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Q.1
WBCS Prelims 2021
Which was the first incident of a British official’s assassination after the revolt of 1857 ?
A.Assassination of British official W.C. Rand by Chapekar Brothers
B.Assassination of British police officer John Saunders by Bhagat Singh and Shivram Raj guru
C.Assassination of William Hutt Curzon Wyllie by Madan Lal Dhingra
D.Assassination of British police officer Jackson by Anant Laxman Kanhere
Explanation
Why Correct: The Chapekar brothers assassinated British plague commissioner W.C. Rand and his military escort Lieutenant Ayerst in Pune on June 22, 1897, marking the first assassination of a British official after the 1857 revolt. Distractor Analysis: Bhagat Singh and Shivram Rajguru assassinated police officer John Saunders in 1928 in Lahore to avenge Lala Lajpat Rai's death. Madan Lal Dhingra assassinated William Hutt Curzon Wyllie, a former India Office official, in London in 1909. Anant Laxman Kanhere assassinated British district magistrate Arthur Mason Tippetts Jackson in Nashik in 1909. Takeaway: The Chapekar brothers' assassination was part of the early revolutionary nationalist movement in Maharashtra, distinct from the later actions of Bhagat Singh's Hindustan Socialist Republican Association.
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Q.2
WBCS Prelims 2021
Who was the Mughal emperor during the Revolt of 1857 ?
A.Aurangzeb
B.Mir Qasim
C.Bahadur Shah II
D.Sarfaraz Khan
Explanation
Why Correct: Bahadur Shah II (Bahadur Shah Zafar) was the last Mughal emperor whom rebels proclaimed as their symbolic leader during the 1857 Revolt. Distractor Analysis: Aurangzeb ruled from 1658-1707, long before 1857. Mir Qasim was Nawab of Bengal who fought the British in the Battle of Buxar (1764). Sarfaraz Khan served as Nawab of Bengal briefly in 1739-40. Takeaway: After the revolt's suppression, the British exiled Bahadur Shah II to Rangoon and formally ended the Mughal dynasty through the Government of India Act 1858.
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Q.3
WBCS Prelims 2020
Who was Birjis Kader?
A.The Nizam of Hyderabad
B.The Nawab of Oudh
C.The Mughal Emperor
D.The Nawab of Bengal
Explanation
Why Correct: Birjis Qadr was the son of Wajid Ali Shah and served as the titular Nawab of Awadh (Oudh) during the 1857 Revolt, proclaimed ruler by rebels in Lucknow. Distractor Analysis: The Nizam of Hyderabad during this period was Afzal ud-Daula. The Mughal Emperor in 1857 was Bahadur Shah Zafar II. The Nawab of Bengal in the late 18th century was Siraj ud-Daulah, with the position abolished after the Battle of Plassey in 1757. Takeaway: After the 1857 Revolt, the British exiled Birjis Qadr to Calcutta and formally annexed Awadh in 1858, ending its dynasty's rule.
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Q.4
WBCS Prelims 2020
Who wrote ‘The Indian war of Independence‘
A.Dadabhai Naoroji
B.Romesh Chunder Dutt
C.Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
D.Harish Chandra Mukhopadhyay
Explanation
Why Correct: Vinayak Damodar Savarkar wrote 'The Indian War of Independence 1857' in 1909 while imprisoned in London, presenting the 1857 revolt as a national war for independence. Distractor Analysis: Dadabhai Naoroji wrote 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India' and served as the first Indian MP in the British Parliament. Romesh Chunder Dutt authored 'The Economic History of India' and served as President of the Indian National Congress. Harish Chandra Mukhopadhyay was a Bengali journalist and social reformer who edited the newspaper 'Hindoo Patriot'. Takeaway: Savarkar's book was banned by the British government immediately upon publication and became a foundational text for revolutionary nationalism in India.
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Q.5
WBCS Prelims 2019
Who among the following, led the sepoys at Kanpur in the 1857 uprising ?
A.Tantia Tope
B.Rani Lakshmibai
C.Nana Sahib
D.Kunwar Singh
Explanation
Why Correct: Nana Sahib (born as Dhondu Pant) led the sepoys at Kanpur during the 1857 uprising, where he declared himself Peshwa and besieged the British garrison at Wheeler's entrenchment. Distractor Analysis: Tantia Tope was Nana Sahib's general who fought primarily in central India and was captured and executed in 1859. Rani Lakshmibai led the rebellion in Jhansi and died fighting at Gwalior. Kunwar Singh led the revolt in Bihar and died from battle wounds in 1858. Takeaway: The Kanpur massacre occurred in July 1857 when British captives were killed at Sati Chaura Ghat and Bibighar, leading to brutal reprisals by British forces under General Havelock.
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Q.6
WBCS Prelims 2018
Leader of Lucknow during the revolt of 1857 was
A.Bahadur Shah
B.Liyaqat Ali
C.Nana Sahib
D.Begum Hajrat Mahal
Explanation
Why Correct: Begum Hazrat Mahal (also spelled Hajrat Mahal) led the rebellion in Lucknow after the British deposed and exiled her son, the minor Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. Distractor Analysis: Bahadur Shah Zafar was the Mughal emperor in Delhi and served as a symbolic figurehead of the revolt. Liyaqat Ali was a prominent leader in the Awadh region but not the primary leader in Lucknow. Nana Sahib led the revolt in Kanpur. Takeaway: Key regional leaders of 1857 include Rani Lakshmibai in Jhansi, Kunwar Singh in Bihar, and Tantia Tope as a general of Nana Sahib.
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Q.7
WBCS Prelims 2017
Who was the Governor General of India at the time of the outbreak of the Revolt of 1857?
A.William Bentinck
B.Lord Cornwallis
C.Lord Canning
D.Lord Dalhousie
Explanation
Why Correct: Lord Canning served as Governor-General of India from 1856 to 1862, presiding over the outbreak of the Revolt of 1857 in May 1857 and its subsequent suppression. Distractor Analysis: William Bentinck served as Governor-General from 1828 to 1835 and implemented social reforms like the abolition of sati. Lord Cornwallis served from 1786 to 1793 and established the Permanent Settlement in Bengal. Lord Dalhousie served from 1848 to 1856 and implemented the Doctrine of Lapse, which contributed to the discontent leading to the 1857 Revolt. Takeaway: After the Revolt, the British government abolished the East India Company's rule through the Government of India Act 1858, and Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India.
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Q.8
WBCS Prelims 2015
During the uprising of 1857, which part of India was largely unaffected ?
A.Bengal
B.Punjab
C.Awadh
D.All of the above
Explanation
Why Correct: Punjab remained largely unaffected because the British had recently annexed it in 1849 and maintained strong military control, plus Sikh soldiers who resented Mughal rule did not join the rebellion. Distractor Analysis: Bengal Presidency was the epicenter where the rebellion began at Barrackpore and spread to major centers like Delhi and Kanpur. Awadh (modern Uttar Pradesh) was a major rebellion hotspot where sepoys declared Bahadur Shah Zafar as emperor and fought intense battles at Lucknow. Takeaway: Other unaffected regions included Madras Presidency, Bombay Presidency, and most princely states like Hyderabad and Kashmir that remained loyal to the British.
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Q.9
WBCS Prelims 2015
Which of the following upheavals took place in Bengal immediately after the Revolt of 1857 ?
A.Pabna Riots
B.Indigo Rebellion
C.Sannyasi Rebellion
D.Santhal Rebellion
Explanation
Why Correct: The Indigo Rebellion (1859-1860) erupted in Bengal's Nadia district, specifically in Chaugacha village, as peasants revolted against forced indigo cultivation by European planters. Distractor Analysis: Pabna Riots (1873) were a peasant uprising in East Bengal against zamindari oppression. Sannyasi Rebellion (1763-1800) occurred in Bengal against British East India Company revenue policies. Santhal Rebellion (1855-1856) was a tribal uprising in present-day Jharkhand and West Bengal against British and zamindari exploitation. Takeaway: The Indigo Rebellion inspired Dinabandhu Mitra's play 'Nil Darpan' (1860), which exposed planter atrocities and became a landmark in Bengali protest literature.
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Q.10
WBCS Prelims 2005WBCS Prelims 2014
Who was the Governor-General of India during the revolt of 1857 ?
A.Canning
B.Dalhousie
C.Elgin
D.Ripon
Asked 2 times in WBCS. High priority question.
Explanation
Why Correct: Lord Canning served as Governor-General from 1856 to 1862, presiding over the entire 1857 Revolt and its suppression. Distractor Analysis: Lord Dalhousie preceded Canning (1848-1856) and implemented the Doctrine of Lapse. Lord Elgin served much later (1862-1863). Lord Ripon served from 1880-1884 and introduced local self-government reforms. Takeaway: After the 1857 Revolt, the British Parliament passed the Government of India Act 1858, transferring power from the East India Company to the British Crown, with Canning becoming the first Viceroy of India.
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Q.11
WBCS Prelims 2011
Which Indian ruler was made the prisoner of the Revolt of 1857 ?
A.Rani Lakshmi Bai
B.Nana Shaheb
C.Bahadur Shah Zafar
D.None of the above
Explanation
Why Correct: Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, was captured after the British recaptured Delhi in September 1857, tried for treason, and exiled to Rangoon where he died in 1862. Distractor Analysis: Rani Lakshmi Bai died fighting British forces at Gwalior in June 1858. Nana Saheb escaped to Nepal after his defeat at Kanpur and was never captured. None of the above is incorrect because Bahadur Shah Zafar was definitively imprisoned and exiled. Takeaway: The British tried Bahadur Shah Zafar in the Red Fort and executed his sons, marking the end of Mughal political authority in India and the formal beginning of direct British Crown rule.
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Q.12
WBCS Prelims 2008
Who was the Governor General of India at the time of the Sepoy Mutiny ?
A.Lord Hastings
B.Wellesley
C.Dalhousie
D.Canning
Explanation
Why Correct: Lord Canning served as Governor-General of India from 1856 to 1862 and was in office during the Sepoy Mutiny (Revolt of 1857). Distractor Analysis: Lord Hastings governed from 1813-1823 and oversaw the Third Anglo-Maratha War. Wellesley (1798-1805) implemented the Subsidiary Alliance system. Lord Dalhousie (1848-1856) preceded Canning and introduced the Doctrine of Lapse. Takeaway: After the revolt, the British government abolished the East India Company's rule through the Government of India Act 1858, making Canning the first Viceroy of India.
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Q.13
WBCS Prelims 2005
Who was proclaimed as an Emperor of India during the Revolt of 1857?
A.Bahadur Shah II
B.Tantia Topi
C.Nana Shaheb
D.Mangal Pandey
Explanation
Why Correct: Rebels proclaimed Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughal emperor, as the symbolic leader and Emperor of India during the Revolt of 1857. Distractor Analysis: Tantia Topi served as Nana Sahib's commander and fought the British in Central India. Nana Sahib led the revolt in Kanpur but was never proclaimed emperor. Mangal Pandey sparked the revolt in Barrackpore but was executed before major developments. Takeaway: After the revolt, the British exiled Bahadur Shah II to Rangoon and formally abolished the Mughal Empire in 1858.
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Q.14
WBCS Prelims 2002
Which Indian nationalist described the 1857 revolt as the 'first war of National Independence'?
A.Bal Gangadhar Tilak
B.Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
C.Aurobindo Ghosh
D.Ramesh Chandra Majumdar
Explanation
Why Correct: Vinayak Damodar Savarkar first termed the 1857 revolt as the 'first war of National Independence' in his 1909 book 'The Indian War of Independence'. Distractor Analysis: Bal Gangadhar Tilak advocated for Swaraj and national education but did not characterize the revolt this way. Aurobindo Ghosh saw it as a spiritual uprising rather than a national independence war. Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, a modern historian, described it as primarily a military mutiny with limited nationalist character. Takeaway: Savarkar's interpretation contrasted with British colonial narratives that labeled it the 'Sepoy Mutiny'.
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Q.15
WBCS Prelims 2002
Who called the 1857 revolt “a planned war Of national independence”?
A.Sir John Seeley
B.R. C. Majumdar
C.V.D. Savarkar
D.Benjamin Disraeli
Explanation
Why Correct: V.D. Savarkar's 1909 book "The Indian War of Independence 1857" first characterized the revolt as a planned national uprising against British rule. Distractor Analysis: Sir John Seeley dismissed the revolt as a mere sepoy mutiny in his 1883 work "The Expansion of England". R.C. Majumdar later criticized Savarkar's view as exaggerated. Benjamin Disraeli as British Prime Minister acknowledged the revolt's seriousness but never used the term "national independence". Takeaway: British historians like J.W. Kaye and G.B. Malleson documented the revolt extensively while Indian nationalist historians later reinterpreted it as India's First War of Independence.
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Q.16
WBCS Prelims 2001
Who among the following was not a leader of the Revolt of 1857?
A.Nana Saheb
B.Rani Lakshmi Bai
C.Man sing
D.Kunwar Singh
Explanation
Why Correct: Man Singh was a loyal ally of the British during the Revolt of 1857, not a rebel leader. Distractor Analysis: Nana Saheb led the rebellion in Kanpur. Rani Lakshmi Bai commanded the defense of Jhansi. Kunwar Singh organized resistance in Bihar. Takeaway: Other prominent leaders included Bahadur Shah Zafar in Delhi, Tantia Tope in Central India, and Begum Hazrat Mahal in Lucknow.
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Q.17
WBCS Prelims 2000
who, among the following did first unfurl the flag of the revolt of 1857?
A.Nana Saheb
B.Tantia Topee
C.Rani Lakshmi
D.Mangal Pande
Explanation
Why Correct: Mangal Pandey initiated the 1857 Revolt by attacking British officers at Barrackpore on March 29, 1857, sparking widespread mutiny among sepoys. Distractor Analysis: Nana Sahib led the rebellion in Kanpur after adopting the title of Peshwa. Tantia Tope served as Nana Sahib's commander and fought major battles in central India. Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi became a prominent leader in June 1857 after the Jhansi garrison revolted. Takeaway: The immediate trigger for Mangal Pandey's action was the introduction of the Enfield rifle cartridges greased with animal fat, which violated religious sentiments of both Hindu and Muslim sepoys.
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