MCQs on The Revolt of 1857 – Modern Indian History
Q1. The Revolt of 1857 is also known as:
a) The First War of Indian Independence
b) The Sepoy Mutiny
c) The Indian Rebellion
d) All of the above
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Correct Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: The Revolt of 1857 is referred to by various names, including the First War of Indian Independence, the Sepoy Mutiny, and the Indian Rebellion, as it marked the first large-scale uprising against British rule in India.
Q2. The immediate cause of the Revolt of 1857 was:
a) The use of greased cartridges in the Enfield rifle
b) The Doctrine of Lapse
c) The annexation of Awadh
d) The introduction of Western education
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Correct Answer: a) The use of greased cartridges in the Enfield rifle
Explanation: The immediate cause of the Revolt of 1857 was the introduction of the new Enfield rifle, which used greased cartridges that had to be bitten off before loading. The grease was rumored to contain cow and pig fat, which was offensive to both Hindu and Muslim soldiers.
Q3. Who was the commander-in-chief of the rebel forces during the Revolt of 1857?
a) Rani Lakshmibai
b) Kunwar Singh
c) Bahadur Shah II
d) Nana Sahib
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Correct Answer: c) Bahadur Shah II
Explanation: Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughal emperor, was declared the commander-in-chief of the rebel forces during the Revolt of 1857, although his actual control over the rebellion was limited.
Q4. The Revolt of 1857 began in which city?
a) Delhi
b) Meerut
c) Kanpur
d) Lucknow
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Correct Answer: b) Meerut
Explanation: The Revolt of 1857 began in Meerut on May 10, 1857, when Indian soldiers in the British army, known as sepoys, mutinied against their British officers.
Q5. Who led the revolt in Kanpur during the Revolt of 1857?
a) Rani Lakshmibai
b) Kunwar Singh
c) Bahadur Shah II
d) Nana Sahib
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Correct Answer: d) Nana Sahib
Explanation: Nana Sahib, the adopted son of the last Peshwa Baji Rao II, led the revolt in Kanpur during the Revolt of 1857.
Q6. Who led the revolt in Jhansi during the Revolt of 1857?
a) Rani Lakshmibai
b) Kunwar Singh
c) Bahadur Shah II
d) Nana Sahib
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Correct Answer: a) Rani Lakshmibai
Explanation: Rani Lakshmibai, the queen of Jhansi, led the revolt in Jhansi during the Revolt of 1857.
Q7. Who led the revolt in Bihar during the Revolt of 1857?
a) Rani Lakshmibai
b) Kunwar Singh
c) Bahadur Shah II
d) Nana Sahib
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Correct Answer: b) Kunwar Singh
Explanation: Kunwar Singh, a zamindar from Jagdishpur in Bihar, led the revolt in Bihar during the Revolt of 1857.
Q8. The Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by which British Governor-General?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Lord Canning
c) Lord Wellesley
d) Lord Bentinck
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Correct Answer: a) Lord Dalhousie
Explanation: The Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by Lord Dalhousie, the British Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856. This policy allowed the British to annex any Indian princely state whose ruler died without a male heir or was deemed incompetent.
Q9. Who was the British Governor-General of India during the Revolt of 1857?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Lord Canning
c) Lord Wellesley
d) Lord Bentinck
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Correct Answer: b) Lord Canning
Explanation: Lord Canning was the British Governor-General of India during the Revolt of 1857. He served from 1856 to 1858 and then became the first Viceroy of India.
Q10. The British East India Company’s rule in India was replaced by the direct rule of the British Crown after the Revolt of 1857 through which act?
a) The Charter Act of 1853
b) The Government of India Act of 1858
c) The Indian Councils Act of 1861
d) The Government of India Act of 1935
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Correct Answer: b) The Government of India Act of 1858
Explanation: The Government of India Act of 1858 replaced the British East India Company’s rule in India with the direct rule of the British Crown, following the Revolt of 1857.
Q11. Who was the last king of Awadh, who was dethroned by the British before the Revolt of 1857?
a) Wajid Ali Shah
b) Nasir-ud-Din Haidar
c) Amjad Ali Shah
d) Birjis Qadr
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Correct Answer: a) Wajid Ali Shah
Explanation: Wajid Ali Shah was the last king of Awadh. He was dethroned by the British in 1856, and his kingdom was annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse, which was one of the factors leading to the Revolt of 1857.
Q12. Which of the following was not a social cause of the Revolt of 1857?
a) The spread of Western education
b) The introduction of railways
c) The annexation of Indian states
d) The interference in religious practices
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Correct Answer: c) The annexation of Indian states
Explanation: The annexation of Indian states was a political cause of the Revolt of 1857, not a social cause. The spread of Western education, the introduction of railways, and the interference in religious practices were all social causes that contributed to the discontent among Indians.
Q13. The British officer who recaptured Delhi from the rebels during the Revolt of 1857 was:
a) General Hugh Rose
b) General Colin Campbell
c) General James Neill
d) General John Nicholson
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Correct Answer: d) General John Nicholson
Explanation: General John Nicholson led the British forces that recaptured Delhi from the rebels during the Revolt of 1857.
Q14. The British officer who defeated Rani Lakshmibai in the Battle of Gwalior was:
a) General Hugh Rose
b) General Colin Campbell
c) General James Neill
d) General John Nicholson
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Correct Answer: a) General Hugh Rose
Explanation: General Hugh Rose defeated Rani Lakshmibai in the Battle of Gwalior during the Revolt of 1857. Rani Lakshmibai died in the battle, and her death marked the end of the rebellion in central India.
Q15. The British officer who relieved the Siege of Lucknow was:
a) General Hugh Rose
b) General Colin Campbell
c) General James Neill
d) General John Nicholson
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Correct Answer: b) General Colin Campbell
Explanation: General Colin Campbell relieved the Siege of Lucknow during the Revolt of 1857. He led the British forces that lifted the siege and recaptured the city from the rebels
Q16. The British policy of “Divide and Rule” was introduced after the Revolt of 1857 to:
a) Encourage communal harmony
b) Promote economic development
c) Strengthen the British administration
d) Create divisions among Indian communities
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Correct Answer: d) Create divisions among Indian communities
Explanation: The British policy of “Divide and Rule” was introduced after the Revolt of 1857 to create divisions among Indian communities, making it easier for the British to maintain control over India.
Q17. The British officer who suppressed the revolt in Bihar was:
a) General Hugh Rose
b) General Colin Campbell
c) General William Tayler
d) General John Nicholson
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Correct Answer: c) General William Tayler
Explanation: General William Tayler was the British officer who suppressed the revolt in Bihar during the Revolt of 1857.
Q18. The British officer who suppressed the revolt in Central India was:
a) General Hugh Rose
b) General Colin Campbell
c) General James Neill
d) General John Nicholson
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Correct Answer: a) General Hugh Rose
Explanation: General Hugh Rose was the British officer who suppressed the revolt in Central India during the Revolt of 1857.
Q19. The Revolt of 1857 was mainly confined to which region of India?
a) North India
b) South India
c) East India
d) West India
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Correct Answer: a) North India
Explanation: The Revolt of 1857 was mainly confined to North India, with the most significant uprisings occurring in the present-day states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi
Q20. The Revolt of 1857 was unsuccessful mainly due to:
a) Lack of unity among the rebels
b) Superior military strength of the British
c) The support of Indian princely states to the British
d) All of the above
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Correct Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: The Revolt of 1857 was unsuccessful mainly due to a lack of unity among the rebels, the superior military strength of the British, and the support of many Indian princely states to the British.