UPSC Prelims 2026 · Question 7 of 96
UPSC Prelims 2026 question on Awadh Annexation Policy
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2026
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectModern History
- TopicEconomic Policies of British
- DifficultyHard
- TypeStatement
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 taluqdars 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?
Show answer
Answer: A. 2 and 3 only
Verdict
Statements 2 and 3 are correct, so the answer is Option (a).
Analysis
In 1856 the Awadh Kingdom was formally annexed to the British Empire during the Governor-Generalship of Lord Dalhousie. The annexation of Awadh created a chain of grievances linking prince, taluqdar, peasant and sepoy.
Statement by statement
Statement 1 is not correct: The British were unwilling to tolerate the power of the taluqdars. Immediately after the annexation, the taluqdars were disarmed and their forts were destroyed. They were therefore not allowed to retain their arms and forts.
Statement 2 is correct: After annexation, the British revenue settlement known as the Summary Settlement of 1856 was based on the assumption that the taluqdars were interlopers with no permanent stakes in the land, and that they had established their hold over land through force and fraud.
Statement 3 is correct: The Summary Settlement proceeded to remove the taluqdars wherever possible. British land revenue officers believed that by removing taluqdars they would reduce the level of exploitation of peasants while increasing revenue returns for the state. In practice this did not happen: revenue flows for the state increased but the burden of demand on the peasants did not decline. Thus neither taluqdars nor peasants had any reason to be happy with the annexation, and during the 1857 revolution many taluqdars and peasants fought against the British.