Question

Which of the following was not the cause for the revolt of 1857?
A. Subsidiary Alliance System
B. Doctrine of Lapse
C. Annexation policy
D. Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy

Answer 1

Hint: The revolt of 1857 was the first war of independence against the colonial tyranny of the British in India. The revolt began at Meerut as a sepoy mutiny and was initiated by the sepoys in the Bengal presidency against the British officers. The revolt is also known as the sepoy mutiny, the first war of independence etc.

Complete answer: The war began in 1857 and there are various factors which initiated the revolt. One among the many is the introduction of an unfair policy of subsidiary alliance between the British East India Company and the Indian princely states. According to this, the Indian kingdoms lost their sovereignty to the English. It was framed by Lord Wellesley who was the Governor-General of India from 1798 to 1805. Any Indian ruler becoming a part of a subsidiary alliance had to dissolve his own armed forces and accept the British in his territory. Along with this, the ruler had to pay the British Army's maintenance and if he failed to do so, a portion of his territory would be ceded to the British.
-The doctrine of lapse was an annexation policy of the English. According to this doctrine, if the ruler of any princely state died without a male successor or heir of his Kingdom, it would become a part of the East India Company. Any adopted son of the Indian ruler could not be proclaimed as the successor of his Kingdom. Thus without a natural successor, all the princely states fell into the territories of the British.
-Jallianwala Bagh Massacre happened in 1919 in Amritsar. British troops open fire on a large ground of unarmed Indian civilians in an open space known as the Jallianwala Bagh. The incident outraged many citizens which led to demonstrations and strikes all over India.
Therefore, the correct answer to this question is option-D.

Note: The major consequence of the war of independence is the end of rule by the British East India company. After the end of the war, India was directly ruled by the British representatives known as the Governor-General.