UPSC Prelims 2026Question 17Modern History

Consider the following statements regarding the British policy in Awadh immediately after
its annexation in 1856:
1. The taluqdars were dispossessed of their estates but allowed to retain their arms and forts.
2. A Summary Revenue Settlement was made in 1856 assuming that the talugdars were outsiders.
3. The British believed in taking revenue directly from the peasants by removing the taluqdars.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Options

(a)2 and 3 only
(b)1 and 3 only
(c)1, 2 and 3
(d)2 only

Correct answer: a

Decision rule

Annexation stripped intermediaries of land and arms together; a statement letting a dispossessed magnate keep forts or weapons reverses the policy's purpose.

Explanation

Correct Answer

(a) 2 and 3 only

Explanation of the Correct Answer

After the annexation of Awadh in 1856, the British introduced a new revenue policy that severely affected the taluqdars.

Statement 1 is incorrect:
The taluqdars were dispossessed of many of their estates, but they were not allowed to retain their forts and arms. The British policy aimed to weaken their military and political power.
Statement 2 is correct:
A Summary Revenue Settlement was made in 1856. The British treated many taluqdars as intermediary outsiders who had allegedly usurped power from village-level landholders.
Statement 3 is correct:
The British wanted to remove the taluqdars as intermediaries and collect revenue more directly from the village-level proprietors or peasants. This policy disrupted the traditional agrarian structure of Awadh.

Thus, statements 2 and 3 only are correct.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option	Verdict	Explanation
(a) 2 and 3 only	Correct	The Summary Settlement treated taluqdars as outsiders, and the British attempted to collect revenue directly by bypassing them.
(b) 1 and 3 only	Incorrect	Statement 1 is incorrect because taluqdars were not allowed to retain their arms and forts.
(c) 1, 2 and 3	Incorrect	Statement 1 is incorrect, so all three cannot be correct.
(d) 2 only	Incorrect	Statement 2 is correct, but statement 3 is also correct.

Relevant Supplementary Information

British Policy in Awadh after Annexation

Aspect	British Policy / Action	Impact
Annexation of Awadh	Awadh was annexed in 1856 on grounds of alleged misgovernance	Created resentment among nobles, soldiers, peasants and taluqdars
Treatment of taluqdars	Many taluqdars were dispossessed	Their political and economic power was reduced
Forts and arms	British attempted to disarm taluqdars and weaken their military base	Humiliated and alienated the landed elite
Revenue settlement	Summary Settlement of 1856	Ignored many taluqdar claims
Revenue collection	Attempt to collect revenue directly from village-level proprietors/peasants	Disrupted older agrarian relations
Administrative assumption	Taluqdars were treated as outsiders or usurpers	British misunderstood Awadh’s social and political structure
Result	Widespread resentment	Taluqdars became major supporters of the Revolt of 1857 in Awadh

Awadh and the Revolt of 1857

Group	Reason for Discontent after Annexation
Taluqdars	Loss of estates, forts, arms, status and revenue rights
Peasants	Disruption of traditional protection networks and revenue pressures
Sepoys	Many soldiers came from Awadh; annexation affected their families and social base
Nobility and court officials	Loss of employment, patronage and prestige after removal of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah
Religious and cultural elites	Decline of courtly patronage and resentment against British interference

Factor	Connection with Revolt of 1857
Annexation of Awadh in 1856	Created resentment just one year before the revolt
Dispossession of taluqdars	Taluqdars mobilized armed retainers and peasants against the British
Disarming of landed elites	Produced humiliation and loss of authority
Removal of Wajid Ali Shah	Created emotional and political resentment
Sepoy connection	Many sepoys of the Bengal Army came from Awadh and were affected by events back home
Revenue disruption	Peasants and village society were drawn into rebellion
Local leadership	Resistance in Awadh acquired strong rural and aristocratic support
British reversal after 1857	British later restored many taluqdars to secure loyalty and stabilize rural control

Taluqdars Before and After Annexation

Before Annexation	After Annexation
Controlled large estates and villages	Many estates were confiscated or reduced
Had armed retainers and forts	British tried to disarm them
Acted as intermediaries between state and peasants	British tried to bypass them
Enjoyed local prestige and authority	Their status was sharply reduced
Maintained social influence in rural Awadh	Became hostile to British rule

Before Annexation	After Annexation in 1856
Held large estates and controlled many villages	Many estates were confiscated or reduced
Enjoyed local prestige and social authority	Their status was undermined
Maintained armed retainers and forts	British tried to disarm them
Acted as intermediaries between state and peasants	British attempted to bypass them
Provided protection and patronage in rural society	Their traditional authority was weakened
Had strong ties with peasants, retainers and local society	Became major supporters of the 1857 revolt

Key Takeaways from the Tables

Awadh was annexed in 1856, just before the Revolt of 1857.
The British dispossessed and weakened the taluqdars.
The Summary Settlement of 1856 treated taluqdars as outsiders.
The British tried to collect revenue more directly by bypassing taluqdars.
This policy helped turn Awadh into one of the most intense centres of the Revolt of 1857.

Point	Explanation
Awadh was annexed in 1856	This was one of the immediate background causes of the Revolt of 1857.
Taluqdars were badly hit	They lost estates, arms, forts and local authority.
Summary Settlement bypassed taluqdars	The British treated them as outsiders and tried direct revenue collection.
Statement 1 in the question is incorrect	Taluqdars were not allowed to retain arms and forts.
Statements 2 and 3 are correct	The Summary Settlement treated taluqdars as outsiders, and the British tried to collect revenue directly.
Awadh became a major centre of 1857	The revolt drew strength from both sepoy and rural discontent.
British changed policy after 1857	They restored many taluqdars to create a loyal landed class.

Context and Current Relevance

Awadh became a major centre of the 1857 revolt because British annexation disturbed not only the ruling family but also taluqdars, peasants, soldiers and court dependents.
The policy shows how colonial revenue reforms often ignored existing local power structures.
The British later reversed parts of this policy and restored many taluqdars after 1857 to secure rural support.

Table: British Policy in Awadh after Annexation, 1856

Aspect	British Policy / Action	Impact on Awadh
Annexation	Awadh was annexed in 1856 on the charge of misgovernance	Created widespread resentment against British rule
Nawab removed	Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was deposed and sent to Calcutta	Courtly elites, officials, artists and dependents lost patronage
Treatment of taluqdars	Many taluqdars were dispossessed of their estates	Landed aristocracy became hostile to the British
Forts and arms	Taluqdars were disarmed and their forts were weakened or taken over	Their military and local power was reduced
Summary Settlement, 1856	Revenue settlement was made by treating taluqdars as outsiders or usurpers	Many taluqdars lost legal recognition over their estates
Revenue collection	British tried to collect revenue directly from village-level proprietors or peasants	Traditional agrarian relations were disturbed
Administrative logic	British believed taluqdars were oppressive intermediaries	Policy ignored the social role of taluqdars in rural Awadh
Outcome	Taluqdars, peasants, sepoys and elites became resentful	Awadh became a major centre of the Revolt of 1857

Table: Groups Affected by Awadh Annexation

Group	How They Were Affected	Resulting Discontent
Nawab Wajid Ali Shah	Deposed and removed from power	Symbolic resentment against British interference
Royal family and court elites	Lost political position and income	Hostility towards British rule
Taluqdars	Dispossessed of estates, arms and forts	Became one of the strongest anti-British groups in 1857
Peasants	Faced new revenue demands and disruption of older relations	Many joined or supported local resistance
Sepoys	Many Bengal Army sepoys came from Awadh; their families were affected	Deepened sepoy resentment before 1857
Artisans and dependents	Lost court patronage after annexation	Economic hardship and social insecurity
Religious and cultural elites	Decline of traditional patronage networks	Wider cultural resentment

Table: Revenue Policy in Awadh

Feature	British View	Actual Effect
Taluqdars as intermediaries	Considered oppressive outsiders	Ignored their entrenched role in rural society
Summary Settlement	Intended to simplify revenue collection	Dispossessed many powerful landholders
Direct settlement with peasants/village proprietors	Seen as more efficient and just	Disrupted existing agrarian structure
Disarming taluqdars	Seen as necessary for law and order	Humiliated local elites and provoked resistance
High revenue demand	Seen as a source of stable income	Increased rural distress
Removal of Nawab	Justified as reform against misgovernance	Seen locally as political betrayal

Table: Common Confusions Related to Awadh Annexation

Confusion	Correct Understanding
Taluqdars were dispossessed but allowed to retain arms and forts	Incorrect. British policy aimed to weaken them by taking away estates, arms and forts.
The Summary Settlement protected taluqdars	Incorrect. It treated many taluqdars as outsiders or usurpers.
British wanted to keep taluqdars as strong intermediaries in 1856	Incorrect. Initially, they tried to bypass taluqdars and collect revenue more directly.
Awadh revolt was only a sepoy revolt	Incorrect. It involved taluqdars, peasants, court elites and soldiers.
Annexation affected only the Nawab	Incorrect. It affected the entire political, agrarian and social structure of Awadh.
British policy remained the same after 1857	Incorrect. After the revolt, British policy became more conciliatory towards taluqdars.

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