Q. With reference to the political and administrative factors behind the 1857 Revolt, consider the following statements:
1.Lord Dalhousie’s ‘Doctrine of Lapse’ was the primary political instrument used to annex states like Satara, Sambalpur, and Jhansi.
2.The annexation of Awadh in 1856 was based on the ‘Doctrine of Lapse’ following the death of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah without a male heir.
3.The exclusion of Indians from high-ranking civil and military posts created a deep sense of racial humiliation among the educated and the sepoys.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: C
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Correct. This policy refused to recognize adopted heirs as legitimate successors to the throne.
- Statement 2: Incorrect. Awadh was annexed on the grounds of “misgovernance” or “maladministration,” not the Doctrine of Lapse. This move was particularly significant as many sepoys came from Awadh.
- Statement 3: Correct. Administrative posts were reserved for Europeans, and the highest rank an Indian could reach in the army was that of a Subedar.
