The Zamindars were dissatisfied with the British Government of India:…

Read the passage given below to answer.

This is one of the main sources of our knowledge about what the rebels wanted.

Section 1- Regarding Zemindars. It is evident, that the British Government in making zemindary settlements have imposed exorbitant Jumas (revenue demand) and have disgraced and ruined several zemindars by putting up their estates for public auction for arrears of rent in so much in the institution of a suit by a common Ryot a maid servant or a slave, the respectable zemindars are summoned into court arrested put in goal and disgraced. In litigation regarding zemindaries, the immense value of stamps, and other unnecessary expenses of the civil courts, are all calculated to impoverish the litigants. Besides this the coffers of the zemindars are annually taxed with the subscription for schools, hospitals, roads etc. Such extortions will have no manner of existence in the Badshahi Government; but on the contrary the Jumas will be light, the dignity and honour of the Zemindars safe and every zemindar will have absolute rule in his own zemindary.

The Zamindars were dissatisfied with the British Government of India:

(A) Due to high Jumas
(B) Due to unnecessary expenses of the civil court
(C) Unpaid rents led to the auction of the estates of Zamindars
(D) Due to the monopolisation of the trade

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → (A), (B) and (C) only

(A) Due to high Jumas Correct. The proclamation says the British Government had imposed exorbitant Jumas (revenue demand) in its zamindari settlements.

(B) Due to unnecessary expenses of the civil court Correct. In disputes over zamindaris, the immense value of stamps and other unnecessary expenses of the civil courts were all calculated to impoverish the litigants.

(C) Unpaid rents led to the auction of the estates of Zamindars Correct. Many zamindars were disgraced and ruined by putting up their estates for public auction for arrears of rent.

(D) Due to the monopolisation of the trade Incorrect. This grievance belongs to Section II of the proclamation, ‘Regarding Merchants’: the British Government had monopolised the trade of fine and valuable goods such as indigo and cloth. It was the merchants’ complaint, not the zamindars’.

Note: The passage of this question is Source 5, ‘The Azamgarh Proclamation, 25 August 1857’, in the NCERT chapter ‘Rebels and the Raj’ (its Section I, ‘Regarding Zemindars’). Read the sources in the chapter as closely as the text; this one section has given the paper five questions.

NCERT: Themes in Indian History Part III — Chapter 10: Rebels and the Raj (2026-27)

NCERT extract