UPSC Civil Services Examination - Modern
Indian History
Chapter 1: The Revolt of 1857 (The First War of
Independence)
1. Causes of the Revolt
Political Causes
Doctrine of Lapse: Introduced by Lord Dalhousie. Annexation of states like Satara, Sambalpur,
Jhansi, and Nagpur when native rulers died without a natural male heir.
Annexation of Awadh (1856): Annexed on the grounds of "misgovernance/maladministration",
which deeply hurt the sentiments of the sepoys, as a large number of them hailed from Awadh.
Disrespect to Mughal Emperor: Announcement that Bahadur Shah Zafar’s successors would
lose the title of 'King' and would have to vacate the Red Fort.
Economic Causes
Heavy Taxation & Land Revenue: High land revenue demands (Permanent Settlement,
Ryotwari, Mahalwari) ruined the peasantry and traditional zamindars.
De-industrialization: Destruction of traditional Indian handicrafts and textile industries due to
the influx of cheap, machine-made British goods.
Socio-Religious Causes
Interference in Customs: Westernization and laws like the Abolition of Sati (1829) and Hindu
Widows' Remarriage Act (1856) were seen as a direct attack on traditional religious structures.
Religious Conversions: Activities of Christian missionaries and the Lex Loci Act (allowing
Christian converts to inherit ancestral property).
Military Causes
General Service Enlistment Act (1856): Made it compulsory for sepoys to serve overseas,
which crossed the Kala Pani (taboo for high-caste Hindus at the time).
Discrimination: Indian sepoys were paid much less than British soldiers and were excluded
from higher ranks.
Immediate Cause
Indian History
Chapter 1: The Revolt of 1857 (The First War of
Independence)
1. Causes of the Revolt
Political Causes
Doctrine of Lapse: Introduced by Lord Dalhousie. Annexation of states like Satara, Sambalpur,
Jhansi, and Nagpur when native rulers died without a natural male heir.
Annexation of Awadh (1856): Annexed on the grounds of "misgovernance/maladministration",
which deeply hurt the sentiments of the sepoys, as a large number of them hailed from Awadh.
Disrespect to Mughal Emperor: Announcement that Bahadur Shah Zafar’s successors would
lose the title of 'King' and would have to vacate the Red Fort.
Economic Causes
Heavy Taxation & Land Revenue: High land revenue demands (Permanent Settlement,
Ryotwari, Mahalwari) ruined the peasantry and traditional zamindars.
De-industrialization: Destruction of traditional Indian handicrafts and textile industries due to
the influx of cheap, machine-made British goods.
Socio-Religious Causes
Interference in Customs: Westernization and laws like the Abolition of Sati (1829) and Hindu
Widows' Remarriage Act (1856) were seen as a direct attack on traditional religious structures.
Religious Conversions: Activities of Christian missionaries and the Lex Loci Act (allowing
Christian converts to inherit ancestral property).
Military Causes
General Service Enlistment Act (1856): Made it compulsory for sepoys to serve overseas,
which crossed the Kala Pani (taboo for high-caste Hindus at the time).
Discrimination: Indian sepoys were paid much less than British soldiers and were excluded
from higher ranks.
Immediate Cause
