Revolt of 1857

Question 1. Which of the following has started the revolt of 1857? [SSC 2007]

(a) Sepoys
(b) Zamindars
(c) Peasants
(d) Plantation workers

Solution: a

Question 2. Who was the Governor-General of India during the revolt of 1857? [UP RO/ARO (Mains) 2013]

(a) Lord Dalhousie
(b) Lord Canning
(c) Lord Minto
(d) Lord Bentinck

Solution: b

Question 3. Who was the Prime Minister of Britain during the revolt of 1857? [UPPSC (Pre) 1991]

(a) Churchill
(b) Palmerston
(c) Attlee
(d) Gladstone

Solution: b

Question 4. When was the new Enfield rifle with greased cartridges introduced in the British Indian Army? [BPSC (Pre) 2005]

(a) Novemebr, 1856
(b) December, 1856
(c) January, 1857
(d) February, 1857

Solution: b

Question 5. The symbol of 1857 independence struggle was [MPPSC (Pre) 1990]

(a) Lotus and Chapatis
(b) Eagle
(c) Scarf
(d) Two sword

Solution: a

Question 6. The first event relating to the war of independence of 1857 was [UPPSC (Mains) 2008]

(a) Kanpur’s Revolt and taking over the leadership by Nana Saheb
(b) Begum Hazrat Mahal’s leadership of Awadh.
(c) marching of Sepoys to Delhi’s Red Fort.
(d) revolt by Rani of Jhansi.

Solution: c

Question 7. Which one of the following was not a cause of the revolt of 1857? [NDA 2017]

(a) The rumour that the British had mixed the bone dust of cows and pigs into the flour being sold in the market.
(b) The prophecy that British rule would come to an end on the centenary of the Battle of Plassey on 23rd June, 1857.
(c) Popular discontent with British rule
(d) The prophecy that the end of British rule would lead to the end of the Kali Yuga and the return of Ram Rajya.

Solution: b

Question 8. Certain measure of Dalhousie created serious discontent in India which were also responsible for the revolt of 1857. Which one of the following measures was not one of them? [Astt. Comm. 2011]

(a) Doctrine of Lapse
(b) Introduction of Railways and Telegraph
(c) Abolition of Titles and Pensions of Several Rulers
(d) Educational Reforms

Solution: d

Question 9. Who among the following formulated and implemented the Doctrine of Lapse? [UPPSC (Mains) 2011]

(a) Wellesley
(b) Hastings
(c) Dalhousie
(d) Clive

Solution: c

Question 10. Which of the following was the first victim of Lord Dalhousie’s policy of Doctrine of Lapse? [UPPSC (Pre) 2016]

(a) Jhansi
(b) Satara
(c) Karauli
(d) Sambalpur

Solution: b

Question 11. Who among the following refused to allow Rani Lakshmibai’s son to succeed to the throne?

(a) General Dyer
(b) Lord Dalhousie
(c) Lord Wellington
(d) Lord Mountbatten

Solution: b

Question 12. The ruler of which of the following states was removed from power by the British on the pretext of misgovernance? [IAS (Pre) 2007]

(a) Awadh
(b) Jhansi
(c) Nagpur
(d) Satara

Solution: a

Question 13. Awadh was amalgamated into the British dominion in which year? [UP UDA/LDA (Pre) 2013]

(a) 1853
(b) 1854
(c) 1855
(d) 1856

Solution: d

Question 14. Who among the following was the British residence in Awadh at the time of its annexation into British Dominion? [UPPSC (Mains) 2011]

(a) James Outram
(b) WH Sleeman
(c) Bishio R Heber
(d) General Lowe

Solution: a

Question 15. Which of the following Princely States was not annexed by the British?

(a) Sind
(b) Gwalior
(c) Awadh
(d) Satara

Solution: b

Question 16. Which one of the following was the primary cause of majority of civil rebellion against the British rule, before 1857?

(a) Exploitation of the village artisans and farmers by money lenders along with Britishers.
(b) The rapid changes that the British introduced in the economy, administration and land revenue system.
(c) The Colonial Policy of intensifying demands for land revenue and extracting as large an amount as possible.
(d) Not even a part of the enhanced revenue was spent on the development of agriculture or the welfare of the cultivator.

Solution: b

Question 17. Which one of the following statements about the revolt of 1857 is correct? [NDA 2020]

(a) It was a revolt carefully organised and planned by the Rajas, Nawabs and Taluqdars.
(b) Rumours and prophecies did not play any role in its outbreak and spread.
(c) The rebel proclamations in 1857 repeatedly appealed to all sections of the population irrespective of their caste and creed.
(d) The British succeeded in quickly and easily controlling the rebels.

Solution: c

Question 18. Which of the underwritten pairs is correctly matched? [UPPSC (Mains) 2011]

(a) 1849 AD – Merger of Satara
(b) 1848 AD – Merger of Punjab
(c) 1856 AD – Merger of Awadh
(d) 1855 AD – Merger of Jhansi

Solution: c

Question 19. Which among the following is/are correct?

I. Lakshmibai joined the revolt because of Doctrine of Lapse.
II. Doctrine of Lapse was coined by Lord Dalhousie.

Choose the correct answer from codes.

(a) Only I is Correct
(b) Only II is Correct
(c) Both (a) and(b) are correct
(d) None of the above

Solution: c

Question 20. Consider the following Princely States of the British rule in India.

I. Jhansi
II. Sambalpur
III. Satara

Arrange in the correct chronological order in which they were annexed by the British.

(a) I, II, III
(b) I, III, II
(c) III, II, I
(d) III, I, II

Solution: c

Question 21. Consider the following statements regarding causes of Revolt of 1857.

I. Denial of the adoption of child by the childless king.
II. The British Policy of looking down upon Indian subjects.
III. Discriminations among English and Indian soldiers.
IV. Social reform and conversion to Christianity.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

(a) Only I
(b) Only II
(c) III and IV
(d) All of these

Solution: d

Question 22. Assertion (A) First War of Independence broke out in India in 1857, soon after the departure of Lord Dalhousie from India.

Reason (R) Lord Dalhousie’s Annexati- onist policy had caused great discontent. [CDS 2009]

Codes

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true

Solution: a

Question 23. Statement I In 1856, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was dethroned and exiled to Calcutta on the plea that the region was being misgoverned. Statement II The Nawab was accused of being unable to control the rebellious chiefs and Taluqdars. [Asst. Comm. 2018]

(a) Both the statements are individually true and statement II is the correct explanation of statement I.
(b) Both the statements are individually true, but statement II is not the correct explanation of statement I.
(c) Statement I is true, but statement II is false.
(d) Statement I is false, but statement II is true.

Solution: a

Question 24. Which among the following was not an economic cause of the revolt of 1857?

(a) Heavy taxation.
(b) Increased pressure on agricultural land.
(c) Increased availability of market for Indian cotton.
(d) None of the above

Solution: c

Question 25. Which one of the following economic factor caused the 1857 Revolt?

(a) Exploitative policy of Britishers.
(b) Subsidiary Alliance of Wellesley.
(c) Religions disabilities Act.
(d) Use of animal fat greased cartridges.

Solution: a

Question 26. Which of the following was the economic cause of 1857 revolt?

(a) Industrial revolution
(b) Employment of craftsman
(c) Exploitation of peasants by zamindars
(d) All of the above

Solution: d

Question 27. Indian Bills of Landing Act was passed in

(a) 1854
(b) 1856
(c) 1870
(d) 1876

Solution: b

Question 28. Consider the following statements.

I. Adoption of free trade imperialism from 1800, de-industrialisation and drain of wealth.
II. Abolition of Sati in 1829.
III. Commercialisation of Agriculture.
IV. Doctrine of Lapse.

Which of the above mentioned Statement/s was economic cause for the 1857 Revolt?

(a) Only I and II
(b) Only II and III
(c) Only I and IV
(d) Only I and III

Solution: d

Question 29. What was the socio-religious factor/s for the 1857 revolt?

(a) Religious disabilities Act, 1856
(b) Abolition of Sati, 1829
(c) Hindu Widow Remarriage Act, 1856
(d) All of the above

Solution: d

Question 30. The Azamgarh proclamation of 25th August, 1857 stressed on which one of the following issues? [NDA 2019]

(a) Hindu-Muslim divide
(b) Support to the English Government
(c) The return of the Badshahi
(d) The imposition of heavy Jumas (revenue demand)

Solution: c

Question 31. When was the Religious Disabilities Act passed? [UPPSC 2008]

(a) 1850
(b) 1855
(c) 1856
(d) 1870

Solution: c

Question 32. Which one of the following military cause was responsible for 1857 revolt?

(a) Salaries and pensions related issue between the Indian soldiers and the government.
(b) Doctrine of Lapse.
(c) Non-Intervention Policy of John Lawrence.
(d) Setting up of Inam Commission.

Solution: a

Question 33. In which year did the privilege of free postage enjoyed by sepoys were withdrawn by ‘The Post-Office Act’?

(a) 1813
(b) 1815
(c) 1850
(d) 1854

Solution: d

Question 34. Consider the following statements.

I. The General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 was introduced by Charles Canning.
II. Under this Act every Indian soldiers could go overseas for deployment if required.
III. An Indian soldier could get maximum salary of ` 174 during his service period.

Which of the above mentioned statement is/are correct?

(a) Only I
(b) Only I and II
(c) Only III
(d) All of the above

Solution: d

Question 35. The immediate cause of India’s First War of Independence was [RAS/RTS (Pre) 1993]

(a) Doctrine of Lapse by Lord Dalhousie.
(b) Suspicion about British interference in religion.
(c) Military discontent.
(d) Economic exploitation of India.

Solution: b

Question 36. The use of which rifle proved to be the immediate cause of 1857 revolt?

(a) Brown Bass
(b) Enfield Rifle
(c) Green Belt
(d) Enfield Bass

Solution: b

Question 37. Who among the following British persons admitted the revolt of 1857 as a National revolt?

(a) Lord Dalhousie
(b) Lord Canning
(c) Lord Ellenborough
(d) Disraeli

Solution: b

Question 38. Which of the following statements explains the best nature of the revolt of 1857?

(a) It was the last attempt by the old political order to regain its power.
(b) It was a mutiny of a session of the sepoys of the British Indian Army.
(c) It was the struggle of the common people to overthrew the foreign rules.
(d) It was an effort to establish a United Indian Nation.

Solution: c

Question 39. Who among the following says that the Revolt of 1857 was an extension of social progress the English had already initiated?

(a) Karl Marx
(b) Adam Smith
(c) Max Muller
(d)Benjamin Disraeli

Solution: a

Question 40. Who among the following was the author of Civil Rebellion in the Indian Mutinies, 1857-59?

(a) RC Majumdar
(b) PC Joshi
(c) SB Choudhary
(d) VD Savarkar

Solution: c

Question 41. Who called the revolt of 1857 as a conspiracy? [BPSC (Pre) 1995]

(a) Sir James Outram and W Taylor
(b) Sir John Kaye
(c) Sir John Lawrence
(d) TR Homes

Solution: a

Question 42. Who termed the uprising of 1857 as the First War of Independence? [UPPSC (Mains) 2015]

(a) VA Smith
(b) PE Roberts
(c) VD Savarkar
(d) All of these

Solution: c

Question 43. Official historian of Indian freedom struggle was [UPPSC 2010]

(a) RC Mazumdar
(b) Tarachandra
(c) VD Savarkar
(d) SN Shah

Solution: d

Question 44. The first Indian to write in Indian language on the causes of the uprising of 1857 was [UP Lower Sub (Pre) 2009]

(a) Syed Ahmad Khan
(b) VD Savarkar
(c) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
(d) None of the above

Solution: a

Question 45. Who wrote ”The Indian War of Independence”? [WBCS 2020]

(a) Dadabhai Naoroji
(b) Romesh Chunder Dutt
(c) Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
(d) Harish Chandra Mukhopadhyay

Solution: c

Question 46. The statement, ‘The so-called first national war of Independence was neither first nor national, nor a war of independence’ is associated with [UPPSC (Mains) 2010]

(a) RC Mazumadar
(b) SN Sen
(c) Tara Chandra
(d) VD Savarkar

Solution: a

Question 47. Consider the following statements and mark the correct answer.

I. RC Majumdar described the 1857 Revolt as neither first nor national war of independence.
II. TR Holmes described the 1857 Revolt as conflict between civilisation and Barbarian.
III. Jawaharlal Nehru said that 1857 Revolt was nothing, but a Hindu-Muslim conspiracy.

Codes

(a) Only II
(b) Only III
(c) I and II
(d) All of these

Solution: c

Question 48. Who among the following was bestowed with the title of Saheb-eAlam Bahadur by Bahadur Shah during the uprising of 1857? [UPRO/ARO (Pre) 2016]

(a) Azimullkah
(b) Birjis Qadr
(c) Bakht Khan
(d) Hasan Khan

Solution: c

Question 49. Before the outbreak of revolt of 1857 at Meerut, Mangal Pandey had become a martyr on 29th March, 1857. He was hanged at

(a) Lucknow
(b) Barrackpore
(c) Calcutta
(d) Meerut

Solution: b

Question 50. Mangal Pandey incident took place at

(a) Meerut
(b) Barrackpore
(c) Ambala
(d) Lucknow

Solution: b

Question 51. With which uprising is Mangal Pandey associated? [UPPSC (Pre) 2010]

(a) Barrackpore
(b) Meerut
(c) Delhi
(d) None of these

Solution: a

Question 52. In which division of the British Indian Army Pandey was inducted as a soldier? [APSC 2017]

(a) 34th Bengal Native Infantry
(b) 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles
(c) Madras Light Cavalry
(d) None of the above

Solution: a

Question 53. The largest number of soldiers participated in the struggle of 1857 came from [UP Lower Sub (Pre) 2011]

(a) Bengal
(b) Awadh
(c) Bihar
(d) Rajasthan

Solution: b

Question 54. At the time of 1857 Revolt, who was the British Commanding officer at Barrackpore? [UPPSC (Pre) 2014]

(a) Henry Lawrence
(b) Colonel Finnis
(c) Richard Hearsey
(d) Sir Hugh Wheeler

Solution: c

Question 55. The First War of Independence started from [UPPSC (Pre) 1994, 1990]

(a) Lucknow
(b) Jhansi
(c) Meerut
(d) Kanpur

Solution: c

Question 56. Which of the following was not a reason for making the sepoys of the East India Company rebellious? [BPSC 2014]

(a) The efforts of the officers of the Company to spread Christianity.
(b) The order to the sepoys to travel on ships.
(c) The stoppage of Bhatta.
(d) The inefficiency of the officers.

Solution: c

Question 57. To whom the rebel soldiers from Meerut declared the ‘Emperor of India’, after sieging Delhi, on 12th May, 1857?

(a) Shah Alam II
(b) Bahadurshah ‘Zafar’
(c) Bakht Khan
(d) Akbar II

Solution: b

Question 58. Who among the following was believed to be a leader of the Sanyasis and Fakirs conspiring against the British in 1857?

(a) Mangal Pandey
(b) Bahadur Shah II
(c) Queen Zeenat Mahal
(d) Nana Saheb

Solution: b

Question 59. Who among the following died in exile? [NDA 2019]

(a) Rani Lakshmibai
(b) Bahadur Shah Zafar
(c) Tatya Tope
(d) Nana Saheb

Solution: b