Hanwant Singh, Raja of Kalakankar, recalled how the British drove out…

The correct answer is Option (2) → The British examined the titles to the estates, district by district

Option (1) Peasants were directly exposed to overassessment of revenue by the British — Incorrect. Overassessment of revenue hit the peasants once the taluqdars had lost their lands. Hanwant Singh speaks of his own lands and his King.

Option (2) The British examined the titles to the estates, district by district — Correct. After driving out the King, the British sent officers round the districts to examine the titles to the estates. This check led straight to Hanwant Singh losing his family lands.

Option (3) The taluqdars joined Begum Hazrat Mahal in Lucknow to fight the British — Incorrect. Taluqdars joined Begum Hazrat Mahal during the revolt, after the people rose. It cannot come before the loss of the lands.

Option (4) A vast majority of sepoys were recruited from the villages of Awadh — Incorrect. Sepoys had long been recruited from the villages of Awadh, which explains how peasant anger reached the army.