The question asks to identify the policy introduced by Lord Dalhousie that led to the annexation of princely states if their ruler died without a natural male heir. We need to recall the major policies of British Governor-Generals in India, especially those related to territorial expansion and annexation.
Correct Option: C) Doctrine of Lapse. This policy was introduced by Lord Dalhousie. Under this doctrine, if a princely state's ruler died without a natural male heir, the state would not be allowed to adopt an heir without the British East India Company's consent. In practice, this often led to the annexation of such states by the British, as they frequently refused to recognize adopted heirs. States like Satara, Sambalpur, Udaipur, Nagpur, and Jhansi were annexed under this policy.
The question asks to identify a princely state annexed by the British East India Company under the Doctrine of Lapse. This requires knowledge of British annexation policies in India, specifically the Doctrine of Lapse, and which states were affected by it.
Correct Option: A) Jhansi was one of the most prominent princely states annexed by the British East India Company under the Doctrine of Lapse in 1853. Rani Lakshmibai's resistance to this annexation made her a key figure in the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
The question asks for the pretext used by the British East India Company to annex the kingdom of Awadh (Oudh) in 1856. This requires knowledge of British expansionist policies in India, specifically the doctrine applied to Awadh.
Correct Option: C) Alleged misgovernance by the Nawab
Lord Dalhousie annexed Awadh in 1856 on the pretext that the Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah, was misgoverning the state and that British intervention was necessary to improve the administration. This was a common tactic used by the British to justify their expansionist policies, even though Awadh had been a loyal ally.
The question asks for the specific reason behind the outrage among sepoys regarding the new Enfield rifle cartridges, which ultimately triggered the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. This is a direct recall question from Indian history, focusing on a key cause of the revolt.
A) Cows and pigs, offending both Hindu and Muslim religious sentiments. This option accurately identifies the specific animals whose fat was rumoured to be used and correctly explains why this offended both major religious groups among the sepoys, making it the immediate spark for the mutiny.
The question asks for the location where Mangal Pandey was stationed when he attacked his British officers in March 1857. This is a factual recall question related to the history of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Correct Option: D) Barrackpore
The question asks about the immediate aftermath of the Sepoy Mutiny at Meerut on May 10, 1857, specifically where the mutinous sepoys marched and whom they declared as their leader. This requires knowledge of the initial phase and key figures of the 1857 Revolt.
Correct Option: B) Delhi — The mutinous sepoys from Meerut marched to Delhi and declared Bahadur Shah II as their leader/emperor.