The question asks to identify the Governor-General most associated with the policy of annexation that contributed to the outbreak of the Revolt of 1857. This requires knowledge of the British Governor-Generals in India and their key policies, particularly those related to territorial expansion and their impact.
Lord Dalhousie (1848-1856) was the Governor-General who extensively applied the Doctrine of Lapse. This policy allowed the British East India Company to annex the territories of any princely state where the ruler died without a natural male heir, without seeking the Company's permission for adoption. States like Satara, Jaitpur, Sambalpur, Baghat, Udaipur, Jhansi, and Nagpur were annexed under this doctrine. The annexation of Awadh (Oudh) in 1856 on the pretext of misgovernance, though not under the Doctrine of Lapse, also occurred during his tenure and further fueled resentment. These aggressive annexation policies were a major underlying cause of the Revolt of 1857.
C) Lord Dalhousie — He was the Governor-General from 1848 to 1856 and is most famously associated with the Doctrine of Lapse, which led to the annexation of several Indian states. This policy, along with the annexation of Awadh, created widespread resentment and is considered a primary cause of the Revolt of 1857.
The question asks to identify the deposed Nawab of Awadh whose son's name was used by Begum Hazrat Mahal to lead the revolt at Lucknow during the 1857 uprising. This requires knowledge of the key figures and events of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, specifically concerning the state of Awadh (Oudh).
Therefore, the deposed Nawab in whose son's name Begum Hazrat Mahal led the revolt was Wajid Ali Shah.
C) Wajid Ali Shah was the last Nawab of Awadh, deposed by the British in 1856. His wife, Begum Hazrat Mahal, led the revolt in Lucknow in 1857 in the name of their minor son, Birjis Qadr.
The question asks about the specific event or act that led to the withdrawal of the Doctrine of Lapse after the Revolt of 1857. This requires knowledge of the administrative and political changes that occurred in British India following the Revolt.
Correct Option: A) Queen Victoria's Proclamation of 1858 explicitly announced the end of annexation policies, including the Doctrine of Lapse, in response to the lessons learned from the Revolt of 1857.
The question asks to identify the British policy that required Indian princely states to maintain British troops within their territory, with the cost borne by the state. We need to evaluate each option to determine which policy fits this description.
Correct Option: C) Subsidiary Alliance — This policy, introduced by Lord Wellesley, compelled Indian princely states to accept the permanent stationing of British forces within their territory and to pay for their maintenance. In return, the British promised protection from external and internal threats, but it effectively stripped the states of their sovereignty and military independence.
The question asks to identify a specific act of disrespect by the British towards the Mughal dynasty that occurred just before the Revolt of 1857. This requires knowledge of the political developments and British policies leading up to the revolt.
D) Decision that successors of Bahadur Shah II would not use the imperial title and would vacate the Red Fort
This decision, taken by Lord Dalhousie, was a direct and profound insult to the Mughal dynasty. It stripped the future successors of Bahadur Shah II of their imperial title and forced them to leave the Red Fort, their ancestral palace. This act clearly signaled the British intention to completely abolish the Mughal imperial lineage and was a significant cause of resentment among the Indian populace, contributing to the outbreak of the Revolt of 1857.
The question asks to identify the Maratha state whose annexation in 1853 under the Doctrine of Lapse particularly angered the Maratha aristocracy. This requires knowledge of British colonial policies in India, specifically the Doctrine of Lapse, and its application to various princely states.
D) Nagpur — The annexation of Nagpur in 1853 under the Doctrine of Lapse, following the death of its ruler Raghuji III without a natural male heir, was a significant event that greatly angered the Maratha aristocracy. It was a large and prosperous state, and its annexation was viewed as a major land grab by the British.