Question

The privileges of free trade granted to the English East India company were confirmed in 1717 by Emperor ________

Answer 1

Hint:In 1717, duty free trading rights were purchased from the Emperor by the East India company. The former issued a Farman giving the latter the right to reside and trade in the Mughal Empire except for an annual payment. They were also given the right to issue a dastak or trade permits to transfer goods.

 Complete answer:
Farrukh-Siyar became the Mughal Emperor from 1713-1719 once he murdered Jahandar Shah. He was the son of Azim-ush-Shan and Sahiba Nizwan.
During his reign, in 1717, he issued a Farman which gave the British East India company the right to trade freely except for an annual payment of 3000 rupees. It was because a surgeon associated with the company, William Hamilton, had cured him. It was also on the account of results by the prolonged efforts of the company to avoid payments of usual taxes and tolls.
A number of instructions, which were able to cover the demands submitted by the Surman Embassy(named after its chief who’s delegation aimed to achieve confirmation of the demands of the company) were issued under the Prime Minister, Sayyid Abdullah Khan’s seal.
This was a landmark moment of the Indian history and a great diplomatic achievement for the company as it allowed the latter to expand its trade and have considerable influence in the political arena. Termed as the 'Magna Carta' of the English trade in Bengal, the farman granted undue advantages to the English over other traders. It was a drain on imperial revenue as the annual payment of peshkash couldn’t be raised.

Note:In addition to important privileges, the seal granted additional privileges such as allowing the coining of company’s gold and silver in Murshidabad, possession of villages and zamindari rights in and around Calcutta being allowed with permission of diwan of Subah etc.