100. In which year was Tantia Tope, a prominent leader of the Revolt of 1857, executed by the British?
[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-II, 10 July 2026, Shift 1]
(A) 1860
(B) 1859
(C) 1857
(D) 1858
Answer: (B) 1859
Explanation: Tantia Tope continued guerrilla resistance after major rebel strongholds had fallen. He was captured and executed by the British at Shivpuri in April 1859. His prolonged campaign demonstrated how armed opposition survived beyond the principal events of 1857 and 1858.
99. Which Governor-General was responsible for the annexation of Awadh in 1856?
[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-II, 10 July 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Charles Metcalfe
(B) Lord Canning
(C) Lord Dalhousie
(D) Henry Lawrence
Answer: (C) Lord Dalhousie
Explanation: Lord Dalhousie annexed Awadh in February 1856 on the stated ground of misgovernment, not under the Doctrine of Lapse. The removal of its ruling dynasty angered nobles, talukdars and soldiers, making Awadh a major theatre of the uprising.
98. In which major battle did Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah participate during the Revolt of 1857?
[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-II, 10 July 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Battle of Kanpur
(B) Battle of Plassey
(C) Battle of Jhansi
(D) Battle of Chinhat
Answer: (D) Battle of Chinhat
Explanation: Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah was a prominent leader of resistance in Awadh. He took part in the fighting associated with Chinhat near Lucknow, where British forces suffered a serious defeat in June 1857. His campaigns strengthened resistance beyond the capital.
97. Which concern of the British government directly influenced the reorganisation of the Indian Army after the Revolt of 1857?
[RRB NTPC (UG) CBT-I, 20 June 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Preventing future united military uprisings by Indian soldiers
(B) Limiting soldiers’ political awareness through restricted education
(C) Avoiding overseas deployment expenses
(D) Reducing cavalry influence on strategic decisions
Answer: (A) Preventing future united military uprisings by Indian soldiers
Explanation: The revolt exposed the dangers of concentrated Indian military strength to colonial rulers. After 1857, the British increased European troop proportions, reserved important artillery commands and diversified recruitment to make coordinated rebellions among Indian soldiers harder to organise.
96. During the Revolt of 1857, villagers of Pargana Barout were mobilised under which local leader?
[RRB NTPC (UG) CBT-I, 17 June 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Birjis Qadr
(B) Shah Mal
(C) Gonoo
(D) Nana Sahib
Answer: (B) Shah Mal
Explanation: Shah Mal was a local Jat leader from the Baraut area of present-day western Uttar Pradesh. He organised villagers against colonial rule during 1857. His activities highlight the rural and agrarian dimensions of the uprising outside major garrison towns.
95. In which battle did Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah take part during the Revolt of 1857?
[RRB NTPC (UG) CBT-I, 15 June 2026, Shift 2]
(A) Battle of Jhansi
(B) Battle of Kanpur
(C) Battle of Plassey
(D) Battle of Chinhat
Answer: (D) Battle of Chinhat
Explanation: Ahmadullah Shah of Faizabad emerged as an influential religious and military figure in Awadh. The Battle of Chinhat near Lucknow was a significant rebel success. He is remembered for organising resistance despite the British advantage in resources and reinforcement.
94. What was the immediate issue that triggered the Revolt of 1857 among Indian sepoys?
[RRB NTPC (UG) CBT-I, 8 May 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Use of greased cartridges for the Enfield rifle
(B) Introduction of new military uniforms
(C) Compulsory overseas service for every soldier
(D) Removal of all Indian officers
Answer: (A) Use of greased cartridges for the Enfield rifle
Explanation: Rumours that the new Enfield cartridges were greased with cow and pig fat offended Hindu and Muslim religious beliefs. Sepoys were required to bite the cartridges while loading. This controversy immediately intensified existing military, political and economic grievances.
93. Which of the following places was the main centre of the Revolt of 1857 under Rani Lakshmibai?
[OSSSC Forester/Forest Guard, 3 May 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Kanpur
(B) Lucknow
(C) Delhi
(D) Jhansi
Answer: (D) Jhansi
Explanation: Rani Lakshmibai became the emblematic leader of resistance in Jhansi. The British had annexed her kingdom under the Doctrine of Lapse after rejecting her adopted heir. She defended the Jhansi fort in 1858 before continuing the campaign toward Kalpi and Gwalior.
92. Which ruler was recognised as emperor by rebel leaders during the Revolt of 1857?
[DSSSB MTS, 24 April 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Rani Lakshmibai
(B) Nana Sahib
(C) Bahadur Shah Zafar
(D) Khan Bahadur Khan
Answer: (C) Bahadur Shah Zafar
Explanation: Rebel soldiers who reached Delhi proclaimed the elderly Mughal Bahadur Shah Zafar as their sovereign. Although his actual military control was limited, the Mughal name provided a widely recognisable symbol of legitimacy and helped unite diverse local opponents of British rule.
91. How were many Muslims treated by the British in the aftermath of the Revolt of 1857?
[DSSSB MTS, 23 April 2026, Shift 3]
(A) They were uniformly exiled to Burma
(B) They were appointed to senior administration
(C) Their lands and properties were confiscated on a large scale
(D) They were granted special political privileges
Answer: (C) Their lands and properties were confiscated on a large scale
Explanation: British reprisals after the revolt involved widespread punishments, executions and property confiscations, particularly in areas considered centres of resistance. Many Muslims were disproportionately suspected in the initial aftermath, though repression also affected numerous Hindus and other participants.
90. Which groups did the British increasingly recruit into the Indian Army after the Revolt of 1857?
[DSSSB MTS, 22 April 2026, Shift 1]
(A) South Indian tribal communities only
(B) Gurkhas, Sikhs and Pathans
(C) Peasants of Awadh and Bihar primarily
(D) Bengal zamindars
Answer: (B) Gurkhas, Sikhs and Pathans
Explanation: Colonial military recruitment shifted toward groups that officials classified as martial, particularly Gurkhas, Sikhs and Pathans. This policy reduced dependence on Bengal Army recruiting regions associated with the revolt and aimed to prevent collective resistance among units.
89. Which British policy caused the annexation of Jhansi and the refusal to recognise Rani Lakshmibai’s adopted son as successor?
[DSSSB MTS, 18 April 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Doctrine of Lapse
(B) Permanent Settlement
(C) Indian Councils Act
(D) Subsidiary Alliance
Answer: (A) Doctrine of Lapse
Explanation: Lord Dalhousie used the Doctrine of Lapse to annex states where the British refused to recognise an adopted successor. Jhansi was annexed in 1854 following Gangadhar Rao’s death. The decision became a central grievance motivating Lakshmibai’s opposition.
88. Who was the British Commander-in-Chief associated with the recapture of Lucknow during the Revolt of 1857?
[DSSSB MTS, 18 April 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Colin Campbell
(B) John Lawrence
(C) Lord Canning
(D) Lord Dalhousie
Answer: (A) Colin Campbell
Explanation: Sir Colin Campbell commanded major British operations in Awadh and led the recapture of Lucknow in March 1858. His troops operated with substantial reinforcements. The fall of Lucknow weakened organised rebel authority, though resistance elsewhere persisted for months.
87. Which event on 10 May 1857 marked the beginning of the widespread uprising?
[DSSSB MTS, 5 March 2026, Shift 2]
(A) Rebellion of sepoys at Meerut
(B) Execution of Tantia Tope
(C) Death of Kunwar Singh
(D) Capture of Gwalior fort
Answer: (A) Rebellion of sepoys at Meerut
Explanation: On 10 May 1857, Indian sepoys at Meerut rose against their British officers and released imprisoned comrades. Many rebels then marched to Delhi. The mutiny spread rapidly, turning accumulated political and social discontent into a wider rebellion.
86. Who wrote the book The Indian War of Independence, 1857?
[DSSSB MTS, 25 February 2026, Shift 3]
(A) S. B. Chaudhuri
(B) E. P. Thompson
(C) V. D. Savarkar
(D) Karl Marx
Answer: (C) V. D. Savarkar
Explanation: Vinayak Damodar Savarkar wrote a nationalist account presenting the events of 1857 as a war for Indian independence. Originally published abroad in 1909, the book challenged colonial descriptions that treated the events solely as a military mutiny.
85. In his speech on the Revolt of 1857, what explanation did Benjamin Disraeli emphasise?
[DSSSB MTS, 25 February 2026, Shift 3]
(A) A protest caused only by taxation
(B) Sudden disobedience by a few soldiers
(C) Deep and accumulated grievances
(D) Only the greased-cartridge controversy
Answer: (C) Deep and accumulated grievances
Explanation: Benjamin Disraeli argued in the British Parliament that the uprising could not be explained merely by an isolated military incident. His interpretation pointed to the accumulation of grievances under colonial policies, indicating that discontent extended beyond rifle cartridges.
84. What was the immediate cause of the Revolt of 1857?
[DSSSB MTS, 24 February 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Denial of promotions to Indian soldiers
(B) Introduction of cartridges allegedly greased with animal fat
(C) High land revenue demands alone
(D) Annexation of Awadh alone
Answer: (B) Introduction of cartridges allegedly greased with animal fat
Explanation: The immediate spark was the introduction of cartridges for the Enfield rifle, believed to use cow and pig fat. Their handling violated the religious sensibilities of Hindu and Muslim sepoys. Wider grievances explain why the discontent grew so rapidly.
83. At which place did Mangal Pandey attack British officers before being court-martialled?
[DSSSB MTS, 24 February 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Panihati
(B) Barrackpore
(C) Haldia
(D) Malda
Answer: (B) Barrackpore
Explanation: Mangal Pandey was a sepoy in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry at Barrackpore. On 29 March 1857, he attacked British officers and was subsequently tried and hanged on 8 April. His actions preceded the larger outbreak at Meerut.
82. Consider these statements about the Revolt of 1857: (1) Several Sikh and Rajput rulers supported the British; (2) The Nizam of Hyderabad and Raja of Jodhpur supported the rebels; (3) Bahadur Shah Zafar served mainly as a symbolic leader. Which are correct?
[Madhya Pradesh Police Sub-Inspector, 21 January 2026, Shift 1]
(A) 1, 2 and 3
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 2 and 3 only
Answer: (C) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: The Nizam of Hyderabad and the ruler of Jodhpur did not join the main rebellion, while several princely rulers aided the British. Bahadur Shah Zafar supplied symbolic imperial authority rather than effective unified command across the rebellion.
81. The Revolt of 1857 is often regarded in nationalist historical writing as which of the following?
[Madhya Pradesh Police Sub-Inspector, 16 January 2026, Shift 1]
(A) First War of Independence
(B) Anglo-Indian War
(C) Only a sepoy mutiny
(D) First Civil War
Answer: (A) First War of Independence
Explanation: Nationalist writers, notably V. D. Savarkar, described 1857 as India’s First War of Independence. Historians continue to debate its scale, objectives and regional variations. The label nevertheless reflects the participation of soldiers, rulers and sections of the population.
80. Assertion: The annexation of Awadh in 1856 was an important political cause of the Revolt of 1857. Reason: The British justified annexation by alleging misgovernment. Select the correct relationship.
[Madhya Pradesh Police Sub-Inspector, 16 January 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Assertion true; Reason false
(B) Assertion false; Reason true
(C) Both true, but Reason does not explain Assertion
(D) Both true, and Reason explains Assertion
Answer: (D) Both true, and Reason explains Assertion
Explanation: Awadh was annexed under Dalhousie on the pretext of misgovernment, which displaced its ruling family and threatened aristocratic and agrarian interests. Resentment spread through soldiers recruited in Awadh, helping explain why annexation contributed to the uprising.
79. Which administrative change was directly implemented by the British in response to the Revolt of 1857?
[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-I, 27 March 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Indian Councils Act of 1861
(B) Queen Victoria’s Proclamation only
(C) Transfer of power from the East India Company to the British Crown
(D) Permanent Settlement
Answer: (C) Transfer of power from the East India Company to the British Crown
Explanation: The Government of India Act 1858 terminated the East India Company’s governing authority and transferred administration to the Crown. The Secretary of State for India assumed overall supervision. Queen Victoria’s Proclamation announced the change and set out promises toward princes and subjects.
78. Which leader did rebel soldiers choose as their sovereign after the outbreak of the Revolt of 1857?
[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-I, 24 March 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Nana Sahib
(B) Rani Lakshmibai
(C) Mangal Pandey
(D) Bahadur Shah Zafar
Answer: (D) Bahadur Shah Zafar
Explanation: After their rebellion at Meerut, sepoys travelled to Delhi and appealed to the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar. Their recognition of him was crucial symbolically because his dynasty offered a familiar source of legitimacy.
77. Which requirement associated with the new rifle offended the religious beliefs of Indian sepoys before the Revolt of 1857?
[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-I, 24 March 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Restrictions on visiting temples
(B) Attendance at Sunday church services
(C) A ban on religious processions
(D) Biting cartridges believed to be coated with animal fat
Answer: (D) Biting cartridges believed to be coated with animal fat
Explanation: The Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle used a paper cartridge that soldiers were instructed to tear with their teeth. Rumours of cow and pig fat in its grease offended Hindus and Muslims respectively, setting off a serious military controversy.
76. Who mobilised the villagers of Pargana Barout during the Revolt of 1857?
[DSSSB MTS, 29 March 2026, Shift 2]
(A) Nana Sahib
(B) Shah Mal
(C) Birjis Qadr
(D) Gonoo
Answer: (B) Shah Mal
Explanation: Shah Mal organised popular resistance around Baraut in western Uttar Pradesh. He drew support from village communities and challenged colonial local authority. His participation illustrates that the rebellion also featured rural mobilisation rather than only confrontations between sepoys and British troops.
75. Who led the Revolt of 1857 at Kanpur?
[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-I, 17 March 2026, Shift 1, memory-based paper]
(A) Begum Hazrat Mahal
(B) Nana Sahib
(C) Tantia Tope
(D) Rani Lakshmibai
Answer: (B) Nana Sahib
Explanation: Nana Sahib, adopted son of the former Peshwa Baji Rao II, became the principal rebel leader at Kanpur. His pension grievances contributed to opposition to British rule. Tantia Tope served as a close associate and military commander.
74. Who among the following was NOT associated with the Revolt of 1857?
[MP CPCT, 22 March 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Maharaja Ranjit Singh
(B) Nana Sahib
(C) Begum Hazrat Mahal
(D) Khan Bahadur Khan
Answer: (A) Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Explanation: Maharaja Ranjit Singh, founder of the Sikh Empire in Punjab, died in 1839, eighteen years before the uprising. The other three figures were participants in the 1857 resistance in Kanpur, Awadh and Bareilly respectively.
73. Who was accepted as the leader of the Revolt of 1857 in Delhi?
[RRB NTPC (UG) CBT-II, 20 December 2025]
(A) Mangal Pandey
(B) Begum Hazrat Mahal
(C) Bahadur Shah II
(D) Nana Sahib
Answer: (C) Bahadur Shah II
Explanation: The last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah II or Zafar, was proclaimed emperor by mutinous sepoys reaching Delhi. He lacked a centralised army controlling all fronts, yet his name gave rebellion in different regions an imperial symbol.
72. From which city did the Revolt of 1857 begin on 10 May?
[PSSSB Senior Assistant, 21 December 2025]
(A) Meerut
(B) Delhi
(C) Bhopal
(D) Gandhinagar
Answer: (A) Meerut
Explanation: Meerut was the site of the large-scale military uprising on 10 May 1857, after sepoys had been imprisoned for refusing rifle cartridges. Rebel troops soon advanced toward Delhi, where they sought Bahadur Shah Zafar’s leadership.
71. Mangal Pandey belonged to which regiment of the Bengal Native Infantry?
[Bihar Jeevika, 21 November 2025]
(A) 34th
(B) 31st
(C) 33rd
(D) 32nd
Answer: (A) 34th
Explanation: Mangal Pandey served in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry stationed at Barrackpore. His attack on British officers in March 1857 is viewed as an important prelude to the revolt, though the major mass outbreak occurred later in Meerut.
70. Mangal Pandey, associated with events preceding the Revolt of 1857, served in which unit?
[DSSSB TGT, 8 November 2025, Shift 3]
(A) 19th Native Infantry
(B) 7th Oudh Infantry
(C) 34th Bengal Native Infantry
(D) 24th Native Infantry
Answer: (C) 34th Bengal Native Infantry
Explanation: The 34th Bengal Native Infantry was based at Barrackpore, where Mangal Pandey attacked British officers on 29 March 1857. He was executed the following month. This incident heightened tensions already caused by suspicions about cartridges.
69. Who chaired the Royal Commission set up to consider the reorganisation of the Indian Army after 1857?
[DSSSB TGT, 8 November 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Jonathan Peel
(B) John Lawrence
(C) Charles Wood
(D) Thomas Raleigh
Answer: (A) Jonathan Peel
Explanation: The 1858 Peel Commission, chaired by Jonathan Peel, examined the future composition and organisation of military forces in India. Its recommendations informed British efforts to increase European military safeguards and reduce the likelihood of another unified sepoy revolt.
68. The action of Mangal Pandey is associated with the outbreak of which historic event?
[OSSSC Combined Recruitment Examination, 15 October 2025]
(A) Non-Cooperation Movement
(B) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
(C) Quit India Movement
(D) Revolt of 1857
Answer: (D) Revolt of 1857
Explanation: Mangal Pandey’s defiance at Barrackpore in March 1857 preceded the great uprising that began at Meerut in May. Although the revolt had deeper roots, his actions became a memorable early symbol of resistance within the Bengal Army.
67. Regarding the Revolt of 1857, consider: (1) Shah Mal turned an Englishman’s bungalow into a hall of justice; (2) Gonoo was a Kol leader from Singhbhum. Which statements are correct?
[UPSC CDS-II, 14 September 2025]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
Explanation: Shah Mal’s activities in western Uttar Pradesh included establishing local forms of authority during the revolt. Gonoo organised Kol participation in the Singhbhum region. Both examples reveal the presence of local leaders beyond the familiar royal and military names.
66. Whom did the rebel sepoys declare their symbolic leader during the Revolt of 1857?
[RRB NTPC (UG) CBT-I, 3 September 2025, Shift 3]
(A) Tantia Tope
(B) Rani Lakshmibai
(C) Nana Sahib
(D) Bahadur Shah II
Answer: (D) Bahadur Shah II
Explanation: Bahadur Shah II was recognised as emperor after mutineers entered Delhi in May 1857. Although other regional leaders directed military operations independently, the Mughal emperor’s title helped offer the fragmented rebellion a shared symbol of political authority.
65. Which adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II was proclaimed Peshwa during the Revolt of 1857?
[RRB NTPC (UG) CBT-I, 2 September 2025, Shift 3]
(A) Kunwar Singh
(B) Mangal Pandey
(C) Tantia Tope
(D) Nana Sahib
Answer: (D) Nana Sahib
Explanation: Nana Sahib was the adopted son of the former Peshwa Baji Rao II. The British denied the continuation of his adoptive father’s pension. During the rebellion at Kanpur, he assumed leadership and claimed the Peshwa’s title.
64. In which year did a massive uprising challenge East India Company rule roughly a century after Plassey?
[RRB NTPC (UG) CBT-I, 28 August 2025, Shift 2]
(A) 1856
(B) 1857
(C) 1854
(D) 1855
Answer: (B) 1857
Explanation: The Battle of Plassey in 1757 established decisive Company influence in Bengal. Exactly a century later, the Revolt of 1857 posed a severe challenge to Company power. The uprising ultimately led to the transfer of governing authority to the Crown.
63. In April 2025, an Indian Air Force tribute to the 1857 hero Kunwar Singh was organised near which city?
[RRB NTPC (UG) CBT-I, 20 August 2025, Shift 3]
(A) Lucknow
(B) Meerut
(C) Patna
(D) Bhagalpur
Answer: (C) Patna
Explanation: Veer Kunwar Singh was a prominent rebel chief from Jagdishpur in present-day Bihar. A commemorative flypast in the Patna region honoured his memory. His leadership during the uprising remains an important part of Bihar’s anti-colonial history.
62. Which historical figure was proclaimed emperor by the rebels in 1857?
[RRB NTPC (UG) CBT-I, 18 August 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Shah Alam II
(B) Rani Lakshmibai
(C) Bahadur Shah Zafar
(D) Nana Sahib
Answer: (C) Bahadur Shah Zafar
Explanation: Bahadur Shah Zafar was the final Mughal emperor and resided in Delhi. Rebellious soldiers sought his endorsement in May 1857, giving the movement a recognised dynastic figurehead despite the largely decentralised nature of rebel action.
61. Which of the following was a negative social consequence of the Revolt of 1857?
[RRB NTPC (UG) CBT-I, 11 August 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Increased mistrust between Hindus and Muslims
(B) A decline in handicraft industries only
(C) Complete weakening of tribal movements
(D) Immediate disappearance of Indian languages
Answer: (A) Increased mistrust between Hindus and Muslims
Explanation: The British increasingly applied divisive methods in administration and recruitment after suppressing the uprising. Policies that emphasised social and religious distinctions aggravated communal mistrust over time, even though the revolt itself had witnessed important instances of Hindu-Muslim cooperation.
60. Which major uprising broke out earlier than initially planned, following incidents involving Mangal Pandey and discontented sepoys?
[DFCCIL MTS, 11 July 2025]
(A) Revolt of 1857
(B) Vellore Mutiny
(C) Paika Rebellion
(D) Vizagapatam Mutiny
Answer: (A) Revolt of 1857
Explanation: The 1857 uprising erupted in a series of rapidly developing military incidents rather than following a uniformly executed plan. Mangal Pandey’s action at Barrackpore preceded the wider outbreak at Meerut, from which the movement spread across northern India.
59. Who travelled to places including Bithoor, Kalpi, Delhi and Lucknow to enlist support for the rebellion of 1857?
[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-I, 18 June 2025, Shift 3]
(A) Tantia Tope
(B) Bahadur Shah Zafar
(C) Nana Sahib
(D) Rani Lakshmibai
Answer: (C) Nana Sahib
Explanation: Nana Sahib sought wider backing during the crisis of 1857 and became a central figure at Kanpur. His political ambitions were linked to the deposed Peshwa family. He relied on associates such as Tantia Tope for military operations.
58. Which tribal uprising did NOT take place around the time of the Revolt of 1857?
[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-I, 14 June 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Sambalpur uprising
(B) Naikda uprising
(C) Birsa Munda movement
(D) Santhal uprising
Answer: (C) Birsa Munda movement
Explanation: Birsa Munda’s Ulgulan took place in 1899–1900, several decades after 1857. The Santhal Hul erupted in 1855–56, while resistance in Sambalpur and elsewhere overlapped the revolt’s wider era of anti-colonial unrest.
57. Which city was recaptured by the British in September 1857?
[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-I, 13 June 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Bombay
(B) Delhi
(C) Surat
(D) Madras
Answer: (B) Delhi
Explanation: British forces recaptured Delhi in September 1857 after prolonged fighting. Bahadur Shah Zafar was arrested and subsequently exiled to Rangoon. Although losing Delhi damaged the rebellion’s political symbolism, major resistance continued in Awadh and central India.
56. At which place did the uprising of 10 May 1857 begin?
[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-I, 13 June 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Awadh
(B) Meerut
(C) Kanpur
(D) Mysore
Answer: (B) Meerut
Explanation: The mutiny at Meerut on 10 May 1857 is the usual starting point for the widespread rebellion. Indian soldiers rebelled after the punishment of comrades in the cartridge controversy, then marched to Delhi to seek imperial support.
55. Who led the Revolt of 1857 in the Sambalpur region?
[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-I, 12 June 2025, Shift 3]
(A) Veer Surendra Sai
(B) Budhu Bhagat
(C) Alluri Sitarama Raju
(D) Govind Guru
Answer: (A) Veer Surendra Sai
Explanation: Veer Surendra Sai was a noted resistance leader in Sambalpur, now in Odisha. His armed struggle against British authority drew support from local communities. His activities demonstrate that opposition extended beyond the rebellion’s northern Gangetic centres.
54. Which of the following was NOT a major cause of the Revolt of 1857?
[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-I, 12 June 2025, Shift 1]
(A) British policies favouring social reforms such as widow remarriage
(B) Use of greased rifle cartridges
(C) A gulf between rulers and ruled
(D) Doctrine of Lapse
Answer: (A) British policies favouring social reforms such as widow remarriage
Explanation: The paper distinguishes the listed social-reform policies from the principal political and military causes. Cartridges, annexation and colonial alienation were prominent grievances. In historical interpretation, however, fears about British social intervention also contributed to contemporary distrust.
53. Which elderly zamindar of Bihar fought the British during the Revolt of 1857?
[RRB NTPC (Graduate) CBT-I, 10 June 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Kunwar Singh
(B) Bakht Khan
(C) Tantia Tope
(D) Ahmadullah Shah
Answer: (A) Kunwar Singh
Explanation: Kunwar Singh was a zamindar of Jagdishpur in Shahabad district, Bihar, and was around eighty when the revolt began. He commanded troops across Bihar and adjoining regions, becoming celebrated for his determined military resistance despite advanced age.
52. On which date did the Revolt of 1857 break out at Meerut?
[RPF Constable, 18 March 2025, Shift 3]
(A) 11 June 1857
(B) 11 May 1857
(C) 10 May 1857
(D) 10 June 1857
Answer: (C) 10 May 1857
Explanation: The outbreak at Meerut occurred on Sunday, 10 May 1857. The immediate background was the punishment of cavalrymen who had refused controversial rifle cartridges. Rebels then moved toward Delhi, transforming the military revolt into a major political crisis.
51. Which statements help explain the failure of the Revolt of 1857: (1) Many princely states did not actively support the rebels; (2) There was no effective unified central leadership?
[RPF Constable, 18 March 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Only statement 2
(B) Both statements 1 and 2
(C) Only statement 1
(D) Neither statement
Answer: (B) Both statements 1 and 2
Explanation: Many powerful princes either remained neutral or supported British forces, depriving rebels of resources. Rebel centres also lacked coordinated command and common long-term objectives. British communications, finance and reinforcements made these structural weaknesses particularly consequential.
50. Which event led to the end of East India Company rule in India?
[RPF Constable, 17 March 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Battle of Banaras
(B) Revolt of 1857
(C) Battle of Plassey
(D) Battle of Buxar
Answer: (B) Revolt of 1857
Explanation: The uprising convinced British authorities to abolish Company government. Through the Government of India Act 1858, control passed to the British Crown, with a Secretary of State for India overseeing administration and a viceroy representing the monarch.
49. In which year did the British re-establish control over the main centres of the Revolt of 1857?
[RPF Constable, 12 March 2025, Shift 2]
(A) 1860
(B) 1867
(C) 1858
(D) 1877
Answer: (C) 1858
Explanation: By 1858, major centres including Lucknow, Jhansi and Gwalior had been brought back under British control. Some rebel commanders, especially Tantia Tope, continued resistance into 1859. Thus 1858 generally marks the main military suppression, not every final skirmish.
48. What was the principal method of resistance employed by rebels during the Revolt of 1857?
[RPF Constable, 12 March 2025, Shift 3]
(A) Political negotiation only
(B) Armed rebellion
(C) Mass migration
(D) Peaceful non-cooperation
Answer: (B) Armed rebellion
Explanation: The movement began with armed sepoy mutinies and developed into a series of military confrontations and local uprisings. Rebels seized or besieged towns and forts. The organised non-violent mass movements associated with Gandhi belong to a much later phase.
47. What happened to Rani Lakshmibai during the fighting around Gwalior in 1858?
[RPF Constable, 7 March 2025, Shift 1]
(A) She was captured and later executed
(B) She became queen of Gwalior
(C) She died fighting British forces
(D) She was exiled to Britain
Answer: (C) She died fighting British forces
Explanation: Rani Lakshmibai died on 18 June 1858 near Gwalior while fighting British troops. After the fall of Jhansi, she had joined rebel campaigns at Kalpi and Gwalior. Her death made her an enduring symbol of resistance.
46. Why is the Revolt of 1857 considered a turning point in Indian history?
[RPF Constable, 5 March 2025, Shift 3]
(A) It was a major widespread challenge to British colonial authority
(B) It immediately ended British rule
(C) It established a peaceful constitutional government
(D) It resulted in full independence in 1857
Answer: (A) It was a major widespread challenge to British colonial authority
Explanation: The uprising challenged Company rule across a large part of northern and central India, involving soldiers and diverse civilian groups. Though defeated, it forced fundamental changes to the colonial state, including the transfer of power to the British Crown.
45. Which major result followed the British victory in the Revolt of 1857?
[RPF Constable, 5 March 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Formation of independent Indian states
(B) Complete end of British involvement
(C) Immediate independence
(D) Reorganisation of colonial territories and administration
Answer: (D) Reorganisation of colonial territories and administration
Explanation: Following victory, the British replaced East India Company administration with Crown rule and revised policies concerning princely states, landowners and military recruitment. These changes aimed to strengthen imperial stability and avoid another uprising of comparable scale.
44. Which of the following was an important political cause of the Revolt of 1857?
[RPF Constable, 4 March 2025, Shift 2]
(A) New education policy
(B) Sepoy mutiny itself
(C) Doctrine of Lapse
(D) Spread of Western science
Answer: (C) Doctrine of Lapse
Explanation: Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse permitted annexation when the colonial government refused to accept an adopted heir. Its use in states such as Jhansi and Nagpur angered dynasties and their supporters, feeding wider political hostility toward British expansion.
43. Which group initiated the military uprising that developed into the Revolt of 1857?
[RPF Constable, 3 March 2025, Shift 3]
(A) Indian sepoys in the Company’s army
(B) British merchants
(C) Peasant landlords alone
(D) Indian zamindars alone
Answer: (A) Indian sepoys in the Company’s army
Explanation: Indian sepoys in the Bengal Army initiated the principal military outbreak, especially at Meerut. Peasants, dispossessed rulers, landlords and urban groups joined in several regions. Identifying the initial military participants does not mean the rebellion remained limited to soldiers.
42. Who popularised the description of the Revolt of 1857 as the First War of Indian Independence?
[BPSC 70th Preliminary Re-examination, 4 January 2025]
(A) V. D. Savarkar
(B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(C) R. C. Majumdar
(D) None of the above
Answer: (A) V. D. Savarkar
Explanation: Savarkar’s book interpreted 1857 as a national war of liberation rather than simply a sepoy mutiny. This strongly influenced nationalist memory, although later historians have disagreed about the revolt’s organisational unity and geographical reach.
41. Under which Act did the East India Company lose its administrative powers in India?
[SSC MTS, 28 October 2024, Shift 3]
(A) Regulating Act of 1773
(B) Charter Act of 1853
(C) Government of India Act of 1858
(D) Indian Councils Act of 1892
Answer: (C) Government of India Act of 1858
Explanation: The Government of India Act 1858 abolished the East India Company’s rule after the rebellion. Administration transferred to the British Crown. A Secretary of State for India, assisted by a council, took responsibility for Indian affairs in London.
40. After the Revolt of 1857, under which Act was India governed in the name of the British Crown?
[SSC MTS, 1 October 2024, Shift 1]
(A) Government of India Act of 1919
(B) Government of India Act of 1858
(C) Charter Act of 1853
(D) Charter Act of 1833
Answer: (B) Government of India Act of 1858
Explanation: Parliament enacted the Government of India Act 1858 after the revolt. It ended the Company’s political authority and placed Indian territories directly under the Crown. The Governor-General also became the Crown’s representative as viceroy.
39. The Revolt of 1857 began in May 1857 in which cantonment?
[SSC CGL, 26 September 2024, Shift 1]
(A) Kanpur
(B) Jhansi
(C) Lucknow
(D) Meerut
Answer: (D) Meerut
Explanation: The large-scale military uprising began at Meerut cantonment on 10 May 1857. Indian sepoys rebelled after the punishment of cavalrymen involved in the cartridge dispute. Their movement toward Delhi subsequently broadened the revolt’s political significance.
38. On which date did the sepoys who rebelled at Meerut begin their march toward Delhi?
[SSC CGL, 12 September 2024, Shift 1]
(A) 10 May 1857
(B) 19 April 1857
(C) 2 June 1857
(D) 29 March 1857
Answer: (A) 10 May 1857
Explanation: Rebel sepoys rose in Meerut on 10 May 1857 and began moving to Delhi, reaching it the following day. There they sought the authority of Bahadur Shah Zafar. Their advance helped turn local mutiny into a broader uprising.
37. Consider: (1) Kunwar Singh, landlord of Jagdishpur in Bihar, led the rebellion against the British; (2) Lord Dalhousie recognised Rani Lakshmibai’s adopted son as heir. Which statements are correct?
[UPPSC PCS Preliminary Examination 2024]
(A) Neither 1 nor 2
(B) Only 1
(C) Only 2
(D) Both 1 and 2
Answer: (B) Only 1
Explanation: Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur was indeed a central rebel leader in Bihar. Dalhousie, however, refused recognition to Jhansi’s adopted successor, applying the Doctrine of Lapse. The annexation helped turn Lakshmibai against British rule.
36. Who was Governor-General of India at the time of the Revolt of 1857?
[WBCS Main Examination (2023 cycle), held August 2024]
(A) Lord Canning
(B) Lord Curzon
(C) Lord Cornwallis
(D) Lord Minto
Answer: (A) Lord Canning
Explanation: Lord Canning served as Governor-General from 1856 to 1862 and was in office throughout the Revolt of 1857. Following the Crown takeover in 1858, he also became the first viceroy under the new arrangement.
35. In which year was Queen Victoria’s Proclamation announcing Crown rule in India issued?
[WBCS Main Examination (2023 cycle), held August 2024]
(A) 1855
(B) 1859
(C) 1800
(D) 1858
Answer: (D) 1858
Explanation: Queen Victoria’s Proclamation was issued on 1 November 1858 after the transfer of Company authority to the Crown. It promised respect for treaties with princes, non-interference in religious beliefs and equal protection under the law, subject to colonial practice.
34. Who introduced the Doctrine of Lapse that was applied to Jhansi?
[WBCS Main Examination (2023 cycle), held August 2024]
(A) Lord Cornwallis
(B) Lord Dalhousie
(C) Lord Wellesley
(D) Lord Ripon
Answer: (B) Lord Dalhousie
Explanation: Lord Dalhousie expanded British territories through the Doctrine of Lapse, rejecting succession by adopted heirs in certain princely states. Jhansi was annexed after Gangadhar Rao’s death, providing one of the important political grievances preceding the uprising.
33. Match these women leaders of 1857 with their centres: (I) Rani Lakshmibai, (II) Rani Avantibai Lodhi, (III) Begum Hazrat Mahal; centres (1) Lucknow, (2) Jhansi, (3) Mandla.
[Bombay High Court Peon, 14 February 2024]
(A) I-3, II-2, III-1
(B) I-3, II-1, III-2
(C) I-1, II-2, III-3
(D) I-2, II-3, III-1
Answer: (D) I-2, II-3, III-1
Explanation: Lakshmibai led resistance at Jhansi, Avantibai Lodhi mobilised forces in the Mandla-Ramgarh region and Begum Hazrat Mahal became a leading figure in Lucknow. The matching illustrates the major contribution of women across different regional theatres of 1857.
32. In which year did the First War of Indian Independence, commonly associated with the sepoy revolt, begin?
[SSC CHSL, 2 July 2024, Shift 4]
(A) 1839
(B) 1857
(C) 1887
(D) 1819
Answer: (B) 1857
Explanation: The widespread uprising began in May 1857 at Meerut, although earlier incidents occurred at Barrackpore and elsewhere. Its nationalist description as the First War of Independence became especially popular through subsequent anti-colonial historical writing.
31. Sitaram Kanwar and Raghunath Singh Mandloi, leaders of the Bhilala community, joined an anti-British revolt in which year?
[MPPSC State Service Preliminary Examination, 17 December 2023]
(A) 1842
(B) 1857
(C) 1927
(D) 1942
Answer: (B) 1857
Explanation: The Bhilala leaders participated in resistance associated with the 1857 uprising in central India. Their role shows the reach of anti-colonial mobilisation among local and tribal communities beyond the better-known sepoy centres of north India.
30. Assertion: Rebels recognised Bahadur Shah Zafar as emperor and issued coins in his name. Reason: Many merchants, intellectuals and princes stayed aloof or supported the British. Select the correct option.
[EMRS PGT History, 16 December 2023]
(A) Assertion true, Reason false
(B) Assertion false, Reason true
(C) Both true and Reason explains Assertion
(D) Both true, but Reason does not explain Assertion
Answer: (D) Both true, but Reason does not explain Assertion
Explanation: Bahadur Shah Zafar’s imperial status supplied legitimacy, and rebel authorities used his name on proclamations and coinage. At the same time, important sections of elites did not support the revolt. The latter fact does not explain his symbolic recognition.
29. In which city did the major uprising of the Revolt of 1857 begin on 10 May?
[Delhi Police Constable, 29 November 2023]
(A) Meerut
(B) Kanpur
(C) Delhi
(D) Jhansi
Answer: (A) Meerut
Explanation: Sepoys in Meerut rebelled on 10 May 1857 after escalating tensions over rifle cartridges and military punishments. Their subsequent move to Delhi spread news of the rebellion and encouraged uprisings in other parts of northern India.
28. Mangal Pandey belonged to which Bengal Native Infantry regiment?
[SSC MTS, 13 September 2023, Shift 1]
(A) 34th
(B) 52nd
(C) 70th
(D) 64th
Answer: (A) 34th
Explanation: The 34th Bengal Native Infantry at Barrackpore included sepoy Mangal Pandey. On 29 March 1857, he attacked British officers. The ensuing trial and execution intensified public memory of the tensions preceding the uprising at Meerut.
27. Who was the prominent leader of the Revolt of 1857 in Bihar?
[SSC MTS, 4 September 2023, Shift 3]
(A) Rajendra Prasad
(B) Devi Singh
(C) Rajkumar Shukla
(D) Kunwar Singh
Answer: (D) Kunwar Singh
Explanation: Kunwar Singh came from the zamindari family of Jagdishpur in Bihar. At an advanced age, he commanded armed resistance during 1857–58. His return to Jagdishpur shortly before his death remains a celebrated episode of the rebellion.
26. Who described the Revolt of 1857 as the First War of Indian Independence?
[Bihar Secondary Teacher Examination, 26 August 2023]
(A) V. D. Savarkar
(B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(C) Bipin Chandra Pal
(D) R. C. Majumdar
Answer: (A) V. D. Savarkar
Explanation: V. D. Savarkar popularised the nationalist expression through his study of the 1857 events. Earlier colonial accounts usually emphasised sepoy mutiny. The contrasting labels reflect differences in how historians assess participation and political aims.
25. Which writer characterised the Revolt of 1857 as India’s First War of Independence?
[Madhya Pradesh Police Constable, 12 August 2023]
(A) R. C. Majumdar
(B) S. N. Sen
(C) V. D. Savarkar
(D) Ashok Mehta
Answer: (C) V. D. Savarkar
Explanation: Savarkar used the title The Indian War of Independence, 1857 to challenge British narratives of a mere military mutiny. His framing emphasised anti-colonial intent, although historians such as R. C. Majumdar took a more critical view.
24. From which place did the Revolt of 1857 begin on 10 May 1857?
[SSC CHSL, 4 August 2023, Shift 1]
(A) Agra
(B) Meerut
(C) Kanpur
(D) Delhi
Answer: (B) Meerut
Explanation: The famous revolt began in Meerut following punishments imposed on Indian cavalrymen and the wider cartridge controversy. The rebels marched to Delhi and proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar emperor, adding political legitimacy to their military uprising.
23. Who led the Revolt of 1857 in Bihar?
[SSC CGL, 18 July 2023, Shift 3]
(A) Azimullah Khan
(B) Bakht Khan
(C) Veer Kunwar Singh
(D) Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah
Answer: (C) Veer Kunwar Singh
Explanation: Veer Kunwar Singh was based at Jagdishpur in Bihar’s Shahabad district. He proved an effective commander in 1857–58 despite being elderly. Bakht Khan led forces in Delhi, while Ahmadullah Shah was associated with Awadh.
22. Which Mughal emperor was deposed after the Revolt of 1857 and sent into exile in Burma?
[SSC MTS, 16 May 2023, Shift 1]
(A) Bahadur Shah I
(B) Shah Jahan
(C) Alamgir II
(D) Bahadur Shah II
Answer: (D) Bahadur Shah II
Explanation: Bahadur Shah II, also called Bahadur Shah Zafar, was tried by the British after Delhi fell. He was exiled to Rangoon, where he died in 1862. His removal brought the Mughal imperial dynasty to an end.
21. Which woman led the resistance against British forces in Lucknow during the Revolt of 1857?
[SSC MTS, 15 May 2023, Shift 1]
(A) Kasturba Gandhi
(B) Alluri Sitarama Raju
(C) Begum Hazrat Mahal
(D) Rani Lakshmibai
Answer: (C) Begum Hazrat Mahal
Explanation: Begum Hazrat Mahal was an influential leader of the uprising in Awadh after the deposition of Wajid Ali Shah. She supported the claim of her son Birjis Qadr and helped mobilise resistance centred on Lucknow.
20. Who was the leader of the Revolt of 1857 at Bareilly?
[UPPSC PCS Preliminary Examination, 14 May 2023]
(A) Nana Sahib
(B) Khan Bahadur Khan
(C) Begum Hazrat Mahal
(D) Kunwar Singh
Answer: (B) Khan Bahadur Khan
Explanation: Khan Bahadur Khan Rohilla led rebels in Bareilly in Rohilkhand. He established a rebel government there during 1857. The other listed leaders were primarily associated with Kanpur, Lucknow and the Jagdishpur region of Bihar.
19. Which of the following places and uprising dates is incorrectly matched?
[UPPSC PCS Preliminary Examination, 14 May 2023]
(A) Lucknow – 4 June 1857
(B) Jhansi – 11 May 1857
(C) Meerut – 10 May 1857
(D) Barrackpore – 29 March 1857
Answer: (B) Jhansi – 11 May 1857
Explanation: The question tests the timing of separate rebellion centres. The 10 May Meerut outbreak and Mangal Pandey’s Barrackpore incident on 29 March are well documented. The cited 11 May date for the Jhansi uprising is not correct.
18. Which Jat headman mobilised the villagers of Baraut during the Revolt of 1857?
[RRB Group D CBT, 27 September 2022, Shift 3]
(A) Gajadhar Singh
(B) Ahmadullah Shah
(C) Shah Mal
(D) Maulvi Liaquat Ali
Answer: (C) Shah Mal
Explanation: Shah Mal was a rural leader who organised resistance around Baraut, near Meerut. His activities involved villagers and local agrarian networks. He represents the many grassroots participants whose stories complement those of famous rebel rulers.
17. Which of these places was NOT a major centre of the Revolt of 1857?
[SSC CGL, 7 December 2022, Shift 2]
(A) Kanpur
(B) Bareilly
(C) Rohtak
(D) Lucknow
Answer: (C) Rohtak
Explanation: Kanpur, Bareilly and Lucknow were among the best-known rebel centres, associated with Nana Sahib, Khan Bahadur Khan and Begum Hazrat Mahal respectively. Although unrest occurred in many localities, Rohtak was not usually listed among the principal centres.
16. Who was the Mughal emperor during the Revolt of 1857?
[SSC CGL, 1 December 2022, Shift 4]
(A) Farrukhsiyar
(B) Bahadur Shah Zafar
(C) Akbar II
(D) Aurangzeb
Answer: (B) Bahadur Shah Zafar
Explanation: Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, was ruling nominally from Delhi when the revolt broke out. Sepoys proclaimed him their sovereign. After British victory, he was exiled, formally ending the Mughal imperial line.
15. The suppression of the Revolt of 1857 was effectively completed after the British recaptured which city?
[SSC CHSL, 12 August 2021, Shift 1]
(A) Amritsar
(B) Gwalior
(C) Lucknow
(D) Vadodara
Answer: (B) Gwalior
Explanation: Gwalior was an important final stronghold of rebel forces in central India. The British recaptured it in June 1858, soon after Rani Lakshmibai’s death. Some guerrilla campaigns, particularly under Tantia Tope, nevertheless continued beyond that date.
14. Which Mughal emperor was proclaimed emperor by the rebels during the Revolt of 1857?
[SSC CHSL, 12 April 2021, Shift 3]
(A) Shah Alam II
(B) Bahadur Shah I
(C) Akbar II
(D) Bahadur Shah II
Answer: (D) Bahadur Shah II
Explanation: The rebels who entered Delhi chose Bahadur Shah II, known as Zafar, to represent their cause. This recognition allowed widely dispersed participants to invoke the authority of the old Mughal dynasty despite decentralised military leadership.
13. Who led the rebellion against the British in Lucknow during 1857?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 27 March 2021, Shift 2]
(A) V. D. Savarkar
(B) Begum Hazrat Mahal
(C) Kunwar Singh
(D) Tantia Tope
Answer: (B) Begum Hazrat Mahal
Explanation: Begum Hazrat Mahal took an active part in the resistance in Awadh and opposed the British annexation. She promoted her son Birjis Qadr as ruler and helped organise opposition during the siege and fighting around Lucknow.
12. By which year was the Revolt of 1857 finally suppressed, including its later phases of resistance?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 4 January 2021, Shift 1]
(A) 1859
(B) 1861
(C) 1860
(D) 1857
Answer: (A) 1859
Explanation: Most major centres were recaptured during 1858, but scattered guerrilla resistance continued into 1859. Tantia Tope’s capture and execution in April 1859 are often used to mark the ending of the revolt’s residual military phase.
11. Who argued that the Revolt of 1857 was neither the first, nor national, nor a war of independence?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 15 February 2021]
(A) V. D. Savarkar
(B) Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) R. C. Majumdar
(D) S. N. Sen
Answer: (C) R. C. Majumdar
Explanation: Historian R. C. Majumdar questioned the nationalist description of the rebellion as India’s first national independence war. He emphasised its regional limits and varied motivations, contrasting with Savarkar’s broader nationalist interpretation.
10. Which of the following was NOT a prominent centre of the Revolt of 1857?
[UPSC CDS-II, 8 November 2020]
(A) Ayodhya
(B) Agra
(C) Delhi
(D) Kanpur
Answer: (A) Ayodhya
Explanation: The question distinguishes major recognised revolt centres from places outside its standard centre lists. Delhi and Kanpur were crucial sites of rebel government and military operations, while Agra featured significant unrest and British counteroperations during the crisis.
9. Consider the statements about the Azamgarh Proclamation: (1) It was associated with the rebels of 1857; (2) It was issued by the underground movement of 1942. Which statement is incorrect?
[UPSC CDS-II, 8 November 2020]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (B) 2 only
Explanation: The Azamgarh Proclamation of 1857 appealed to groups such as landlords, merchants, soldiers and artisans to support rebellion. It belongs to the revolt, not the Quit India movement of 1942, making the second statement incorrect.
8. Who led the Revolt of 1857 at Allahabad?
[SSC CHSL, 21 October 2020]
(A) Maulvi Liaquat Ali
(B) Tantia Tope
(C) Khan Bahadur Khan
(D) Rani Lakshmibai
Answer: (A) Maulvi Liaquat Ali
Explanation: Maulvi Liaquat Ali led resistance in Allahabad, also called Prayagraj. He mobilised rebels and briefly exercised authority in the locality. Tantia Tope was linked to Kanpur and central India, Khan Bahadur Khan to Bareilly, and Lakshmibai to Jhansi.
7. Who led the Revolt of 1857 at Kanpur?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination 2019]
(A) Begum Hazrat Mahal
(B) Rani Lakshmibai
(C) Nana Sahib
(D) Kunwar Singh
Answer: (C) Nana Sahib
Explanation: Nana Sahib led rebel forces at Kanpur, where he asserted his claim as successor to the former Peshwa. British refusal to continue his pension deepened hostility. His associate Tantia Tope later became prominent in the military campaign.
6. Which leader associated with the Revolt of 1857 died in exile?
[UPSC NDA-II, 17 November 2019]
(A) Rani Lakshmibai
(B) Bahadur Shah Zafar
(C) Tantia Tope
(D) Nana Sahib
Answer: (B) Bahadur Shah Zafar
Explanation: The last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was exiled to Rangoon after the fall of Delhi. He died there in 1862. Lakshmibai died in battle, Tantia Tope was executed, and Nana Sahib’s final fate remains uncertain.
5. Who was associated with the Revolt of 1857 at Mathura?
[PSPCL Lower Division Clerk, 17 February 2018]
(A) Gajadhar Singh
(B) Raja Pratap Singh
(C) Hardayal Singh
(D) Devi Singh
Answer: (D) Devi Singh
Explanation: Devi Singh emerged as a local leader connected with resistance in the Mathura region during 1857. Questions on minor centres remind candidates that the revolt extended through varied rural networks, not just Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow and Jhansi.
4. Which historian did NOT accept the Revolt of 1857 as the First National War of Independence?
[CGPSC State Service Preliminary Examination 2016]
(A) Tara Chand
(B) S. N. Sen
(C) V. D. Savarkar
(D) R. C. Majumdar
Answer: (D) R. C. Majumdar
Explanation: R. C. Majumdar argued against the idea that 1857 was uniformly national or principally an independence war. Savarkar strongly promoted the nationalist interpretation. Differences among historians arise from contrasting assessments of the revolt’s motives, participants and regional spread.
3. Which statements about V. D. Savarkar are correct: (1) He founded Abhinav Bharat; (2) He wrote about Mazzini; (3) He wrote a book on the 1857 revolt; (4) He attempted escape by jumping from a ship?
[RPSC RAS Preliminary Re-examination 2015]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1, 2 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation: All four statements relate to Savarkar’s revolutionary career. His interpretation of 1857 as a war of independence was particularly influential. He also organised Abhinav Bharat, wrote about Mazzini and famously attempted escape at Marseilles.
2. Who among the following was betrayed to the British by Man Singh of Narwar during the aftermath of the Revolt of 1857?
[UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2006]
(A) Nana Sahib
(B) Kunwar Singh
(C) Khan Bahadur Khan
(D) Tantia Tope
Answer: (D) Tantia Tope
Explanation: Tantia Tope evaded capture for months through mobile guerrilla warfare in central India. He was eventually betrayed by Man Singh of Narwar, arrested and executed at Shivpuri in April 1859, making him one of the last notable rebel commanders.
1. Kunwar Singh, a leader of the Revolt of 1857, belonged to which present-day Indian state?
[UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2005]
(A) Bihar
(B) Madhya Pradesh
(C) Rajasthan
(D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: (A) Bihar
Explanation: Kunwar Singh was the zamindar of Jagdishpur in present-day Bihar. Although advanced in age, he led significant resistance against Company forces and became one of the most celebrated regional leaders of the uprising in eastern India.