UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 32
Consider the following statements regarding the British policy in Awadh immediately after its annexation in 1856:
- The taluqdars were dispossessed of their estates but allowed to retain their arms and forts.
- A Summary Revenue Settlement was made in 1856 assuming that the taluqdars were outsiders.
- The British believed in taking revenue directly from the peasants by removing the taluqdars.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Correct Option: A
Explanation: After annexing Awadh in 1856, colonial policy displaced many taluqdars and attempted direct settlement with cultivators, aggravating agrarian resentment.
Statement-wise Analysis:
Statement 1: Incorrect - Dispossessed taluqdars were generally disarmed and many forts were dismantled; they were not simply allowed to keep them.
Statement 2: Correct - The summary settlement treated many taluqdars as intermediaries/outsiders rather than legitimate owners.
Statement 3: Correct - British revenue policy aimed to bypass taluqdars and deal more directly with village proprietors or cultivators.
Option-wise Analysis:
A: Correct - This option includes the supported item(s) and excludes the unsupported ones.
B: Incorrect - Includes unsupported item(s) 1 and omits supported item(s) 2.
C: Incorrect - Includes unsupported item(s) 1.
D: Incorrect - Omits supported item(s) 3.