The Revolt of 1857 — Practice Questions
UPSC Prelims-pattern practice questions on the Revolt of 1857 with full explanations — causes, leaders, sequence of events, the Queen's Proclamation and historians.
Questions
These are original UPSC-pattern practice questions. Attempt each one before revealing the answer.
Which of the following enactments of 1856 required new recruits of the Bengal Army to serve overseas if ordered, adding to sepoy discontent before the Revolt of 1857?
Solution
The General Service Enlistment Act (1856), passed under Lord Canning, required new recruits to serve wherever ordered, including overseas — offensive to high-caste sepoys for whom crossing the sea meant loss of caste. The Caste Disabilities Removal Act dates from 1850 and the Post Office Act from 1854; the Widows’ Remarriage Act (1856) was a social reform law, not a military measure.
Answer: C
Consider the following statements about Queen Victoria’s Proclamation of 1858:
- It was read out at Allahabad by Lord Canning.
- It announced that the British would not seek further annexation of territory.
- It extended the doctrine of lapse to all princely states.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Solution
Statements 1 and 2 are correct — the Proclamation was read at Allahabad on 1 November 1858 and promised no further annexations and respect for the rights and dignity of princes. Statement 3 is wrong — the doctrine of lapse was abandoned, and the princes’ right to adopt heirs was recognised.
Answer: A
Which historian argued that the Revolt of 1857 was neither the first, nor national, nor a war of independence?
Solution
R.C. Majumdar advanced this view around the centenary (1957). V.D. Savarkar called it The Indian War of Independence (1909). S.N. Sen, in the official centenary history Eighteen Fifty-Seven, held that it began as a mutiny but acquired a political character.
Answer: D
Arrange the following events in chronological order:
- Recapture of Delhi by the British
- Outbreak at Meerut
- Queen Victoria’s Proclamation
- Death of Rani Lakshmibai
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Solution
Meerut (10 May 1857) → recapture of Delhi (September 1857) → death of Rani Lakshmibai near Gwalior (June 1858) → Queen’s Proclamation (1 November 1858). The order is 2-1-4-3.
Answer: B
Kunwar Singh, a leader of the Revolt of 1857, was associated with
Solution
Kunwar Singh, an elderly zamindar of Jagdishpur near Arrah in Bihar, led the revolt there. Bareilly was led by Khan Bahadur Khan, Faizabad by Maulvi Ahmadullah and Allahabad by Liaqat Ali.
Answer: C
Mains
Why did the Revolt of 1857 fail despite its wide popular participation? Discuss.
Solution
Introduction: The revolt drew in sepoys, dispossessed rulers, landholders, peasants and artisans across north and central India, yet the British had suppressed it by 1858–59.
Body:
- Limited spread: largely the Gangetic plain and central India; Punjab, Bengal, Rajputana and the south stayed quiet.
- Loyal or neutral elites: the Scindia, the Holkar, the Nizam, most Rajput rulers; Nepal sent troops; zamindars in many regions stayed aloof.
- Leadership and programme: no central command; leaders fought for local or personal causes; Bahadur Shah II was a symbolic head; no vision of a new political order.
- Educated middle class kept away, then hoping for modernisation under British rule.
- British strengths: resources of an empire, communications (telegraph), disciplined commanders, reinforcements from abroad.
Conclusion: The revolt failed for want of unity, spread and programme — lessons that the organised national movement of the late 19th century took to heart.