In the history of British expansion in India, after which battle did the English East India Company effectively secure political power that laid the foundation for its rule in India?

Introduction / Context:
The rise of British power in India was not the result of a single event but of a series of military victories and political treaties. However, some battles are recognised as turning points that transformed the English East India Company from a trading corporation into a territorial power. This question asks which battle most clearly marked the achievement of consolidated political power in India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The question refers to the English East India Company achieving political power in India. - The options are the battles of Plassey, Panipat, Buxar and Wandiwash. - We assume standard interpretations of these battles in modern Indian history textbooks.

Concept / Approach:
The Battle of Plassey in 1757 gave the Company decisive influence over Bengal by defeating Siraj ud Daulah, but it was still formally operating under the authority of local nawabs. The Battle of Buxar in 1764, where the Company defeated the combined armies of the Nawab of Awadh, the Nawab of Bengal and the Mughal Emperor, is widely seen as the moment when Company supremacy was firmly established in north India. The subsequent Allahabad Treaty granted the Company the Diwani (revenue collecting rights) of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Thus, Buxar is often identified as the battle after which the British achieved real political power. Panipat relates to Maratha and Afghan struggles, and Wandiwash mainly decided Anglo French rivalry in the south.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand that political power means more than just influence; it implies control over revenue and administration. Step 2: Recall that the Battle of Plassey made the Company a kingmaker in Bengal but still operating through puppet nawabs. Step 3: Recognise that the Battle of Buxar led directly to the grant of Diwani rights over large and rich provinces. Step 4: This grant meant that the Company now collected revenue and could maintain its own army and administration, a clear sign of political power. Step 5: The Battle of Panipat involved Indian and Afghan forces and did not directly improve British political control. Step 6: The Battle of Wandiwash was crucial in eliminating the French as a serious rival but did not by itself confer Diwani in Bengal.

Verification / Alternative check:
Most history texts state that while Plassey laid the foundation of British supremacy in Bengal, it was the Battle of Buxar and the subsequent arrangements with the Mughal emperor that gave the East India Company direct revenue rights. These rights allowed it to finance armies and expand power across India. Therefore, exam oriented summaries often identify Buxar as the battle after which the Company became a significant political power rather than just a trading body.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Battle of Plassey: An important earlier victory that changed the Nawab of Bengal but did not itself confer comprehensive political power through Diwani.
Battle of Panipat: Fought between Indian and Afghan forces in various years, not directly involving the Company as the main victor.
Battle of Wandiwash: Decisive in the Anglo French struggle in the Carnatic, but not the key event for political control in Bengal and north India.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes pick Plassey because it is the more famous battle and they remember it as the starting point of British rule. Another confusion arises from not distinguishing between military victory and formal political authority through revenue rights. By linking Buxar with the Allahabad Treaty and the Diwani grant, one can clearly see why it is the more accurate answer for the achievement of political power.

Final Answer:
The English East India Company effectively secured political power in India after the Battle of Buxar.