HistoryModern India: Rebels and the Raj

Four statements are made about how the British put down the revolt of…

Four statements are made about how the British put down the revolt of 1857. Which one is the odd one out?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → The British gave Delhi little weight and turned first to Awadh

Option (1) The British used newly enacted special laws against the rebels — Incorrect. A true point. The British armed themselves with special laws passed in 1857 before the campaign.

Option (2) The British found it hard to put down the rebellion — Incorrect. A true point. All accounts of 1857 show the British did not have an easy time putting down the rebellion.

Option (3) The British gave Delhi little weight and turned first to Awadh — Correct. Not true. The British, like the rebels, saw the symbolic value of Delhi, so their two-pronged attack aimed to reconquer Delhi first.

Option (4) The British brought in reinforcements from Britain — Incorrect. A true point. Reinforcements from Britain were used along with the special laws.

NCERT (2026-27): “4. Repression
It is clear from all accounts that we have of 1857 that the British did not have an easy time in putting down the rebellion.”

“Armed with these newly enacted special laws and the reinforcements brought in from Britain, the British began the task of suppressing the revolt. They, like the rebels, recognised the symbolic value of Delhi. The British thus mounted a two-pronged attack. One force moved from Calcutta into North India and the other from the Punjab – which was largely peaceful – to reconquer Delhi. …”