what was the signficance of the Battle of Plassey and what role did Robert Clive Play ?

Answer 1

The basic significance of this battle is that the province of Bengal passed to the East India Company and helped to lead to the British Empire in India.

Colonel Robert Clive, along with Admiral Charles Watson were dispatched to attack Nawab's army and remove him from Calcutta. Their first target was the fortress of Baj-Baj, which they took with minimal British casualties. On January 2, 1757 Calcutta was taken with great ease. On February 3, Clive encountered the army of Nawab itself. The British attacked on February 5 and the Nawab surrendered control of Calcutta

After these initial defeats, the Nawab resumed the war. This led, eventually, to the Battle of Plassey. On June 21, 1757, Clive arrived on the bank opposite of Plassey. They couldn't cross the river due to heavy rain. The heavy rain finally stopped the next day and the army crossed the river and took possession of the grove and it's tanks of water, with Clive made his headquarters in a hunting lodge. On the 23rd, the battle took place and lasted all day, during which very little actual fighting took place. The British used their cannonade and the Nawab did little to counter it. The Nawab lost 500 men. Clive lost very little men 22 dead and 50 wounded. Clive essentially won the battle suborning the opposition rather than through fighting or brilliant military tactics.

This battle did not give the East India Company complete control of Northern India, that would come in 1764 at the Battle of Buxar, but it did lead in that direction.