UPSC Prelims 2026 Q17: British Policy in Awadh after 1856 — Explained
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?
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
- 2 only
Answer: (a) 2 and 3 only
Statement-wise explanation
- 1: incorrect — The British did not let the taluqdars keep their military power after the annexation. NCERT says that immediately after the annexation "the taluqdars were disarmed and their forts destroyed." Losing their estates was only part of what happened; their arms and forts were taken away too. So the second half of the statement is false.
- 2: correct — The Summary Settlement of 1856 was the first British revenue settlement in Awadh. It assumed the taluqdars were "interlopers with no permanent stakes in land" who had gained control of land through force and fraud. 'Outsiders' means the same thing as 'interlopers'. Under this settlement the taluqdars' share of Awadh villages fell from 67 per cent before British rule to 38 per cent.
- 3: correct — British land revenue officers believed that removing the taluqdars would let them settle the land with the "actual owners of the soil". They expected this to reduce exploitation of peasants and raise the state's revenue. In practice it meant collecting revenue directly from the cultivators, with no intermediary in between.
How to eliminate
Statement 1 can be ruled out on logic alone. A colonial power that has just taken a kingdom by force, and is taking away the local lords' land, will not let those lords keep their armed men and forts. Rejecting Statement 1 removes the options with '1 and 3' and '1, 2 and 3'. That leaves '2 and 3' or '2 only'. To choose between them, remember that the purpose of the Summary Settlement was to cut out the taluqdars and deal directly with the cultivators. Statement 3 states that aim, and it follows from Statement 2: if the taluqdars were seen as interlopers, the British would want to bypass them. The fact to remember is: "Taluqdars disarmed, forts destroyed, treated as interlopers, villages held fell from 67% to 38%."
Know more
Why Awadh exploded in 1857
Awadh was annexed in 1856 under Governor-General Lord Dalhousie. The stated reason was misgovernment. The last Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah, was deposed and sent to Calcutta. Annexation hurt three groups at once:
- The Nawab's court and dependants. Courtiers, musicians, poets and soldiers lost their livelihoods.
- The taluqdars. These were big landholders who had controlled villages for generations, with armed retainers and forts. They were disarmed and their forts destroyed. The Summary Settlement of 1856 treated them as interlopers and took villages away from them wherever it could.
- The peasants. The British expected peasants to welcome the change. Instead, peasants faced high, rigid revenue demands. The taluqdars had once helped them in hard times, and that support was gone.
| Indicator | Before British rule | After Summary Settlement 1856 |
|---|---|---|
| Share of Awadh villages held by taluqdars | 67% | 38% |
| Taluqdars' military power | Armed retainers, forts | Disarmed, forts razed |
The taluqdars of southern Awadh were hit hardest. Some lost more than half the villages they had held.
Result: Taluqdars and peasants joined the revolt together. Many sepoys in the Bengal Army came from Awadh villages, so their grievances fed into the uprising too. This is why NCERT describes the revolt in Awadh as a popular rebellion and not just a mutiny.
After 1858 the British reversed the policy. Loyal taluqdars got their estates back, and the taluqdars became a pillar of the Raj.
Exam link: Taking revenue directly from the cultivator is the same idea as the Ryotwari system that Thomas Munro used in Madras. Contrast it with the Permanent Settlement, which worked through zamindars.
NCERT Concepts to Revise
- Summary Settlement of 1856: Statement 2 depends on how the 1856 Summary Settlement viewed taluqdars, as interlopers without permanent stakes in land, and what that meant for their village holdings.
- Taluqdar: All three statements are about the taluqdars, so you need to know who these Awadh landholders were and what estates, arms and forts they had.
- Annexation of Awadh: The question is set immediately after the 1856 annexation, so knowing how Awadh came under British control explains why the taluqdars' position changed suddenly.
- Wajid Ali Shah: The taluqdars had built up their power under the Nawabs, and deposing Wajid Ali Shah removed the ruler they had served under.
- Revolt of 1857: The steps taken against the taluqdars in 1856 help explain why they joined the 1857 revolt in Awadh in such numbers.
- Ryotwari system: Statement 3 describes collecting revenue directly from cultivators with no intermediary, which is the main idea of the ryotwari approach.