Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions:

In the words of R. C. Mazumdar, there is, however, no basis for the claim that the Civil Disobedience Movement directly led to independence. The campaigns of Mahatma Gandhi came to an ignoble end about fourteen year before India achieved independence. During the First World War, the Indian revolutionaries sought to take advantage of German help in the shape of war materials to free the country by armed revolt. However, this attempt did not met with desired results. During the Second World War, Subhash Chandra Bose followed the same method, and formed the Indian National Army. In spite of brilliant planning and initial success, the violent campaigns of Subhash Chandra Bose also failed. The battles for India’s freedom were also being fought against Britain, though indirectly, by Adolf Hitler in Europe, and in Japan (Asia). None of these achieved direct success, but few would deny that it was the cumulative effect of all the three that brought freedom to India. In particular, the revelations made by the Indian National Army trial, and the reaction it produced in India, made it quite plain to the British, already exhausted by the war, that they could no longer depend upon the loyalty of the sepoys for maintaining their authority in India. This had probably the greatest influence upon their final decision to quit India.

Question-3

Who were called ‘sepoys’?

The troops of British Indian Army.

The correct answer is: OPTION 3 - The troops of British Indian Army.

The passage specifically refers to the sepoys as:

• Maintaining British authority in India: This suggests they were part of the force helping the British maintain control.
• Loyalty of the sepoys: The British questioning their loyalty implies these were soldiers the British previously relied on.