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GNDU Most Repeated (Important) Quesons
B.A/B.Sc 3rd Semester
HISTORY [History of India (A.D. 1707–1947)]
Based on 4-Year GNDU Queson Paper Trend (2021–2024)
Must-Prepare Quesons (80–100% Probability)
SECTION–A (Brish Expansion & Revolt of 1857)
1. Bale of Plassey / Bale of Buxar – Causes, Course & Consequences
Appeared in: 2021 (Q1 – Plassey), 2023 (Q1 – Buxar), 2024 (Q1 – Buxar)
Probability for 2025: (100%)
One of the most repeated early Brish expansion topics — must prepare both bales
together.
2. Revolt/Uprising of 1857 – Causes, Nature & Consequences
Appeared in: 2021 (Q2), 2023 (Q2), 2024 (Q2)
Probability for 2025: (100%)
Every alternate year repeon with slight wording changes — central theme in
modern Indian history.
2025 Smart Predicon Table
(Based on GNDU 2021–2024 Trend)
No.
Queson Topic
Years Appeared
Probability for 2025
1
Bale of Plassey/Buxar – Causes &
Consequences
2021, 2023,
2024
(100%)
2
Revolt of 1857 – Causes, Nature &
Consequences
2021, 2023,
2024
(100%)
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2025 GUARANTEED QUESTIONS (100% Appearance Trend)
Top 7 Must-Prepare Topics
1. Bale of Plassey & Buxar – Causes and Consequences
2. Revolt of 1857 – Causes, Nature & Impact
BONUS HIGH-PRIORITY (80–90%) QUESTIONS
9. Role of Indian Naonal Congress (1885–1905) – Aims, Methods & Achievements
GNDU Most Repeated (Important) Answers
B.A/B.Sc 3rd Semester
HISTORY [History of India (A.D. 1707–1947)]
Based on 4-Year GNDU Queson Paper Trend (2021–2024)
Must-Prepare Quesons (80–100% Probability)
SECTION–A (Brish Expansion & Revolt of 1857)
1. Bale of Plassey / Bale of Buxar – Causes, Course & Consequences
Appeared in: 2021 (Q1 – Plassey), 2023 (Q1 – Buxar), 2024 (Q1 – Buxar)
Probability for 2025: (100%)
One of the most repeated early Brish expansion topics — must prepare both bales
together.
Ans: The Background — When Traders Became Rulers
Long before the British became rulers, they came to India as traders. Their company,
known as the British East India Company, had only one purpose — to trade and make
profits. They bought Indian goods like silk, cotton, and spices and sold them in Europe at
huge prices.
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But soon, this company realized that if they could control the Indian rulers, they could
trade without paying taxes and earn even more profit. Slowly, the traders began to act
like politicians and soldiers.
At that time, Bengal was one of the richest provinces in India. Its capital, Murshidabad,
was full of wealth, art, and culture. The ruler of Bengal was Siraj-ud-Daulah, the last
independent Nawab of Bengal.
The Battle of Plassey (1757)
Causes – The Seeds of Conflict
Let’s imagine Bengal in the mid-1700s. The East India Company, under its British officers,
had gained a lot of influence. But Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah was young and determined —
he didn’t like foreigners interfering in his kingdom’s politics.
Here are the main causes that led to the Battle of Plassey:
1. Political Interference:
The British started to interfere in Bengal’s internal matters. They tried to support
rival claimants to the throne. Siraj-ud-Daulah saw this as a direct threat to his
authority.
2. Misuse of Trade Privileges:
The East India Company enjoyed certain trade privileges given by the Mughal
emperors. But the British misused these rights — they began trading privately
and avoiding taxes, which caused huge losses to the Bengal treasury.
3. Fortification of Calcutta:
Without the Nawab’s permission, the British began strengthening Fort William in
Calcutta. Siraj-ud-Daulah ordered them to stop, but they ignored him. This made
him furious.
4. Black Hole Tragedy (June 1756):
When the Nawab captured Calcutta, many British soldiers were imprisoned in a
small room overnight, and many died due to suffocation. The British used this
incident to justify revenge.
So, these tensions slowly built up — like a pot of boiling water — until it finally spilled
over into battle.
The Course of the Battle
The famous Battle of Plassey was fought on June 23, 1757, near the village of Plassey
(Palashi) on the banks of the Bhagirathi River in Bengal.
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The forces on both sides were:
• Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah:
He had around 50,000 soldiers, 40 cannons, and a few war elephants.
• British East India Company:
Led by Robert Clive, the Company had only about 3,000 soldiers — a small army
compared to the Nawab’s forces.
But remember, wars are not only fought with weapons — they are also fought with
clever minds and deceit.
The Betrayal
Robert Clive secretly made a deal with Mir Jafar, one of Siraj-ud-Daulah’s top generals.
Mir Jafar was promised the throne of Bengal if he betrayed the Nawab. Greedy for
power, Mir Jafar agreed.
So, when the battle began, Mir Jafar and his soldiers stood still, pretending to fight but
never really joining the war. This betrayal changed everything.
Siraj-ud-Daulah’s army lost courage, and the British, with their disciplined soldiers and
modern weapons, easily defeated the Nawab.
Siraj-ud-Daulah fled the battlefield but was later captured and executed by Mir Jafar’s
men.
Consequences of the Battle of Plassey
The Battle of Plassey was not just a victory — it was the turning point in Indian history.
It was the first major step in the British conquest of India.
1. Beginning of British Political Rule:
The victory at Plassey turned the East India Company from a trading company
into a political power. They now controlled Bengal’s administration through Mir
Jafar.
2. Mir Jafar Becomes a Puppet Nawab:
Though Mir Jafar was made Nawab, he was just a puppet in British hands. The
real power was with the Company officials, especially Robert Clive.
3. Huge Financial Gains for the Company:
The Company and its officers received immense wealth from Bengal’s treasury.
Robert Clive personally became very rich. This wealth financed future British
expansion in India.
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4. Loss of Indian Independence in Bengal:
Bengal, once the richest province of India, fell under British control. It marked the
beginning of British imperialism in India.
5. Moral Decline of Indian Nobility:
The betrayal by Mir Jafar showed how self-interest and greed weakened Indian
rulers. Instead of uniting, they fought among themselves, which made British
expansion easier.
The Battle of Buxar (1764)
Background and Causes
After Plassey, the British made Mir Jafar the Nawab of Bengal, but soon they found him
“useless.” When he couldn’t give enough money to the Company, they replaced him
with Mir Qasim, his son-in-law.
At first, Mir Qasim tried to be a strong and independent ruler. He reorganized his army
and wanted to end British interference. However, the Company wanted complete
control. When Mir Qasim refused to obey them, the British removed him too and
brought back Mir Jafar.
Mir Qasim, angry and humiliated, joined hands with two powerful Indian rulers:
• Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh
• Shah Alam II, the Mughal Emperor
Together, they decided to drive the British out of India. This alliance led to the Battle of
Buxar.
The Course of the Battle
The Battle of Buxar took place on October 22, 1764, near the town of Buxar (in present-
day Bihar).
On one side were:
• Mir Qasim (Bengal)
• Shuja-ud-Daula (Awadh)
• Shah Alam II (Mughal Emperor)
— with a combined army of around 40,000 men.
On the other side was:
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• The East India Company, led by Major Hector Munro, with about 7,000 troops.
Although the Indian side was larger, it lacked unity and coordination. Each ruler fought
for his own interest rather than as a team. The British, however, were disciplined,
organized, and had better weapons and training.
The result?
The Indian alliance was completely defeated. The Battle of Buxar confirmed what
Plassey had begun — British supremacy in North India.
Consequences of the Battle of Buxar
The Battle of Buxar had even greater importance than Plassey because it made the
British the real masters of India.
1. Treaty of Allahabad (1765):
After the battle, the British signed the Treaty of Allahabad with Shah Alam II and
Shuja-ud-Daula.
o The Mughal Emperor granted the East India Company the “Diwani” rights
— the right to collect revenue from Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
o This meant the Company now controlled the financial heart of India.
2. Dual Government in Bengal:
The Company collected revenue, while the Nawab looked after administration.
But in reality, the Nawab had no real power. This “dual system” led to confusion
and exploitation.
3. Foundation of British Empire in India:
The victory at Buxar made the British the most powerful force in India. From
Bengal, they began expanding their rule to other regions.
4. Economic Drain:
Huge sums of Indian wealth were sent to England. The resources of Bengal were
drained, leading to poverty and famines in later years.
5. Decline of Mughal Power:
The Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II, became a British pensioner. The Mughal
Empire, once the greatest in the world, now existed only in name.
The Bigger Picture — From Traders to Rulers
When we look at both battles together, a clear story unfolds.
• The Battle of Plassey (1757) opened the doors of India to British control.
• The Battle of Buxar (1764) gave them the keys to India’s treasury and
administration.
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These two battles transformed the East India Company from mere merchants to
political rulers. In less than a decade, they went from begging for trade rights to
collecting taxes from millions of Indians.
Conclusion — The Turning Point of Indian History
If Indian history were a movie, the Battle of Plassey would be the beginning of British
domination, and the Battle of Buxar would be the moment they took full control.
Both battles teach us important lessons:
• How disunity among Indian rulers made it easy for foreigners to conquer India.
• How greed and betrayal destroyed kingdoms.
• And how a trading company turned into an empire, changing India’s fate for
almost 200 years.
So, these weren’t just two battles — they were the first chapters in the long story of
British rule in India, a story that would shape the country’s destiny until the dawn of
independence in 1947.
2. Revolt/Uprising of 1857 – Causes, Nature & Consequences
Appeared in: 2021 (Q2), 2023 (Q2), 2024 (Q2)
Probability for 2025: (100%)
Every alternate year repeon with slight wording changes — central theme in
modern Indian history.
Ans: Revolt/Uprising of 1857 – Causes, Nature & Consequences
A Fresh Beginning
Picture India in the mid-19th century. The air is heavy with discontent. Farmers groan
under crushing taxes, artisans watch their crafts die out, kings see their thrones slipping
away, and soldiers—once proud warriors—feel humiliated in their own land. It is like a
pot of boiling water, simmering quietly for years, until one spark makes it overflow.
That spark came in 1857. What began as a mutiny of Indian soldiers in the British East
India Company’s army soon spread like wildfire across northern and central India. It was
not just a military revolt—it was a storm of anger, pain, and hope. To understand this
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great uprising, we must walk through its causes, nature, and consequences, not as dry
facts, but as a living story of India’s first major struggle against colonial rule.
Chapter 1: Causes of the Revolt – The Boiling Pot
The Revolt of 1857 did not erupt suddenly. It was the result of years of political,
economic, social, religious, and military grievances. Let’s explore them one by one, like
layers of a story.
1. Political Causes
• The British East India Company had expanded its empire aggressively.
• The Doctrine of Lapse, introduced by Lord Dalhousie, snatched away kingdoms if
rulers died without a natural heir. States like Jhansi, Satara, and Nagpur were
annexed.
• Even powerful rulers like the Nawab of Awadh were dethroned on flimsy excuses
of “misrule.”
• Princes and kings who once ruled proudly now felt humiliated and powerless.
Imagine being a ruler, watching your throne taken away not by war, but by a piece
of paper. The anger was inevitable.
2. Economic Causes
• Heavy land revenue policies crushed farmers. They had to sell their land to pay
taxes.
• Traditional industries like textiles collapsed because British goods flooded the
market.
• Artisans, once respected, were reduced to poverty.
• Soldiers, too, were paid less than their British counterparts.
The economy that once made India the “Golden Bird” was now bleeding.
3. Social and Religious Causes
• The British introduced reforms like banning sati and promoting widow
remarriage. While progressive, many Indians saw them as interference in their
traditions.
• Missionaries spread Christianity, creating fear that the British wanted to destroy
Indian religions.
• The introduction of Western education created a cultural divide—some
welcomed it, others resisted it.
People began to whisper: “They want to change our faith, our way of life.”
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4. Military Causes
• Indian soldiers (sepoys) formed the backbone of the British army, but they were
treated unfairly.
• They were paid less, given fewer promotions, and often sent to fight in distant
lands without respect for their customs.
• The final spark: the Enfield rifle cartridges, rumored to be greased with cow and
pig fat. For Hindus, the cow is sacred; for Muslims, the pig is forbidden. To bite
these cartridges was seen as an insult to both religions.
This was the matchstick that lit the fire.
Chapter 2: Nature of the Revolt – A Fire Across the Land
The Revolt of 1857 was not uniform everywhere. It had different shades—military
mutiny, peasant uprising, and princely resistance.
The Beginning
• On 10th May 1857, sepoys in Meerut refused to use the cartridges. They
revolted, killed their officers, and marched to Delhi.
• At Delhi, they declared the aged Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar as their
leader. Suddenly, the revolt gained a symbol—a unifying figurehead.
The Spread
• In Kanpur, Nana Sahib led the revolt.
• In Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai became a legend, fighting bravely against the British.
• In Bareilly, Khan Bahadur Khan took charge.
• In Lucknow, Begum Hazrat Mahal led the resistance.
It was like sparks flying in every direction, igniting flames of rebellion.
The Nature of the Revolt
Historians debate its nature:
• Some call it a sepoy mutiny, since it began with soldiers.
• Others call it India’s First War of Independence, since it united rulers, peasants,
and soldiers against a common enemy.
• In truth, it was both—a military revolt that grew into a broader struggle for
freedom.
Chapter 3: Consequences of the Revolt – The Aftermath
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The Revolt of 1857 was eventually crushed by the British, but its consequences were far-
reaching.
1. Political Consequences
• The East India Company was abolished.
• India came directly under the rule of the British Crown. Queen Victoria’s
Proclamation of 1858 promised respect for Indian traditions and non-
interference in religion.
• The Mughal dynasty ended. Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled to Rangoon, where he
died in sorrow.
The Company’s rule ended, but British control became stronger.
2. Military Consequences
• The British reorganized the army.
• Indian soldiers were kept in minority compared to Europeans.
• Divide-and-rule policies were introduced—Hindus and Muslims were deliberately
kept apart.
The British learned their lesson: never again let Indians unite in the army.
3. Social and Religious Consequences
• The British became cautious about reforms. They slowed down social changes to
avoid angering Indians.
• Missionary activities were restricted.
• However, the revolt also awakened Indians to the dangers of foreign domination.
4. Economic Consequences
• The drain of wealth continued, but now under direct Crown rule.
• Heavy taxes remained, but the British tried to appear more “benevolent” to avoid
further revolts.
5. Nationalist Consequences
• Though the revolt failed, it sowed the seeds of nationalism.
• Ordinary people realized that united resistance was possible.
• Heroes like Rani Lakshmibai, Nana Sahib, and Begum Hazrat Mahal became
symbols of courage.
The Revolt of 1857 was not the end—it was the beginning of India’s freedom
struggle.
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Chapter 4: Why the Revolt Failed
To complete the story, we must also see why the revolt did not succeed.
• Lack of unity: Southern and eastern India remained largely unaffected.
• Poor organization: Rebels had courage but no central leadership or clear plan.
• Limited resources: The British had better weapons, communication, and
reinforcements.
• Divisions: Some rulers, like the Sikhs and the Nizam of Hyderabad, supported the
British.
The revolt was like a storm—powerful but scattered.
Conclusion
The Revolt of 1857 was like the first cry of a child—it was not strong enough to break
free, but it announced the birth of something new. It was the birth of Indian nationalism.
Yes, it failed. Yes, it was crushed. But it showed that Indians, despite their differences,
could rise together against injustice. It gave India its first heroes and its first taste of
unity.
When we look back today, we do not see it as just a mutiny of sepoys. We see it as the
first great chapter in India’s long struggle for independence.
And perhaps the most powerful lesson of 1857 is this: even the mightiest empire cannot
silence the voice of a people forever.
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