The Revolt of 1857 stands as one of the most defining events in Indian history. It marked the first large-scale armed uprising against British colonial rule in the Indian subcontinent. The revolt began on May 10, 1857, at Meerut and quickly spread across large parts of northern and central India. Soldiers, peasants, zamindars, and several princely rulers joined hands against the oppressive policies of the East India Company.
The revolt is known by many names: the Sepoy Mutiny, the Indian Mutiny, or the First War of Indian Independence. Veer Savarkar was among the first to call it the First War of Independence. The uprising brought massive political and administrative changes. The British Crown directly took over governance from the East India Company after this revolt. For competitive exam aspirants, a thorough knowledge of this event is absolutely necessary.
30 MCQs on Revolt of 1857 – Indian History
1. The Revolt of 1857 began on which date?
A) March 29, 1857
B) May 10, 1857
C) June 4, 1857
D) January 1, 1857
2. At which place did the Revolt of 1857 formally start?
A) Delhi
B) Kanpur
C) Meerut
D) Lucknow
3. Who is considered the first martyr of the Revolt of 1857?
A) Tantia Tope
B) Nana Sahib
C) Mangal Pandey
D) Bahadur Shah Zafar
4. Mangal Pandey was a soldier in which regiment?
A) 34th Native Infantry
B) 19th Native Infantry
C) 11th Bengal Cavalry
D) 52nd Infantry Regiment
5. The sepoys at Meerut revolted mainly because of which reason?
A) Reduction in salary
B) Introduction of the Enfield rifle cartridges greased with animal fat
C) Denial of promotion
D) Forced conversion to Christianity
6. Who was the nominal leader of the Revolt of 1857?
A) Nana Sahib
B) Tantia Tope
C) Bahadur Shah Zafar II
D) Birjis Qadr
7. After the revolt began, the sepoys marched from Meerut to which city?
A) Agra
B) Kanpur
C) Delhi
D) Allahabad
8. Who led the revolt in Kanpur (Cawnpore)?
A) Tantia Tope
B) Nana Sahib
C) Kunwar Singh
D) Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah
9. The revolt in Lucknow was led by which leader?
A) Hazrat Mahal
B) Lakshmibai
C) Nana Sahib
D) Bahadur Shah Zafar
10. Who recaptured Delhi from the rebels in September 1857?
A) Lord Dalhousie
B) General John Nicholson
C) Sir Hugh Rose
D) Henry Lawrence
11. Rani Lakshmibai was the queen of which princely state?
A) Nagpur
B) Awadh
C) Jhansi
D) Satara
12. What was the name of the adopted son of Rani Lakshmibai?
A) Damodar Rao
B) Nana Rao
C) Birjis Qadr
D) Ram Chandra Rao
13. Which British officer suppressed the revolt in Jhansi?
A) Lord Canning
B) Sir Hugh Rose
C) General Neill
D) John Nicholson
14. Who was the Governor-General of India during the Revolt of 1857?
A) Lord Dalhousie
B) Lord Bentinck
C) Lord Canning
D) Lord Ripon
15. The Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by which Governor-General?
A) Lord Wellesley
B) Lord Dalhousie
C) Lord Cornwallis
D) Lord Hastings
16. The revolt in Bihar was led by which leader?
A) Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah
B) Kunwar Singh
C) Tatya Tope
D) Nana Sahib
17. Bahadur Shah Zafar II was the last ruler of which dynasty?
A) Lodi Dynasty
B) Maratha Empire
C) Mughal Dynasty
D) Suri Dynasty
18. After the Revolt of 1857, Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled to which place?
A) Andaman Islands
B) Rangoon (Burma)
C) Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
D) Aden (Yemen)
19. Who called the Revolt of 1857 the “First War of Indian Independence”?
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
C) Veer Savarkar
D) Bipin Chandra Pal
20. Which act was passed after the Revolt of 1857 that ended the rule of the East India Company?
A) Regulating Act of 1773
B) Pitt’s India Act of 1784
C) Government of India Act of 1858
D) Charter Act of 1853
21. The Revolt of 1857 is called the “Sepoy Mutiny” mainly by which group of historians?
A) Indian nationalist historians
B) British historians
C) Marxist historians
D) French historians
22. Who was appointed as the first Viceroy of India after the Government of India Act, 1858?
A) Lord Dalhousie
B) Lord Ripon
C) Lord Canning
D) Lord Mountbatten
23. Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah, a major leader of the 1857 revolt, was from which city?
A) Lucknow
B) Faizabad
C) Delhi
D) Allahabad
24. The annexation of Awadh by the British in 1856 was done under which pretext?
A) Doctrine of Lapse
B) Misgovernance
C) Non-payment of tribute
D) Supporting enemy states
25. Which regiment first refused to use the greased cartridges at Meerut?
A) 34th Native Infantry
B) 3rd Bengal Cavalry
C) 19th Bengal Infantry
D) 11th Bengal Cavalry
26. Tatya Tope was closely associated with which leader of the 1857 revolt?
A) Bahadur Shah Zafar
B) Kunwar Singh
C) Nana Sahib
D) Hazrat Mahal
27. The revolt of 1857 did NOT spread to which of the following regions?
A) Northern India
B) Bengal and Bombay Presidencies
C) Central India
D) Awadh
28. Which book written by Veer Savarkar gives a detailed account of the Revolt of 1857?
A) The Story of My Transportation for Life
B) The Indian War of Independence, 1857
C) Hindutva
D) My Transportation to the Andamans
29. The immediate cause of the Revolt of 1857 was related to which rifle?
A) Martini-Henry Rifle
B) Brown Bess Musket
C) Enfield Rifle
D) Lee-Metford Rifle
30. After the Revolt of 1857, the British Crown took over the administration of India through which document?
A) Queen’s Proclamation of 1858
B) Charter Act of 1858
C) Royal Commission of 1857
D) Treaty of Allahabad
Correct Answers
- B) May 10, 1857
- C) Meerut
- C) Mangal Pandey
- A) 34th Native Infantry
- B) Introduction of the Enfield rifle cartridges greased with animal fat
- C) Bahadur Shah Zafar II
- C) Delhi
- B) Nana Sahib
- A) Hazrat Mahal
- B) General John Nicholson
- C) Jhansi
- A) Damodar Rao
- B) Sir Hugh Rose
- C) Lord Canning
- B) Lord Dalhousie
- B) Kunwar Singh
- C) Mughal Dynasty
- B) Rangoon (Burma)
- C) Veer Savarkar
- C) Government of India Act of 1858
- B) British historians
- C) Lord Canning
- B) Faizabad
- B) Misgovernance
- C) 19th Bengal Infantry
- C) Nana Sahib
- B) Bengal and Bombay Presidencies
- B) The Indian War of Independence, 1857
- C) Enfield Rifle
- A) Queen’s Proclamation of 1858
Conclusion
The Revolt of 1857 left a permanent mark on the course of Indian history. It exposed the deep discontent that existed among soldiers, peasants, and rulers under British colonial rule. The revolt forced the British administration to make major structural changes. The East India Company was abolished and direct rule by the British Crown began. Important leaders like Mangal Pandey, Rani Lakshmibai, Tantia Tope, Hazrat Mahal, and Kunwar Singh became symbols of resistance and sacrifice.
For aspirants preparing for exams like UPSC, SSC, State PSC, and other government recruitment tests, the Revolt of 1857 is a topic that appears repeatedly. Practicing these MCQs will sharpen your recall of dates, leaders, places, and causes. A regular revision of these questions will help you score better in Indian History sections. Keep practicing and stay consistent in your preparation.