battle of Buxar and Plassey are recurring topics under the History segment of the IAS Exams. Aspirants can refer to the following links to learn more about this segment.
- NCERT Ancient Indian History for UPSC
- NCERT Medieval Indian History for UPSC
- NCERT Modern Indian History for UPSC
- World History for UPSC Mains
- How to Study and Prepare for History in the UPSC Exams
- UPSC History Syllabus
- Difference between Colonialism and Imperialism
- Difference between Governor-General and Viceroy
- List of Governors-General of Bengal and India
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Frequently Asked Questions about Battle of Plassey and Battle of Buxar
What was the result of the Battle of Buxar?
What was the main result of the Battle of Plassey?
Aspirants can become familiar with the general pattern of the IAS exam by visiting the IAS Syllabus page. For more preparation materials they can refer to the links given in the table below:
Related Links
| NCERT Books | UPSC Exam Pattern | Current Affairs Quiz |
| Current Affairs PDF | Uniform Civil Code | PIB Summary and Analysis |
| Green Revolution in India | Ujala Yojana | Article 32 |
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