How Many Years Did The British Rule Over India?

It was in the year 1600 that the British Queen of the time Queen Elizabeth I gave a Royal Charter to the East India Company of England to travel to the Eastern part of the world, in order to conduct trade with those countries.
Subsequently, the East India Company arrived in India in the year 1608, docking their ships at Surat, one of the popular ports of India at the time. After waging several power struggles with those foreign powers already in India, like for example the Portuguese, the British East India Company was able to quickly establish trading posts and factories in some of the major cities of India. Soon enough, by the end of the seventeenth century, the British had firmly established themselves on Indian soil, and had started ruling the people of the Indian Sub-Continent.
Indians started rebelling towards the English, and in 1857, the First Mutiny was launched, followed by several others, headed by Mahatma Gandhi and other great leaders, until the English could take it no longer and agreed to 'Quit India'. This happened in the year 1947, when India declared herself an independent nation. Therefore, the British ruled over India for 347 years.

The answer given by dipasuresh, about how many years britain rules india is wrong. It was actually 339 years, he/she wrote 347. 1947 - 1608 = 339 years. History is important sorry but even the smallest mistake can cause big misunderstanding. But thank you dipasuresh you have helped me by giving me the answer text.

150

India was in the hands of British when columbus came to India
so it is nearly 500 years

171 years

50 years

339  years 1608-1947

347 years

190 years

The british ruled over india for 347 years.

From mid 16th Century to 1947. We cant say the exact date on when they started ruling as it was a gradual process of capturing us. However battle of Plassey  and battle of Buxar in 1564 played a key role in establishing their rule over India.

125 years

200 years

63 years

The math is simple! It's 339 years anyone who says otherwise needs to double check! :P!

339 years

339

I agree with   347 years

Definitley 300+ years.

347 years, i  think.

@ rohini137: That is in no way true. Of all the people in the world discriminated against, Africans and African-Americans have suffered the worse and the longest. Not only did they suffer almost 500 years of brutal slavery in America and Europe, many countries in Africa itself were under British rule until the early 60s. India was liberated in 1947. You also can't forget the discrimination against African-Americans in the United States as well. Indians DEFINITELY had it easier.

British East India company entered in the year 1600. But they gradually started their rule by 1608. Therefore its simple 1608 - 1947 = 339 years.