The Revolt of 1857 multiple choice questions with answers is one of the most important study topics for students preparing for UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railway, Defence, and State PCS exams. The Revolt of 1857, also known as the First War of Indian Independence, was a significant turning point in Indian history. It marked the first large-scale resistance against British colonial rule.
In this blog, we provide 50+ Revolt of 1857 multiple choice questions with answers along with detailed explanations. These MCQs will help students strengthen their preparation for competitive exams. The questions are designed to cover causes, leaders, events, and outcomes of the revolt in an easy-to-understand format.
By the end of this blog, you will have a solid understanding of the Revolt of 1857 and be well-prepared with Revolt of 1857 multiple choice questions with answers.
Key Highlights of the Revolt of 1857
Before jumping into the MCQs, here are some key points every student must know:
The Revolt of 1857 is also called the Sepoy Mutiny, Indian Mutiny, or the First War of Independence.
Immediate cause: Introduction of the Enfield Rifle with greased cartridges.
Started on 10th May 1857 in Meerut.
Main leaders included Rani Laxmi Bai (Jhansi), Bahadur Shah II (Delhi), Nana Saheb (Kanpur), Kunwar Singh (Bihar), Begum Hazrat Mahal (Lucknow).
Suppressed by the British in 1858.
Led to the end of East India Company’s rule and direct control by the British Crown.
Q1. What was the immediate cause of the Revolt of 1857?
A) Doctrine of Lapse
B) Heavy taxation
C) Greased cartridges of Enfield Rifle
D) Land Revenue Policies
Answer: C) Greased cartridges of Enfield Rifle
Explanation: The use of cartridges allegedly greased with cow and pig fat hurt religious sentiments of both Hindus and Muslims, sparking the revolt.
Q2. Who introduced the Doctrine of Lapse, one of the causes of the revolt?
A) Lord Wellesley
B) Lord Dalhousie
C) Lord Canning
D) Lord Cornwallis
Answer: B) Lord Dalhousie
Explanation: Dalhousie annexed states where rulers died without a male heir, angering Indian princes.
Q3. Who was declared the symbolic leader (Emperor of India) during the Revolt of 1857?
A) Bahadur Shah II
B) Nana Saheb
C) Rani Laxmi Bai
D) Tantia Tope
Answer: A) Bahadur Shah II
Explanation: The last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was declared the leader though he had little control.
Q4. Who led the revolt in Kanpur?
A) Begum Hazrat Mahal
B) Kunwar Singh
C) Nana Saheb
D) Bahadur Shah II
Answer: C) Nana Saheb
Q5. Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi died while fighting the British in which place?
A) Gwalior
B) Jhansi
C) Kanpur
D) Lucknow
Answer: A) Gwalior
Q6. The Revolt of 1857 started in which city?
A) Lucknow
B) Delhi
C) Meerut
D) Jhansi
Answer: C) Meerut
Q7. Who was the leader of the Revolt in Bihar?
A) Kunwar Singh
B) Nana Saheb
C) Tantia Tope
D) Bahadur Shah II
Answer: A) Kunwar Singh
Q8. Who was the female leader of the Revolt in Lucknow?
A) Rani Avantibai
B) Begum Hazrat Mahal
C) Rani Laxmi Bai
D) Rani Durgavati
Answer: B) Begum Hazrat Mahal
Q9. The Revolt of 1857 ended in which year?
A) 1857
B) 1858
C) 1859
D) 1860
Answer: B) 1858
Q10. Which Act transferred power from East India Company to the British Crown?
A) Regulating Act, 1773
B) Pitt’s India Act, 1784
C) Government of India Act, 1858
D) Indian Councils Act, 1861
Answer: C) Government of India Act, 1858
Q11. Who was the British Commander-in-Chief during the Revolt of 1857?
A) Lord Dalhousie
B) General Colin Campbell
C) Lord Canning
D) John Nicholson
Answer: B) General Colin Campbell
Explanation: General Colin Campbell led the British forces during the suppression of the revolt, particularly in Lucknow.
Q12. Who captured Delhi from the rebels in 1857?
A) General Havelock
B) General Colin Campbell
C) General John Nicholson
D) Sir Hugh Rose
Answer: C) General John Nicholson
Explanation: John Nicholson led the assault on Delhi in September 1857, recapturing it for the British.
Q13. What was the main reason for the failure of the Revolt of 1857?
A) Lack of nationalism
B) Lack of foreign support
C) Lack of unity and modern weapons
D) Harsh repression by the British
Answer: C) Lack of unity and modern weapons
Explanation: The revolt lacked coordination among leaders and modern military resources, which led to its failure.
Q14. Which ruler of Gwalior supported the British during the revolt?
A) Tantia Tope
B) Rani Laxmi Bai
C) Scindia of Gwalior
D) Kunwar Singh
Answer: C) Scindia of Gwalior
Explanation: Scindia of Gwalior sided with the British, which weakened the rebel forces.
Q15. The Revolt of 1857 is popularly known as:
A) Sepoy Mutiny
B) Indian Mutiny
C) First War of Independence
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: The revolt is known by different names, but Indian historians prefer “First War of Independence.”
Q16. Who led the Revolt of 1857 in Lucknow?
A) Nana Saheb
B) Begum Hazrat Mahal
C) Kunwar Singh
D) Rani Laxmi Bai
Answer: B) Begum Hazrat Mahal
Explanation: She was one of the prominent female leaders and fought bravely against the British.
Q17. Who led the Revolt of 1857 in Bihar?
A) Tantia Tope
B) Kunwar Singh
C) Nana Saheb
D) Ahmadullah Shah
Answer: B) Kunwar Singh
Explanation: The 80-year-old Kunwar Singh became a symbol of courage in Bihar during the revolt.
Q18. The Revolt of 1857 broke out on which date?
A) 29th March 1857
B) 10th May 1857
C) 15th May 1857
D) 1st June 1857
Answer: B) 10th May 1857
Explanation: The revolt began in Meerut when sepoys refused to use greased cartridges.
Q19. Who first refused to use the greased cartridges?
A) Mangal Pandey
B) Tantia Tope
C) Nana Saheb
D) Bahadur Shah II
Answer: A) Mangal Pandey
Explanation: On 29th March 1857, Mangal Pandey refused to use cartridges and attacked British officers.
Q20. Which place was considered the epicenter of the Revolt of 1857?
A) Kanpur
B) Jhansi
C) Delhi
D) Lucknow
Answer: C) Delhi
Explanation: Delhi became the political center of the revolt as Bahadur Shah Zafar was declared emperor.
Q21. Who was the Governor-General of India during the Revolt of 1857?
A) Lord Dalhousie
B) Lord Wellesley
C) Lord Cornwallis
D) Lord Canning
Answer: D) Lord Canning
Explanation: Lord Canning was the Governor-General when the revolt broke out.
Q22. Who among the following did NOT participate in the Revolt of 1857?
A) Scindia of Gwalior
B) Holkar of Indore
C) Nizam of Hyderabad
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Many rulers remained loyal to the British for their own interests.
Q23. Tantia Tope was associated with which leader?
A) Nana Saheb
B) Begum Hazrat Mahal
C) Rani Laxmi Bai
D) Kunwar Singh
Answer: A) Nana Saheb
Explanation: Tantia Tope was a close associate and military commander of Nana Saheb.
Q24. The British described the Revolt of 1857 as:
A) First War of Independence
B) Indian Mutiny
C) National Uprising
D) Peasant Rebellion
Answer: B) Indian Mutiny
Explanation: British historians tried to undermine its national significance by calling it a “mutiny.”
Q25. Who was the last Mughal emperor involved in the Revolt of 1857?
A) Bahadur Shah II
B) Shah Alam II
C) Akbar II
D) Aurangzeb
Answer: A) Bahadur Shah II
Explanation: Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled to Rangoon after the revolt was suppressed.
Q26. What was the outcome of the Revolt of 1857?
A) End of Mughal dynasty
B) End of East India Company rule
C) Beginning of British Crown’s rule
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Q27. Which Act transferred power from the East India Company to the British Crown?
A) Charter Act, 1833
B) Government of India Act, 1858
C) Regulating Act, 1773
D) Indian Councils Act, 1861
Answer: B) Government of India Act, 1858
Q28. Who suppressed the Revolt of 1857 in Jhansi?
A) General Havelock
B) Sir Hugh Rose
C) Colin Campbell
D) John Nicholson
Answer: B) Sir Hugh Rose
Q29. The revolt of 1857 was strongest in which region?
A) Punjab
B) North India
C) South India
D) Bengal
Answer: B) North India
Q30. Which Indian soldier is considered the first martyr of the Revolt of 1857?
A) Rani Laxmi Bai
B) Bahadur Shah II
C) Mangal Pandey
D) Tantia Tope
Answer: C) Mangal Pandey
Q31. The Revolt of 1857 is also called by Indian historians as:
A) First War of Independence
B) Peasants’ Rebellion
C) Civil War
D) Sepoy Rebellion
Answer: A) First War of Independence
Q32. In which year was Bahadur Shah Zafar exiled to Rangoon?
A) 1858
B) 1859
C) 1860
D) 1862
Answer: D) 1862
Q33. Which city witnessed the massacre of British women and children during the revolt?
A) Kanpur
B) Delhi
C) Lucknow
D) Jhansi
Answer: A) Kanpur
Q34. Who was popularly known as the “Hero of Lucknow” for his bravery during the revolt?
A) Henry Lawrence
B) Colin Campbell
C) Hugh Rose
D) John Nicholson
Answer: A) Henry Lawrence
Q35. Which British officer recaptured Kanpur during the Revolt?
A) Sir Colin Campbell
B) General Havelock
C) John Nicholson
D) Hugh Rose
Answer: B) General Havelock
Q36. Who betrayed Rani Laxmi Bai leading to her defeat?
A) Tantia Tope
B) Dulha Ju
C) Scindia of Gwalior
D) Man Singh
Answer: D) Man Singh
Q37. Which leader continued guerrilla warfare even after 1858?
A) Nana Saheb
B) Tantia Tope
C) Kunwar Singh
D) Begum Hazrat Mahal
Answer: B) Tantia Tope
Q38. The Revolt of 1857 had the greatest impact on:
A) Political system
B) British military policies
C) Indian administration
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Q39. Which Indian ruler sent his army to help the British during the revolt?
A) Ruler of Kashmir
B) Ruler of Nepal
C) Nizam of Hyderabad
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Q40. The Revolt of 1857 is also regarded as a:
A) Peasant revolt
B) Military revolt
C) Feudal revolt
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Q41. Which one of the following was not a cause of the Revolt of 1857?
A) Economic exploitation
B) Religious reforms by British
C) Social reforms
D) Introduction of Railways
Answer: D) Introduction of Railways
Q42. The British Crown took control of India in:
A) 1857
B) 1858
C) 1859
D) 1860
Answer: B) 1858
Q43. Who described the Revolt of 1857 as a “national revolt”?
A) V.D. Savarkar
B) Karl Marx
C) R.C. Majumdar
D) Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: B) Karl Marx
Q44. Who described the Revolt of 1857 as the “First War of Independence”?
A) V.D. Savarkar
B) S.N. Sen
C) Jawaharlal Nehru
D) R.C. Majumdar
Answer: A) V.D. Savarkar
Q45. The Revolt of 1857 spread mostly in:
A) North and Central India
B) South India
C) North-East India
D) Entire India
Answer: A) North and Central India
Q46. Which governor-general abolished the East India Company after the revolt?
A) Lord Dalhousie
B) Lord Canning
C) Lord Wellesley
D) Lord Cornwallis
Answer: B) Lord Canning
Q47. The Revolt of 1857 was described by R.C. Majumdar as:
A) A national war
B) A mutiny of sepoys
C) First War of Independence
D) A great revolution
Answer: B) A mutiny of sepoys
Q48. Which place saw the first outbreak of sepoys refusing cartridges?
A) Meerut
B) Barrackpore
C) Delhi
D) Lucknow
Answer: B) Barrackpore
Q49. Who among the following did NOT die during the Revolt of 1857?
A) Rani Laxmi Bai
B) Kunwar Singh
C) Tantia Tope
D) Bahadur Shah II
Answer: D) Bahadur Shah II
Explanation: Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled, not killed.
Q50. The Revolt of 1857 ended with the fall of which city?
A) Delhi
B) Jhansi
C) Gwalior
D) Kanpur
Answer: C) Gwalior
Explanation: After the fall of Gwalior in June 1858, the revolt was considered suppressed.
Conclusion
The Revolt of 1857 multiple choice questions with answers remain one of the most expected topics in competitive examinations. The revolt was not just a mutiny but the first collective struggle against British colonial rule. With these 50 solved MCQs, you now have a comprehensive preparation resource.
Keep revising these Revolt of 1857 multiple choice questions with answers regularly to score well in your exams and strengthen your knowledge of Indian history.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Revolt of 1857 Multiple Choice Questions with Answers
Q1. Why should students practice Revolt of 1857 multiple choice questions with answers?
Answer: Practicing Revolt of 1857 multiple choice questions with answers helps students understand the causes, leaders, events, and consequences of India’s first war of independence. It builds strong conceptual clarity and improves exam performance in history-related topics. Revolt of 1857 multiple choice questions with answers
Q2. Are Revolt of 1857 multiple choice questions with answers useful for UPSC and SSC exams?
Answer: Yes, Revolt of 1857 multiple choice questions with answers are frequently asked in exams like UPSC, SSC, Railways, Defence, and State PSCs. They help aspirants prepare for both prelims and mains, as many questions are directly linked to this historic event.
Q3. How can I prepare Revolt of 1857 multiple choice questions with answers effectively?
Answer: Students should study standard NCERT history books, Spectrum’s Modern History, and then solve Revolt of 1857 multiple choice questions with answers regularly. Revising key leaders, regions, and consequences will ensure accuracy in exams.
Q4. What type of Revolt of 1857 multiple choice questions with answers are generally asked in competitive exams?
Answer: Most exams include questions on the immediate causes, key leaders like Rani Lakshmibai, Mangal Pandey, Bahadur Shah Zafar, and regional participation. The Revolt of 1857 multiple choice questions with answers also cover social, political, and economic impacts of the uprising.
Q5. Where can I practice more Revolt of 1857 multiple choice questions with answers?
Answer: Students can practice from standard history books, online quizzes, and educational blogs. This blog provides a comprehensive set of Revolt of 1857 multiple choice questions with answers to strengthen preparation for competitive exams.
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