British Conquest – Sindh Top 100 MCQs With Answer and Explanation

1. Sindh was ruled by which dynasty before the British conquest?
A) Talpurs
B) Kalhoras
C) Barid Shahi
D) Nizam Shahi

2. The Talpur rulers of Sindh were originally of which origin?
A) Arab
B) Baluchi
C) Rajput
D) Persian

3. The British first established trade relations with Sindh through which agency?
A) East India Company factory at Thatta
B) Residency at Hyderabad
C) Bombay Presidency
D) Surat Council

4. Sindh was strategically important for the British mainly because of __________.
A) Cotton and textile trade
B) Gateway to Central Asia
C) Control of Arabian Sea
D) Fertile Indus valley

5. Which British Governor-General first tried to establish relations with Sindh?
A) Warren Hastings
B) Lord Cornwallis
C) Lord Wellesley
D) Lord Minto

6. The Kalhora dynasty, replaced by Talpurs in Sindh, was of __________ origin.
A) Baluchi
B) Mughal
C) Afghan
D) Sindhi

7. Who was the British Governor-General during the First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–42), closely linked to Sindh conquest?
A) Lord Hastings
B) Lord William Bentinck
C) Lord Auckland
D) Lord Ellenborough

8. Sindh’s capital under the Talpurs was __________.
A) Shikarpur
B) Khairpur
C) Hyderabad
D) Karachi

9. The British interest in Sindh increased especially after rivalry with__________.
A) French in Deccan
B) Portuguese in Goa
C) Russians in Central Asia
D) Dutch in Bengal

10. Who was the British officer who negotiated the 1832 Treaty of Commerce with Sindh?
A) Mountstuart Elphinstone
B) Charles Napier
C) Henry Pottinger
D) Alexander Burnes

11. Which treaty opened up navigation on the Indus River for the British?
A) Treaty of Karachi (1832)
B) Treaty of Hyderabad (1832)
C) Treaty of Thatta (1832)
D) Treaty of Multan (1833)

12. Which river system was the lifeline of Sindh?
A) Ganga
B) Indus
C) Sutlej
D) Brahmaputra

13. Which city was developed as a major British port after conquest of Sindh?
A) Shikarpur
B) Hyderabad
C) Karachi
D) Khairpur

14. The Treaty of 1832 with Sindh was ratified by which British Governor-General?
A) Lord Hastings
B) Lord Bentinck
C) Lord Auckland
D) Lord Dalhousie

15. Which officer explored the Indus route to Afghanistan before the British conquest of Sindh?
A) Charles Napier
B) Alexander Burnes
C) John Malcolm
D) David Ochterlony

16. Which external threat made Sindh crucial for British defense strategy?
A) Persian attack
B) Russian advance in Central Asia
C) Afghan invasion
D) French designs on India

17. In early 19th century, Sindh was divided among__________.
A) One ruler at Hyderabad
B) Three Talpur Amirs
C) Five tribal chiefs
D) Mughal governors

18. Which Talpur ruler signed the 1832 Treaty of Karachi?
A) Mir Nasir Khan
B) Mir Noor Muhammad Khan
C) Mir Murad Ali Khan
D) Mir Sher Muhammad Khan

19. The British wanted Sindh as a base for their operations in__________.
A) Afghanistan
B) Punjab
C) Gujarat
D) Baluchistan

20. Who among the following strongly opposed British interference in Sindh?
A) Mir Nasir Khan of Khairpur
B) Mir Noor Muhammad of Hyderabad
C) Mir Sher Muhammad of Mirpur
D) All of the above

21. The British considered Sindh militarily useful because of__________.
A) Its forts
B) Its deserts
C) Indus river communication
D) Naval bases

22. Who was the Governor of Bombay Presidency during crucial negotiations with Sindh?
A) Mountstuart Elphinstone
B) Lord Clare
C) Sir John Malcolm
D) Sir Robert Grant

23. The British suspicion of Sindh rulers mainly came from their alleged contacts with__________.
A) Russians
B) Afghans
C) Persians
D) Sikhs

24. The early treaties with Sindh ensured__________.
A) Free trade only
B) Military access to Indus
C) Both trade and military transit
D) Direct annexation

25. Which British Governor-General finally sanctioned the annexation of Sindh?
A) Lord Auckland
B) Lord Ellenborough
C) Lord Hardinge
D) Lord Dalhousie

26. The First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–42) directly influenced British involvement in__________.
A) Mysore
B) Sindh
C) Awadh
D) Punjab

27. Which British officer led the Sindh campaign during the First Anglo-Afghan War?
A) Alexander Burnes
B) Charles Napier
C) Henry Pottinger
D) Sir John Keane

28. The British justified marching their troops through Sindh in 1839 by citing__________.
A) Treaty of Paris
B) Treaty of Karachi (1832)
C) Treaty of Lahore (1838)
D) Treaty of Ghazni

29. The Talpur Amirs resented the British during the Afghan war mainly because__________.
A) They were not consulted
B) They were forced to supply provisions
C) They lost revenue from trade
D) All of the above

30. The British policy towards Sindh during the Afghan war can be described as__________.
A) Non-interference
B) Strict neutrality
C) Increasing interference
D) Withdrawal

31. Which Sindhi ruler resisted the British most strongly during the Afghan war?
A) Mir Noor Muhammad of Hyderabad
B) Mir Nasir Khan of Khairpur
C) Mir Sher Muhammad of Mirpur
D) Mir Murad Ali of Hyderabad

32. Who was appointed as British Resident in Sindh during the Afghan war?
A) Charles Napier
B) Henry Pottinger
C) Alexander Burnes
D) Major Outram

33. The British annexationist designs in Sindh accelerated after__________.
A) Defeat in Afghanistan (1842)
B) Death of Mir Noor Muhammad
C) Rise of Sikh power
D) Russian withdrawal from Central Asia

34. Which British Governor-General replaced Lord Auckland in 1842?
A) Lord Ellenborough
B) Lord Hardinge
C) Lord Dalhousie
D) Lord Canning

35. During the Afghan war, Sindh was forced to sign treaties making it a__________.
A) Tributary state
B) Protectorate of the British
C) Independent ally
D) British annexed territory

36. Which key fort in Sindh was occupied by the British during Afghan operations?
A) Hyderabad Fort
B) Khudabad Fort
C) Bukkur Fort
D) Mirpur Fort

37. Which Sindh town became the British military base during Afghan campaign?
A) Karachi
B) Shikarpur
C) Hyderabad
D) Sukkur

38. Who opposed British occupation of Bukkur and Sukkur forts?
A) Mir Noor Muhammad
B) Mir Nasir Khan
C) Mir Sher Muhammad
D) Mir Murad Ali

39. Which British officer argued for moderation in Sindh policy?
A) Henry Pottinger
B) Charles Napier
C) Major James Outram
D) Sir John Keane

40. The British justified their increasing presence in Sindh by accusing the Talpurs of__________.
A) Conspiring with Russians
B) Misgovernance
C) Obstructing Indus navigation
D) All of the above

41. Which treaty in 1839 increased British control over Sindh?
A) Treaty of Hyderabad
B) Treaty of Karachi (renewed)
C) Treaty of Khairpur
D) Treaty of Shikarpur

42. Which Governor-General is associated with the “forward policy” that included Sindh?
A) Lord Hastings
B) Lord Auckland
C) Lord Ellenborough
D) Lord Dalhousie

43. Which of the following British motives was MOST important in Sindh during 1839–42?
A) Agricultural production
B) Revenue collection
C) Military logistics for Afghanistan
D) Missionary expansion

44. Which Talpur Amir fled towards Baluchistan during British advances?
A) Mir Noor Muhammad
B) Mir Nasir Khan
C) Mir Sher Muhammad
D) Mir Murad Ali

45. Which British officer called Sindh Amirs “faithless and treacherous,” justifying annexation?
A) Henry Pottinger
B) Charles Napier
C) James Outram
D) John Malcolm

46. Who commanded the Bombay Army that marched through Sindh into Afghanistan in 1839?
A) Sir John Keane
B) Charles Napier
C) Alexander Burnes
D) Major Outram

47. The forced stationing of British troops in Sindh during Afghan war created__________.
A) Military occupation
B) Financial burden on Amirs
C) Loss of sovereignty
D) All of the above

48. Which fort’s occupation symbolized permanent British foothold in Sindh during Afghan war?
A) Hyderabad Fort
B) Bukkur Fort
C) Mirpur Fort
D) Khairpur Fort

49. The Afghan disaster of 1842 changed British policy in Sindh towards__________.
A) Withdrawal
B) Permanent conquest
C) Alliance with Amirs
D) Leaving Indus route

50. Which Governor-General finally instructed Charles Napier to prepare for full control of Sindh?
A) Lord Auckland
B) Lord Ellenborough
C) Lord Hardinge
D) Lord Dalhousie

51. The British conquest of Sindh was completed in the year__________.
A) 1839
B) 1841
C) 1843
D) 1849

52. The conquest of Sindh was carried out under the command of__________.
A) Sir John Keane
B) Charles Napier
C) Henry Pottinger
D) James Outram

53. The decisive battle of the conquest of Sindh was__________.
A) Battle of Hyderabad
B) Battle of Miani
C) Battle of Sukkur
D) Battle of Dabo

54. The Battle of Miani was fought on__________.
A) 1 January 1843
B) 17 February 1843
C) 24 March 1843
D) 15 August 1843

55. The Talpur Amirs who fought against the British at Miani were led by__________.
A) Mir Noor Muhammad
B) Mir Nasir Khan
C) Mir Sher Muhammad
D) Mir Murad Ali

56. The approximate strength of British troops at the Battle of Miani was__________.
A) 2,800
B) 5,000
C) 10,000
D) 15,000

57. The Talpur force at the Battle of Miani numbered around__________.
A) 5,000
B) 12,000
C) 22,000
D) 30,000

58. After the Battle of Miani, the city captured by the British was__________.
A) Sukkur
B) Karachi
C) Hyderabad
D) Khairpur

59. The second major battle after Miani was__________.
A) Battle of Multan
B) Battle of Dabo
C) Battle of Hyderabad
D) Battle of Shikarpur

60. The Battle of Dabo (24 March 1843) was led on the Sindh side by__________.
A) Mir Noor Muhammad
B) Mir Sher Muhammad
C) Mir Nasir Khan
D) Mir Murad Ali

61. Mir Sher Muhammad was popularly known as__________.
A) The Lion of Sindh
B) The Defender of Hyderabad
C) The Tiger of Talpur
D) The Sardar of Khairpur

62. The outcome of the Battle of Dabo was__________.
A) Victory for Talpurs
B) Drawn battle
C) British victory
D) Withdrawal of British

63. Which battle marked the complete annexation of Sindh?
A) Miani
B) Dabo
C) Both together
D) Neither

64. Who was the British Governor-General during the conquest of Sindh in 1843?
A) Lord Auckland
B) Lord Ellenborough
C) Lord Hardinge
D) Lord Dalhousie

65. After conquest, Sindh was annexed to which Presidency?
A) Madras
B) Bombay
C) Bengal
D) Direct Crown rule

66. Charles Napier famously sent which one-word telegram after the conquest of Sindh?
A) “Conquered”
B) “Annexed”
C) “Peccavi”
D) “Victory”

67. The annexation of Sindh was criticized in Britain as__________.
A) Illegal and unjust
B) A defensive necessity
C) Diplomatic success
D) Strategic brilliance

68. Who among the British strongly opposed Napier’s annexation of Sindh?
A) Lord Ellenborough
B) James Outram
C) Sir John Keane
D) Henry Pottinger

69. The Talpur dynasty ended in Sindh in__________.
A) 1832
B) 1839
C) 1843
D) 1857

70. After annexation, the Talpur Amirs were__________.
A) Executed
B) Exiled to Bombay and elsewhere
C) Allowed to rule as vassals
D) Integrated into British army

71. Which British official became the first Governor of Sindh after conquest?
A) Henry Pottinger
B) Charles Napier
C) James Outram
D) John Keane

72. The annexation of Sindh was mainly driven by__________.
A) Commercial motives
B) Napier’s personal ambition and Ellenborough’s policy
C) Religious propaganda
D) Pressure from Talpur chiefs

73. The conquest of Sindh provided the British with a strategic__________.
A) Naval base at Karachi
B) Route into Punjab
C) Route into Afghanistan
D) All of the above

74. Which later British Governor-General followed a similar annexationist policy as in Sindh?
A) Lord Hardinge
B) Lord Dalhousie
C) Lord Canning
D) Lord Lawrence

75. The conquest of Sindh is often considered the first case of__________.
A) Annexation by Doctrine of Lapse
B) Annexation by outright military conquest in 19th century
C) Annexation by subsidiary alliance
D) Annexation by treaty obligation

76. After annexation in 1843, Sindh was placed under which British Presidency?
A) Bengal Presidency
B) Madras Presidency
C) Bombay Presidency
D) Central Provinces

77. Charles Napier became the first British__________.
A) Resident of Sindh
B) Governor of Sindh
C) Chief Commissioner of Sindh
D) Political Agent in Sindh

78. The Talpur Amirs after defeat were__________.
A) Executed
B) Sent to exile in Bombay and elsewhere
C) Allowed to rule as zamindars
D) Integrated into British army

79. After conquest, Sindh’s administration was reorganized on the model of__________.
A) Mughal provinces
B) Bombay Presidency
C) Bengal Permanent Settlement
D) Mysore administration

80. Which city was developed into the new capital of Sindh under British rule?
A) Hyderabad
B) Karachi
C) Sukkur
D) Shikarpur

81. Which Talpur leader, known as the “Lion of Sindh,” continued guerrilla resistance after 1843?
A) Mir Nasir Khan
B) Mir Noor Muhammad
C) Mir Sher Muhammad
D) Mir Murad Ali

82. The annexation of Sindh was widely criticized in Britain as__________.
A) Defensive necessity
B) Aggression and injustice
C) Humanitarian intervention
D) Economic requirement

83. Charles Napier justified his conquest of Sindh by claiming the Amirs were__________.
A) Unfaithful and treacherous
B) Misgoverning
C) A threat to India
D) All of the above

84. The one-word Latin telegram “Peccavi” (“I have sinned/Sindh”) is associated with__________.
A) Henry Pottinger
B) Charles Napier
C) James Outram
D) John Keane

85. Sindh was reorganized into districts mainly for__________.
A) Tax collection
B) Military control
C) Judicial reforms
D) Educational purposes

86. The conquest of Sindh secured for the British a major port at__________.
A) Surat
B) Bombay
C) Karachi
D) Gwadar

87. The Indus River after British conquest was mainly used for__________.
A) Irrigation projects
B) Transport of troops and goods
C) Missionary work
D) Fishing colonies

88. Who among the following opposed Sindh annexation, calling it unjust and unnecessary?
A) Lord Ellenborough
B) Charles Napier
C) James Outram
D) Henry Pottinger

89. The annexation of Sindh highlighted the beginning of__________.
A) British “forward policy” in North-West India
B) Missionary expansion
C) Industrial policy in Bombay
D) Railways in western India

90. Which later annexation followed a similar pattern of military conquest like Sindh?
A) Punjab (1849)
B) Awadh (1856)
C) Satara (1848)
D) Nagpur (1854)

91. The conquest of Sindh is sometimes described as a rehearsal for__________.
A) The annexation of Awadh
B) The conquest of Punjab
C) The Doctrine of Lapse policy
D) The 1857 revolt suppression

92. In economic terms, Sindh was less important than__________.
A) Bengal
B) Awadh
C) Punjab
D) Deccan

93. Sindh’s annexation is seen as a classic case of__________.
A) Justified defense
B) Unprovoked aggression
C) Alliance-building
D) Religious expansion

94. Which of the following BEST describes the importance of Sindh for the British?
A) Agricultural surplus
B) Military and strategic location
C) Religious expansion
D) Mineral wealth

95. Charles Napier’s personal role in Sindh conquest is often described as__________.
A) Reluctant administrator
B) Ambitious conqueror
C) Neutral observer
D) Diplomatic envoy

96. Which Indian uprising later in 1857 found inspiration in resistance figures like Mir Sher Muhammad of Sindh?
A) Awadh rebellion
B) Jhansi revolt
C) Central India uprising
D) North-West frontier revolts

97. The Sindh conquest was the first major annexation by military force after__________.
A) Anglo-Mysore wars
B) Anglo-Maratha wars
C) Anglo-Burmese wars
D) Anglo-Sikh wars

98. Which British policy after 1843 most directly affected Sindh’s society?
A) Permanent Settlement
B) Land revenue reforms under Bombay system
C) Ryotwari settlement
D) Doctrine of Lapse

99. The strategic importance of Sindh increased further after__________.
A) 1849 annexation of Punjab
B) 1853 opening of Karachi port
C) 1857 revolt
D) Completion of Indus steam navigation

100. In modern historiography, the conquest of Sindh is often labeled as __________.
A) “Missionary conquest”
B) “Commercial conquest”
C) “Conquest of ambition”
D) “Conquest of necessity”