Revolt of 1857 Notes for SSC Exams

The Revolt of 1857 was the biggest uprising against the rule of the British East India Company in the nineteenth century. It began on 10 May 1857 at Meerut and spread to many parts of north and central India. It is one of the most repeated topics of modern history in SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS and GD papers, and the questions are usually about causes, leaders, centres and results. These Revolt of 1857 notes for SSC explain every point in simple language with tables, examples and practice questions.

Quick Overview of the Revolt

Some Indian writers such as V. D. Savarkar called it the First War of Independence. Many British writers called it the Sepoy Mutiny. Both names are used in questions, so remember both.

Causes of the Revolt

Centres, Leaders and British Officers

This table is the most important part of the chapter. Learn each centre with its leader and the British officer who suppressed it.

The revolt did not spread to the whole of India. South India, Punjab, Bengal and Rajputana mostly stayed calm, and many Indian rulers such as the Sikhs, the Gurkhas of Nepal and the Nizam of Hyderabad supported the British.

Reasons for the Failure of the Revolt

• It was not spread over the whole country and was limited to the north and centre.
• There was no single plan or one strong leader for all the regions.
• Many Indian rulers and big landlords supported the British.
• The British had better weapons, the telegraph and a strong army.
• The rebels had no clear aim for the future.

Results and Importance

• The Government of India Act, 1858 ended the rule of the East India Company, and the power passed to the British Crown.
• The post of Viceroy was created, and Lord Canning became the first Viceroy.
• The Queen's Proclamation of 1 November 1858 promised that the British would not annex more Indian states and would respect religious freedom.
• The Board of Control and the Court of Directors were abolished, and a Secretary of State for India with a council was created.
• The army was reorganised, and the number of European soldiers was increased.
• The policy of "divide and rule" became stronger after 1857.

Important Facts Students Forget

• The word "Mutiny" is used by the British, but "revolt" is the neutral word used in exams.
• Rani Lakshmibai died in battle at Gwalior in June 1858.
• Tatya Tope was captured in 1859 and executed.
• Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled to Rangoon (now in Myanmar), where he died in 1862.
• Mangal Pandey belonged to the 34th Bengal Native Infantry.

Quick Tips

• Prepare a three-column table of centre, leader and British officer and revise it every week.
• Remember that Lord Dalhousie was the Governor-General before the revolt and Lord Canning during it.
• Learn the results as a list, because the Act of 1858 is asked in many forms.
• Note the dates 29 March, 10 May and 1 November, because the questions are often date-based.

Quick Revision Points

• The revolt began at Meerut on 10 May 1857.
• The immediate cause was the greased cartridge of the Enfield rifle.
• Bahadur Shah Zafar was declared the leader at Delhi.
• The Act of 1858 ended Company rule and created the post of Viceroy.
• Lord Canning was the last Governor-General and the first Viceroy of India.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Where did the Revolt of 1857 begin?
   Answer: Meerut
2. Who led the revolt at Kanpur?
   Answer: Nana Sahib, with Tatya Tope as his general
3. Who led the revolt at Lucknow?
   Answer: Begum Hazrat Mahal
4. Who was the first Viceroy of India?
   Answer: Lord Canning
5. Which Act of 1858 ended the rule of the East India Company?
   Answer: Government of India Act, 1858
6. Which British officer captured Delhi in 1857?
   Answer: John Nicholson
7. Who led the revolt in Bihar?
   Answer: Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur
8. Where was Bahadur Shah Zafar exiled?
   Answer: Rangoon
9. Which British officer suppressed the revolt at Jhansi?
   Answer: Hugh Rose
10. Which Act of 1856 required Indian sepoys to serve overseas?
    Answer: General Service Enlistment Act

How to Practise This Chapter

Learn the causes first, then the table of centres and leaders, and finally the results. Solve ten questions daily from the practice papers and check how the topic is asked in real exams on the previous year papers page. Read the next chapter, Governor-Generals and Viceroys of India, and then the Gandhian Era. For the complete list of chapters, see the Indian History notes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Revolt of 1857?

The Revolt of 1857 was a large uprising of sepoys, rulers and common people against the rule of the British East India Company. It began at Meerut on 10 May 1857.

When and where did the Revolt of 1857 start?

It started on 10 May 1857 at Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, after Indian soldiers refused to use the greased cartridges and were punished.

What was the main cause of the Revolt of 1857?

There were political, economic, social, religious and military causes. The immediate cause was the rumour about cow and pig fat on the cartridges of the Enfield rifle.

Who was the leader of the Revolt of 1857?

Bahadur Shah Zafar was the symbolic leader at Delhi. Other leaders were Nana Sahib, Rani Lakshmibai, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Kunwar Singh and Tatya Tope.

Who was the Governor-General during the Revolt of 1857?

Lord Canning was the Governor-General during the revolt, and he became the first Viceroy of India in 1858.

Why did the Revolt of 1857 fail?

It lacked a common plan and one leader, was limited to some regions, and many Indian rulers supported the British, who also had better weapons and communication.

What were the results of the Revolt of 1857?

The rule of the Company ended through the Government of India Act, 1858. The power went to the British Crown, and the post of Viceroy was created.

What was the Queen's Proclamation of 1858?

It was an announcement made on 1 November 1858 by Queen Victoria. It promised religious freedom, equal treatment and no more annexation of Indian states.

Who was Mangal Pandey?

Mangal Pandey was a sepoy of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry who attacked British officers at Barrackpore on 29 March 1857. He is seen as a starting point of the revolt.

How many questions come from the Revolt of 1857 in SSC exams?

Usually one or two questions come from this chapter in SSC History, but the number changes every year.

What is the difference between the revolt and the Mutiny?

Mutiny means a revolt of soldiers only, as the British described it. Revolt or First War of Independence includes the involvement of rulers, peasants and common people.

Is the Revolt of 1857 important for SSC GD and MTS?

Yes. It is a basic topic of modern history and appears in SSC GD, MTS, CHSL and CGL General Awareness papers.