The English set up their first factory on Indian soil in 1621 at

Correct answer: Surat

Explanation: The correct answer is B. Surat. The English East India Company established its first factory in India at Surat in 1613. (not in 1621) Surat, located in present-day Gujarat, was a prominent port city and a flourishing center of trade during the Mughal period. The English received permission from Mughal Emperor Jahangir to set up a trading post there after the successful diplomatic efforts of Sir Thomas Roe, who visited Jahangir’s court in 1615. Surat became the first important base for British trade in India, dealing in spices, textiles, and other valuable commodities. It also marked the beginning of British economic and political interest in India.