1. The Sikh empire was founded by:
a) Guru Gobind Singh
b) Maharaja Ranjit Singh
c) Banda Bahadur
d) Guru Arjan Dev
Answer: b) Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Explanation: Ranjit Singh (1799–1839) established the Sikh empire with Lahore as its capital.
2. Maharaja Ranjit Singh is popularly known as:
a) Lion of Punjab
b) Tiger of Mysore
c) Sword of Delhi
d) Protector of Hindustan
Answer: a) Lion of Punjab
Explanation: Ranjit Singh was called the “Sher-e-Punjab” (Lion of Punjab) for his leadership.
3. Ranjit Singh captured Lahore and made it his capital in:
a) 1799
b) 1801
c) 1805
d) 1810
Answer: a) 1799
Explanation: He took Lahore in 1799 and later assumed the title of Maharaja in 1801.
4. Ranjit Singh proclaimed himself Maharaja of Punjab in:
a) 1799
b) 1801
c) 1805
d) 1815
Answer: b) 1801
Explanation: He was formally anointed Maharaja of Punjab at Lahore in 1801.
5. The military system under Ranjit Singh was modernized with the help of:
a) French officers
b) British officers
c) Mughal nobles
d) Afghan chiefs
Answer: a) French officers
Explanation: French officers like Jean-Baptiste Ventura and Allard trained the Sikh Khalsa army in European style.
6. Ranjit Singh’s army was popularly called:
a) Bengal Army
b) Khalsa Army
c) Punjab Regiment
d) Lahore Sepoys
Answer: b) Khalsa Army
Explanation: His modernized army was called the Khalsa army, highly disciplined and powerful.
7. Which important Afghan province did Ranjit Singh annex in 1819?
a) Kabul
b) Peshawar
c) Kashmir
d) Multan
Answer: c) Kashmir
Explanation: In 1819, Ranjit Singh annexed Kashmir from Afghan control.
8. Ranjit Singh signed the Treaty of Amritsar (1809) with the:
a) Afghans
b) British
c) Marathas
d) French
Answer: b) British
Explanation: The treaty (with Lord Minto) fixed the Sutlej River as the boundary between Sikh and British territories.
9. The Treaty of Amritsar (1809) restrained Ranjit Singh from:
a) Expanding westward
b) Expanding eastward beyond Sutlej
c) Recruiting French officers
d) Controlling Kashmir
Answer: b) Expanding eastward beyond Sutlej
Explanation: The treaty forbade him from expanding his rule east of the Sutlej River.
10. Ranjit Singh’s famous diamond, later possessed by the British crown, was:
a) Hope Diamond
b) Peacock Diamond
c) Kohinoor Diamond
d) Darya-i-Noor Diamond
Answer: c) Kohinoor Diamond
Explanation: The Kohinoor was taken from Punjab after annexation in 1849.
11. Which Afghan stronghold did Ranjit Singh capture in 1818?
a) Kabul
b) Multan
c) Ghazni
d) Kandahar
Answer: b) Multan
Explanation: The capture of Multan (1818) was crucial for Sikh expansion.
12. Ranjit Singh’s court was famous for its:
a) Religious intolerance
b) Secular and inclusive policies
c) Alliance with French alone
d) Purely Sikh administration
Answer: b) Secular and inclusive policies
Explanation: Hindus, Muslims, and Europeans all held high posts in his empire.
13. Ranjit Singh never fought a direct war with the:
a) Afghans
b) Marathas
c) British
d) French
Answer: c) British
Explanation: He maintained peace with the British, avoiding direct wars until his death.
14. Ranjit Singh’s famous horse was named:
a) Pavan Putra
b) Laili
c) Chetak
d) Sherdil
Answer: b) Laili
Explanation: Laili was a legendary horse prized by Ranjit Singh.
15. Ranjit Singh’s army was nicknamed:
a) Fauj-i-Khas
b) Fauj-i-Hind
c) Bengal Sepoys
d) Army of the Five Rivers
Answer: a) Fauj-i-Khas
Explanation: His elite corps trained in European style was known as Fauj-i-Khas.
16. Which river became the boundary between British territories and Ranjit Singh’s empire after 1809?
a) Beas
b) Ravi
c) Sutlej
d) Indus
Answer: c) Sutlej
Explanation: The Sutlej was fixed as the dividing line in the Treaty of Amritsar.
17. Ranjit Singh died in the year:
a) 1835
b) 1837
c) 1839
d) 1841
Answer: c) 1839
Explanation: He died in 1839, leading to political instability in Punjab.
18. After Ranjit Singh’s death, Punjab faced:
a) Stronger Khalsa army
b) Internal instability and weak rulers
c) Peaceful succession
d) British withdrawal
Answer: b) Internal instability and weak rulers
Explanation: The succession struggles weakened the Sikh empire.
19. The regent for the minor ruler Dalip Singh was:
a) Ranjit Singh’s widow, Rani Jindan
b) Maharaja Sher Singh
c) Gulab Singh
d) General Ventura
Answer: a) Ranjit Singh’s widow, Rani Jindan
Explanation: Rani Jindan acted as regent after Ranjit Singh’s death.
20. The collapse of Ranjit Singh’s empire was hastened by:
a) British invasions
b) Sikh army’s dominance in politics
c) Lack of natural resources
d) Afghan resurgence
Answer: b) Sikh army’s dominance in politics
Explanation: The Khalsa army interfered in politics, weakening the administration.
21. Which Sikh ruler was assassinated in 1843, deepening Punjab’s instability?a) Sher Singh
b) Dalip Singh
c) Kharak Singh
d) Ranjit Singh
Answer: a) Sher Singh
Explanation: Sher Singh was assassinated in 1843, worsening the power struggle.
22. The British were alarmed by the:
a) Disunity in Punjab
b) Strength of the Khalsa army
c) Support of French officers
d) Afghan alliances
Answer: b) Strength of the Khalsa army
Explanation: The large and disciplined Sikh army was seen as a serious threat.
23. The child ruler of Punjab during the Anglo-Sikh wars was:
a) Sher Singh
b) Dalip Singh
c) Kharak Singh
d) Hira Singh
Answer: b) Dalip Singh
Explanation: Dalip Singh, the youngest son of Ranjit Singh, was on the throne during the wars.
24. Which European officers played key roles in training the Khalsa army?
a) Allard and Ventura
b) Cornwallis and Lake
c) Baird and Munro
d) Hastings and Wellesley
Answer: a) Allard and Ventura
Explanation: These French officers gave the Khalsa army modern discipline and training.
25. The weakening of Punjab after 1839 gave the British an opportunity to:
a) Annex Sindh
b) Interfere in Punjab politics
c) Attack Nepal
d) Fight Burma
Answer: b) Interfere in Punjab politics
Explanation: Internal instability in Punjab encouraged the British to intervene, leading to the Anglo-Sikh Wars.
26. The First Anglo-Sikh War was fought in:
a) 1839–1840
b) 1842–1844
c) 1845–1846
d) 1848–1849
Answer: c) 1845–1846
Explanation: The war broke out in December 1845 after tensions between the Sikh army and the British.
27. The immediate cause of the First Anglo-Sikh War was:
a) Death of Ranjit Singh
b) Sikh army crossing the Sutlej
c) British attack on Lahore
d) Rebellion of Rani Jindan
Answer: b) Sikh army crossing the Sutlej
Explanation: The Khalsa army crossed the Sutlej River into British territory in December 1845, starting the war.
28. The Governor-General during the First Anglo-Sikh War was:
a) Cornwallis
b) Lord Hardinge
c) Lord Hastings
d) Lord Dalhousie
Answer: b) Lord Hardinge
Explanation: Lord Hardinge (1844–1848) was Governor-General during the war.
29. The Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in the First Anglo-Sikh War was:
a) Sir Hugh Gough
b) Sir Henry Lawrence
c) Sir Charles Napier
d) Lord Wellesley
Answer: a) Sir Hugh Gough
Explanation: General Sir Hugh Gough led the Company’s forces against the Sikhs.
30. The Regent of Punjab during the First Anglo-Sikh War was:
a) Dalip Singh
b) Sher Singh
c) Rani Jindan
d) Kharak Singh
Answer: c) Rani Jindan
Explanation: Rani Jindan, mother of Dalip Singh, acted as regent, though she was unpopular with the Khalsa army.
31. The first major battle of the First Anglo-Sikh War was:
a) Battle of Mudki
b) Battle of Aliwal
c) Battle of Sobraon
d) Battle of Ferozeshah
Answer: a) Battle of Mudki
Explanation: The Battle of Mudki (18 December 1845) was the opening battle, where the British claimed victory.
32. In the Battle of Mudki (1845):
a) The Sikhs defeated the British
b) The British suffered a defeat
c) Both sides claimed heavy losses
d) The Afghans joined the Sikhs
Answer: c) Both sides claimed heavy losses
Explanation: The British won, but with heavy casualties, showing Sikh strength.
33. The Battle of Ferozeshah (21–22 December 1845) ended in:
a) Sikh victory
b) British decisive victory
c) Indecisive but tilted towards British
d) Sikh recapture of Lahore
Answer: c) Indecisive but tilted towards British
Explanation: The British barely held on, suffering massive casualties, but the Sikhs retreated.
34. Which battle of the First Anglo-Sikh War is described as “one of the bloodiest in Indian history”?
a) Mudki
b) Ferozeshah
c) Aliwal
d) Sobraon
Answer: b) Ferozeshah
Explanation: The Battle of Ferozeshah saw tremendous losses on both sides.
35. The Battle of Aliwal (January 1846) resulted in:
a) British defeat
b) Sikh victory
c) Clear British victory
d) Afghan entry into Punjab
Answer: c) Clear British victory
Explanation: The British under Sir Harry Smith decisively defeated the Sikh forces at Aliwal.
36. The final decisive battle of the First Anglo-Sikh War was:
a) Mudki
b) Aliwal
c) Ferozeshah
d) Sobraon
Answer: d) Sobraon
Explanation: The Battle of Sobraon (10 February 1846) broke Sikh resistance.
37. The Battle of Sobraon (1846) is often called the:
a) “Waterloo of the Sikhs”
b) “Triumph of Lahore”
c) “Fall of Punjab”
d) “Victory of Dalip Singh”
Answer: a) “Waterloo of the Sikhs”
Explanation: The Sikhs were decisively defeated at Sobraon, ending the war.
38. Which Sikh leader betrayed the Khalsa at Sobraon by failing to reinforce?
a) Lal Singh
b) Tej Singh
c) Rani Jindan
d) Dalip Singh
Answer: b) Tej Singh
Explanation: General Tej Singh deserted during the battle, leading to Sikh collapse.
39. Which treaty ended the First Anglo-Sikh War?
a) Treaty of Amritsar (1809)
b) Treaty of Lahore (1846)
c) Treaty of Bhyrowal (1846)
d) Treaty of Sugauli (1815)
Answer: b) Treaty of Lahore (1846)
Explanation: Signed on 9 March 1846, it ended the war and imposed harsh terms on the Sikhs.
40. Under the Treaty of Lahore (1846), the Sikhs had to:
a) Cede Jullundur Doab
b) Pay heavy indemnity
c) Reduce army size
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: The treaty weakened Sikh power severely.
41. The Jullundur Doab was annexed by:
a) Afghans
b) Marathas
c) British
d) French
Answer: c) British
Explanation: Under the Treaty of Lahore, the British annexed Jullundur Doab.
42. Since the Sikhs could not pay full war indemnity, they ceded:
a) Kashmir
b) Sindh
c) Ladakh
d) Delhi
Answer: a) Kashmir
Explanation: Kashmir was ceded to the British in lieu of part indemnity.
43. Kashmir was sold by the British to:
a) Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu
b) Sher Singh
c) Dalip Singh
d) Rani Jindan
Answer: a) Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu
Explanation: The British sold Kashmir to Gulab Singh, founding the Dogra dynasty.
44. The Treaty of Bhyrowal (December 1846) placed Punjab under:
a) Rani Jindan’s regency
b) British Resident with Council of Regency
c) Dalip Singh’s direct rule
d) Afghan suzerainty
Answer: b) British Resident with Council of Regency
Explanation: A British Resident with a council of Sikh chiefs ruled in Dalip Singh’s name.
45. The British Resident appointed after the First Anglo-Sikh War was:
a) Henry Lawrence
b) John Lawrence
c) Dalhousie
d) Charles Metcalfe
Answer: a) Henry Lawrence
Explanation: Sir Henry Lawrence became the first Resident at Lahore.
46. The Treaty of Bhyrowal reduced Dalip Singh to a:
a) Independent ruler
b) Titular ruler under British control
c) Military commander
d) Prisoner
Answer: b) Titular ruler under British control
Explanation: He remained king only in name, with real power in British hands.
47. The Sikh army after the First Anglo-Sikh War was:
a) Increased
b) Abolished completely
c) Reduced drastically
d) Absorbed into British army
Answer: c) Reduced drastically
Explanation: The Treaty of Lahore limited the Khalsa army severely.
48. Rani Jindan, regent of Punjab, was removed because:
a) She was suspected of conspiring against the British
b) She supported Gulab Singh
c) She abdicated voluntarily
d) She moved to Kabul
Answer: a) She was suspected of conspiring against the British
Explanation: She was dismissed in 1846 for alleged anti-British intrigues.
49. The First Anglo-Sikh War showed that:
a) Sikhs were militarily weak
b) British won easily
c) The Khalsa army was a formidable force
d) Punjab was already annexed
Answer: c) The Khalsa army was a formidable force
Explanation: Despite internal betrayal, the Sikhs fought fiercely, causing heavy British casualties.
50. The First Anglo-Sikh War resulted in:
a) Full annexation of Punjab
b) Partial subjugation and British control of Punjab politics
c) Sikh victory
d) Restoration of Ranjit Singh’s empire
Answer: b) Partial subjugation and British control of Punjab politics
Explanation: Punjab was not annexed, but reduced to British dependency.
51. The Second Anglo-Sikh War was fought in:
a) 1845–1846
b) 1847–1848
c) 1848–1849
d) 1850–1851
Answer: c) 1848–1849
Explanation: The war began in 1848 after the Multan rebellion and ended with the annexation of Punjab in 1849.
52. The immediate cause of the Second Anglo-Sikh War was:
a) British annexation of Kashmir
b) Revolt in Multan
c) Afghan invasion
d) Betrayal of Rani Jindan
Answer: b) Revolt in Multan
Explanation: The murder of British officers in Multan in 1848 sparked the war.
53. The Multan rebellion was led by:
a) Sher Singh Attariwala
b) Mulraj, governor of Multan
c) Gulab Singh
d) Rani Jindan
Answer: b) Mulraj, governor of Multan
Explanation: Mulraj, governor of Multan, led the revolt against British interference.
54. Two British officers killed at Multan in 1848 were:
a) Patrick Vans Agnew and Lt. Anderson
b) Henry Lawrence and John Lawrence
c) Napier and Hardinge
d) Dalhousie and Metcalfe
Answer: a) Patrick Vans Agnew and Lt. Anderson
Explanation: Their murder became the pretext for British intervention.
55. The Governor-General during the Second Anglo-Sikh War was:
a) Lord Hardinge
b) Lord Hastings
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord Minto
Answer: c) Lord Dalhousie
Explanation: Lord Dalhousie (1848–1856) oversaw the war and annexation of Punjab.
56. The first major battle of the Second Anglo-Sikh War was:
a) Battle of Chillianwala
b) Battle of Ramnagar
c) Battle of Multan
d) Battle of Gujarat
Answer: b) Battle of Ramnagar
Explanation: At Ramnagar (November 1848), Sikh forces under Sher Singh fought the British.
57. The Sikh general who rebelled against the British in 1848 was:
a) Mulraj
b) Sher Singh Attariwala
c) Ranjit Singh
d) Gulab Singh
Answer: b) Sher Singh Attariwala
Explanation: Sher Singh joined the rebellion, making it a full-scale war.
58. The Battle of Chillianwala (January 1849) is remembered as:
a) A decisive British victory
b) A humiliating setback for the British
c) A Sikh defeat with massive losses
d) The last battle of the war
Answer: b) A humiliating setback for the British
Explanation: At Chillianwala, British forces suffered very heavy casualties, shocking Britain.
59. The British Commander-in-Chief during the Second Anglo-Sikh War was:
a) Sir Hugh Gough
b) Sir Harry Smith
c) General Lake
d) Sir Charles Napier
Answer: a) Sir Hugh Gough
Explanation: General Hugh Gough commanded the British throughout the war.
60. Which battle finally decided the outcome of the Second Anglo-Sikh War?
a) Ramnagar
b) Chillianwala
c) Gujarat (1849)
d) Mudki
Answer: c) Gujarat (1849)
Explanation: The Battle of Gujarat (21 February 1849) broke Sikh resistance completely.
61. The Battle of Gujarat (1849) was won by the British under:
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Sir Hugh Gough
c) Henry Lawrence
d) Charles Napier
Answer: b) Sir Hugh Gough
Explanation: General Gough decisively defeated the Sikh forces at Gujarat.
62. The Sikh artillery surrendered to the British after which battle?
a) Mudki
b) Ferozeshah
c) Chillianwala
d) Gujarat
Answer: d) Gujarat
Explanation: After Gujarat, the Sikhs laid down their artillery, symbolizing total defeat.
63. After the Second Anglo-Sikh War, Punjab was:
a) Given to Gulab Singh
b) Divided between British and Afghans
c) Annexed by the British
d) Restored to Dalip Singh
Answer: c) Annexed by the British
Explanation: Punjab was annexed in March 1849, ending Sikh sovereignty.
64. Dalip Singh, the minor Sikh ruler, was sent to:
a) England
b) Kashmir
c) Kabul
d) Satara
Answer: a) England
Explanation: Dalip Singh was sent to England and converted to Christianity.
65. After annexation, the famous Kohinoor diamond was:
a) Given to Rani Jindan
b) Taken by the British and sent to Queen Victoria
c) Sold to Gulab Singh
d) Lost in Punjab
Answer: b) Taken by the British and sent to Queen Victoria
Explanation: The Kohinoor was confiscated and later set in the British crown jewels.
66. Rani Jindan, mother of Dalip Singh, was:
a) Restored as regent
b) Imprisoned and exiled
c) Made queen of Kashmir
d) Supported by the Afghans
Answer: b) Imprisoned and exiled
Explanation: The British imprisoned her due to her alleged role in stirring rebellion.
67. Which treaty completed the annexation of Punjab in 1849?
a) Treaty of Amritsar
b) Treaty of Lahore (1846)
c) No treaty – annexed unilaterally
d) Treaty of Bhyrowal
Answer: c) No treaty – annexed unilaterally
Explanation: Unlike earlier wars, Punjab was annexed outright without a treaty in 1849.
68. The official British declaration of annexation of Punjab was made in:
a) March 1849
b) December 1848
c) February 1850
d) July 1847
Answer: a) March 1849
Explanation: Punjab was formally annexed on 29 March 1849.
69. The annexation of Punjab in 1849 was carried out under the policy of:
a) Subsidiary Alliance
b) Doctrine of Lapse
c) Direct conquest
d) Permanent Settlement
Answer: c) Direct conquest
Explanation: Punjab was annexed by force after the Second Anglo-Sikh War.
70. After annexation, Punjab was administered by:
a) A Governor-General
b) A Board of Administration
c) A single British Commissioner
d) The East India Company directly from London
Answer: b) A Board of Administration
Explanation: A three-member Board under Henry Lawrence initially administered Punjab.
71. Members of the Punjab Board of Administration included Henry Lawrence, John Lawrence, and:
a) Charles Metcalfe
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Charles Mansel
d) Herbert Edwardes
Answer: c) Charles Mansel
Explanation: The Board consisted of Henry Lawrence, John Lawrence, and Charles Mansel.
72. Who later replaced the Board of Administration in Punjab?
a) Henry Lawrence as sole Commissioner
b) John Lawrence as Chief Commissioner
c) Lord Dalhousie directly
d) British Parliament
Answer: b) John Lawrence as Chief Commissioner
Explanation: In 1853, the Board was abolished, and John Lawrence became Chief Commissioner.
73. The annexation of Punjab is often considered Dalhousie’s:
a) First conquest
b) Most important military achievement
c) Failure
d) Peaceful settlement
Answer: b) Most important military achievement
Explanation: The conquest of Punjab was Dalhousie’s major success in expansionist policy.
74. After annexation, Punjab became important for the British because:
a) It provided revenue
b) It was a buffer against Afghan and Russian threat
c) It supplied soldiers to the British army
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: Punjab had strategic, economic, and military significance for the British.
75. The Second Anglo-Sikh War marked the:
a) Rise of Sikh power
b) End of Sikh sovereignty
c) Restoration of Rani Jindan
d) Alliance between Sikhs and Afghans
Answer: b) End of Sikh sovereignty
Explanation: With Punjab’s annexation in 1849, the Sikh kingdom ceased to exist.
76. Punjab was formally annexed by the British in:
a) 1846
b) 1848
c) 1849
d) 1853
Answer: c) 1849
Explanation: After the Second Anglo-Sikh War, Punjab was annexed on 29 March 1849.
77. The annexation of Punjab was carried out under the Governor-General:
a) Lord Hardinge
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Lord Auckland
d) Lord Hastings
Answer: b) Lord Dalhousie
Explanation: Lord Dalhousie annexed Punjab through conquest, not through Doctrine of Lapse.
78. Who was the last Sikh ruler of Punjab before annexation?
a) Sher Singh
b) Dalip Singh
c) Ranjit Singh
d) Hira Singh
Answer: b) Dalip Singh
Explanation: The minor Maharaja Dalip Singh was the last ruler; after annexation, he was pensioned and exiled.
79. Dalip Singh, after annexation, was sent to:
a) Kabul
b) England
c) Kashmir
d) Satara
Answer: b) England
Explanation: Dalip Singh was taken to England, converted to Christianity, and lived under British care.
80. Which famous jewel was taken from Dalip Singh and sent to Queen Victoria?
a) Hope Diamond
b) Kohinoor Diamond
c) Darya-i-Noor
d) Peacock Throne Jewel
Answer: b) Kohinoor Diamond
Explanation: The Kohinoor Diamond was seized and sent to Queen Victoria after annexation.
81. After annexation, Punjab was initially administered by:
a) A Governor
b) A Board of Administration
c) The Madras Presidency
d) The East India Company from London
Answer: b) A Board of Administration
Explanation: A three-member Board administered Punjab after 1849.
82. The Punjab Board of Administration included Henry Lawrence, John Lawrence, and:
a) Charles Mansel
b) Charles Metcalfe
c) James Outram
d) Charles Napier
Answer: a) Charles Mansel
Explanation: The Board was headed by Henry Lawrence, with John Lawrence and Charles Mansel as members.
83. Who was the President of the Punjab Board of Administration?
a) John Lawrence
b) Henry Lawrence
c) Charles Mansel
d) Lord Dalhousie
Answer: b) Henry Lawrence
Explanation: Henry Lawrence was the senior-most member and President of the Board.
84. The Punjab Board of Administration was abolished in:
a) 1850
b) 1853
c) 1856
d) 1857
Answer: b) 1853
Explanation: The Board was replaced by a single Chief Commissioner in 1853.
85. Who became the first Chief Commissioner of Punjab in 1853?
a) Henry Lawrence
b) John Lawrence
c) Charles Mansel
d) Herbert Edwardes
Answer: b) John Lawrence
Explanation: John Lawrence was appointed as the first Chief Commissioner in 1853.
86. John Lawrence later rose to become:
a) Governor-General of India
b) Commander-in-Chief of India
c) Resident of Delhi
d) Viceroy of Burma
Answer: a) Governor-General of India
Explanation: John Lawrence became Governor-General of India (1864–1869).
87. The annexation of Punjab is regarded as one of the greatest achievements of:
a) Lord Hardinge
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Lord Canning
d) Lord Ripon
Answer: b) Lord Dalhousie
Explanation: Dalhousie considered the conquest of Punjab his greatest military and political achievement.
88. Why was Punjab strategically important for the British?
a) Rich revenue base
b) Buffer against Afghan and Russian invasions
c) Source of soldiers
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: Punjab gave revenue, manpower, and acted as a frontier defense for the British Empire.
89. After annexation, the British recruited heavily from:
a) Rajputs
b) Sikhs and Punjabis
c) Afghans
d) Marathas
Answer: b) Sikhs and Punjabis
Explanation: Sikhs were incorporated in large numbers into the British Indian Army.
90. During the Revolt of 1857, Punjab:
a) Supported the rebels
b) Remained loyal to the British
c) Declared independence
d) Was annexed again
Answer: b) Remained loyal to the British
Explanation: Punjab remained a key base of British power and supplied troops to suppress the revolt.
91. Who played a leading role in keeping Punjab loyal during the Revolt of 1857?
a) Henry Lawrence
b) John Lawrence
c) Charles Metcalfe
d) Lord Canning
Answer: b) John Lawrence
Explanation: John Lawrence mobilized Punjab’s resources to aid the British in 1857.
92. Rani Jindan, mother of Dalip Singh, was considered dangerous by the British because:
a) She plotted with Afghans
b) She conspired with the Khalsa army
c) She opposed British annexation
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: Rani Jindan actively opposed British interference and was imprisoned.
93. The Sikh kingdom was unique in Indian history because it was:
a) The last large independent kingdom annexed by the British
b) The first to accept Subsidiary Alliance
c) A confederacy of chiefs
d) Allied with the French
Answer: a) The last large independent kingdom annexed by the British
Explanation: Punjab’s annexation in 1849 marked the end of major independent Indian kingdoms.
94. After annexation, Punjab was directly administered under:
a) Madras Presidency
b) Bombay Presidency
c) Chief Commissioner system
d) Bengal Presidency
Answer: c) Chief Commissioner system
Explanation: Punjab was not merged into a Presidency but administered by a Chief Commissioner.
95. The annexation of Punjab was done through:
a) Doctrine of Lapse
b) Subsidiary Alliance
c) Right of conquest
d) Treaty of Lahore
Answer: c) Right of conquest
Explanation: Unlike Satara or Jhansi, Punjab was annexed by outright conquest.
96. The Sikh soldiers later became:
a) A threat to the British
b) The backbone of the British Indian Army
c) Mercenaries for the Afghans
d) Disbanded entirely
Answer: b) The backbone of the British Indian Army
Explanation: Sikhs were heavily recruited, especially after 1857, into the British army.
97. Which famous Sikh regiment traces its origin to post-annexation recruitment?
a) Jat Regiment
b) Punjab Regiment
c) Maratha Regiment
d) Gurkha Regiment
Answer: b) Punjab Regiment
Explanation: Punjab Regiment and Sikh regiments became famous under British service.
98. Punjab’s annexation gave the British control of which strategic frontier?
a) North-East frontier
b) Afghan frontier
c) Burmese frontier
d) Deccan plateau
Answer: b) Afghan frontier
Explanation: Punjab’s annexation secured the British frontier against Afghan invasions.
99. After annexation, the British built a strong military base in Punjab, including:
a) Ferozepur and Rawalpindi cantonments
b) Bombay fortresses
c) Madras garrisons
d) Calcutta dockyards
Answer: a) Ferozepur and Rawalpindi cantonments
Explanation: These became important military bases for British India’s northwest frontier.
100. The conquest of Punjab (1849) is significant because it:
a) Ended French power in India
b) Completed British conquest of India’s northwest frontier
c) Restored Mughal authority in Delhi
d) Revived Sikh sovereignty
Answer: b) Completed British conquest of India’s northwest frontier
Explanation: Annexation of Punjab in 1849 completed British dominance over India, leaving only princely states.