Modern History · Chapter 6 of 52

Revolt of 1857: BPSC Prelims PYQs

25 previous-year questions on Revolt of 1857, asked 1994–2024. Each one opens to its answer and explanation.

1. 1. 47th BPSC Prelims 2005

   When was the new Enfield Rifle with greased cartridges introduced in the British Indian Army?

   1. ANovember, 1856
   2. BDecember, 1856
   3. CJanuary, 1857
   4. DFebruary, 1857
   Answer and explanation →

2. 2. 66th BPSC Prelims Re-exam 2020

   Where from the Revolution of 1857 started first?

   1. ALucknow
   2. BAllahabad
   3. CJhansi
   4. DMeerut
   5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
   Answer and explanation →

3. 3. BPSC CDPO Prelims 2005

   The Revolt of 1857 AD first started from-

   1. ABarrackpore
   2. BMeerut
   3. CDelhi
   4. DJhansi
   Answer and explanation →

4. 4. 64th BPSC Prelims 2018

   Which of the following was not a reason for making the sepoys of the East India Company rebellious?

   1. AThe efforts of the officers of the company to spread Christianity
   2. BThe order to the sepoys to travel on ships
   3. CThe stoppage of Bhatta
   4. DThe inefficiency of the officers
   5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
   Answer and explanation →

5. 5. 48th–52nd BPSC Prelims 2008

   The revolt of 1857 at Lucknow was led by:

   1. ABegum of Awadh
   2. BTatya Tope
   3. CRani Lakshmibai
   4. DNana Saheb
   Answer and explanation →

6. 6. 66th BPSC Prelims 2020

   Which of the following persons had participated actively in the Revolt of 1857?

   1. ANana Saheb (Kanpur)
   2. BBegum Hazrat Mahal (Lucknow)
   3. CMaulavi Ahmadullah (Faizabad)
   4. DBegum Zeenat Mahal (Delhi)
   5. ENone of the above/ More than one of the above
   Answer and explanation →

7. 7. 64th BPSC Prelims 2018

   Who among the following did not rebel against the British East India Company’s control over them?

   1. ARaja of Vijayanagar
   2. BNizam of Hyderabad
   3. CPoligar of Tamil Nadu
   4. DDewan Velu Thampi of Travancore
   5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
   Answer and explanation →

8. 8. 45th BPSC Prelims 2001

   Who among the following was the bitterest enemy of the British during the Revolt of 1857?

   1. AMaulavi Ahmadullah Shah
   2. BMaulavi Imdadullah
   3. CMaulana Fazil-i-Haq Khairabadi
   4. DNawab Liaquat Ali
   Answer and explanation →

9. 9. 45th BPSC Prelims 2001

   The Revolt of 1857 was witnessed by the poet –

   1. AMir Taqi Mir
   2. BZauq
   3. CGhalib
   4. DIqbal
   Answer and explanation →

10. 10. BPSC CDPO Prelims 2005

    Which of the following names is associated with the movement of 1857 A.D.?

    1. ABhagat Singh
    2. BTatya Tope
    3. CB.G. Tilak
    4. DG.K. Gokhale
    Answer and explanation →

11. 11. 67th BPSC Prelims Re-exam 2022

    Where was Jhansi ki Rani Lakshmibai died?

    1. ALucknow
    2. BKanpur
    3. CGwalior
    4. DJhansi
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

12. 12. 40th BPSC Prelims 1995

    Which of the following groups did not participate in the revolt of 1857?

    • 1. Agricultural Labour
    • 2. Sahukar
    • 3. Farmers
    • 4. Zamindars

    Select your answer from the following codes:

    1. AOnly 1
    2. B1 and 2
    3. COnly 2
    4. D2 and 4
    Answer and explanation →

13. 13. 41st BPSC Prelims 1996

    What was the main cause of the failure of the revolt of 1857?

    1. ALack of Hindu-Muslim unity
    2. BLack of common strategy and central organization
    3. CIts effect was within a limited area
    4. DNon-participation of Landlords
    Answer and explanation →

14. 14. 69th BPSC Prelims 2023

    Which of the following were the reasons for the failure of the Revolt of 1857?

    • 1. The military superiority of the British
    • 2. The rebels did not have a unified programme and ideology
    • 3. There was a lack of support from all the sections of society

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

    1. AOnly 1 and 2
    2. BOnly 2 and 3
    3. CAll of the above
    4. DNone of the above
    Answer and explanation →

15. 15. 39th BPSC Prelims 1994

    Consider: Assertion (A): The first war of Independence in 1857 failed to secure freedom from the British Government. Reason (R): The leadership of Bahadur Shah Zafar did not have popular support and most of the Indian rulers of important States shied away from the struggle.

    Select the correct answer from the code given below:

    1. ABoth (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
    2. BBoth (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
    3. C(A) is true, and (R) is false.
    4. D(A) is false, but (R) is true.
    Answer and explanation →

16. 16. 48th–52nd BPSC Prelims 2008

    When did Queen Victoria declare the taking over of Indian administration under the British Crown?

    1. A1 Nov. 1858
    2. B31 Dec. 1857
    3. C6 Jan. 1858
    4. D17 Nov. 1859
    Answer and explanation →

17. 17. BPSC TRE-2 (Dec 2023)

    Which of the following dates was Queen Victoria's proclamation issued?

    1. ANovember 1, 1857
    2. BMarch 27, 1858
    3. CNovember 1, 1858
    4. DMore than one of the above
    5. ENone of the above
    Answer and explanation →

18. 18. 48th–52nd BPSC Prelims 2008

    After the revolt of 1857, the British recruited the Soldiers from the

    1. ABrahmins of U.P. & Bihar
    2. BBengalis and Oriyas from the East
    3. CGurkhas, Sikhs, and Punjabis in the North
    4. DMadras Presidency and Marathas
    Answer and explanation →

19. 19. 40th BPSC Prelims 1995

    Who called the revolt of 1857 a conspiracy?

    1. ASir James Outram and W. Taylor
    2. BSir John K.
    3. CSir John Lawrence
    4. DT.R. Holmes
    Answer and explanation →

20. 20. 67th BPSC Prelims 2022 · BPSC TRE-2 (Dec 2023)

    The Uprising of 1857 was described as the 'First Indian War of Independence'?

    1. AV.D. Savarkar
    2. BBal Gangadhar Tilak
    3. CR. C. Mazumdar
    4. DDadabhai Naoroji
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

21. 21. BPSC TRE-1 (Aug 2023)

    Who described the revolt of 1857 as the 'First Indian War of Independence'?

    1. AV. D. Savarkar
    2. BBal Gangadhar Tilak
    3. CBipin Chandra Pal
    4. DMore than one of the above
    5. ENone of the above
    Answer and explanation →

22. 22. 70th BPSC Prelims Re-exam 2024

    Who first described the Revolt of 1857 as the 'First Indian War of Independence'?

    1. AV. D. Savarkar
    2. BBal Gangadhar Tilak
    3. CR. C. Majumdar
    4. DNone of the above
    Answer and explanation →

23. 23. 45th BPSC Prelims 2001

    Which one of the following commissions is associated with the Army Reorganization after the suppression of the Revolt of 1857?

    1. APublic Service Commission
    2. BPeel Commission
    3. CHunter Commission
    4. DSimon Commission
    Answer and explanation →

24. 24. 65th BPSC Prelims Re-exam 2020

    Who said that "The event of 1857 started as a religious conflict and ended as a freedom struggle"?

    1. ADr. S.N. Sen
    2. BAshok Mehta
    3. CV.D. Savarkar
    4. DDr. R.C. Majumdar
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

25. 25. 70th BPSC Prelims Re-exam 2024

    Match List-I (leaders) with List-II (their territory):

    List - I	List - II
    (A) Kunwar Singh	(i) Faizabad
    (B) Hazrat Mahal	(ii) Bareilly
    (C) Khan Bahadur	(iii) Jagdishpur
    (D) Maulvi Ahmadullah	(iv) Lucknow

    Select the answer from the code given below:

    1. Aiv i ii iii
    2. Bii i iii iv
    3. Ciii iv ii i
    4. DNone of the above
    Answer and explanation →