UPSC Prelims Mock Test – Modern History 4

Here are 25 Questions, a part of our series on UPSC Prelims Mock Test.

Q1. Which of the statements is/are not correct about Maharaja Ranjit Singh?

1. He was associated with Fazilpuria misl.
2. He had hostile relations with the Dogras and the Nepalese.
3. Amritsar was the religious capital of Ranjit Singh’s kingdom.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer – A

• Statement 1 is not correct: There were 12 prominent misls at the time of Ranjit Singh’s birth (November 2, 1780): Ahluwaliya, Bhangi, Dallewalia, Faizullapuria, Kanhaiya, Krorasinghia, Nakkai, Nishaniya, Phulakiya, Ramgarhiya Sukharchakiya, Ramgarhiya Sukharchakiya, and Shaheed. Gurumatta Sangh, which was essentially a political, social, and economic system, was the foundation of a misl’s central administration. Mahan Singh, the chief of the Sukerchakia misl, had a son named Ranjit Singh. Ranjit Singh was only 12 years old when Mahan Singh died. Ranjit Singh, on the other hand, demonstrated early political aptitude. All of the great misls (except Sukarchakia) was in a condition of dissolution by the end of the 18th century. Afghanistan was also engulfed in civil conflict for the next three decades as a result of a power struggle. These events in the surrounding areas were extensively utilized by Ranjit Singh, who used a merciless ‘blood and iron’ policy to carve out a kingdom in Central Punjab for himself.
• Statement 2 is not correct: He maintained good relations with the Dogras and the Nepalese and enlisted them in his army.
• Statement 3 is correct: Zaman Shah, the ruler of Afghanistan, appointed Ranjit Singh as the governor of Lahore in 1799. Ranjit Singh conquered Jammu and Amritsar in 1805, bringing the political capital (Lahore) and religious capital (Amritsar) of Punjab under his control.

Q2. Which of the following was the most important outcome of the Third Battle of Panipat?

(a) It laid the foundation of the Mughal Empire.
(b) Ahmad Shah Abdali became the ruler of India.
(c) It put an end to the Maratha ambition of ruling over India.
(d) It prepared the ground for the East India Company to rule the whole of India.

Answer -C

• Option (c) is correct: Panipat and its surrounding territory, on the banks of the Yamuna and between the rich plains of the Ganga and Indus rivers in present-day Haryana, have seen countless conflicts. At various points in time, these wars altered the trajectory of Indian history. Babur and Ibrahim Lodi fought in the first Battle of Panipat in 1526. By overthrowing the rule of the Delhi Sultanate, the war provided the groundwork for the Mughal Empire. The Second Battle of Panipat, which took place in 1556 between Akbar and Hemu, decided in favor of Mughal power. The Third Battle of Panipat fought in 1761 between the Marathas and Ahmad Shah Abdali ended the Maratha desire to rule India

Q3. Who among the following was given the title of ‘Rangeela’ due to his luxurious lifestyle?

(a) Ahmad Shah
(b) Rafi-ud-Daula
(c) Muhammad Shah
(d) Jahandar Shah

Answer – C

• Option (c) is correct: Muhammad Shah (1719 -48)- Following the death of Rafi-ud-Daula, the Sayyid Brothers chose Raushan Akhtar as their successor. Due to his lavish lifestyle, Muhammad Shah was given the title of ‘Rangeela.’ Muhammad Shah assassinated the Sayyid Brothers with the help of Nizam-ul-Mulk. Nizam-ul-Mulk became the wazir in 1724, and Hyderabad became an autonomous state. With a tiny force of 500 horsemen, Baji Rao I, the Maratha Peshwa, invaded Delhi in 1737. In the Battle of Karnal in 1739, Nadir Shah defeated the Mughals, imprisoned Muhammad Shah, and annexed regions west of the Indus into the Persian empire

Q4. Which of the following were the reasons responsible for the decline of the Mughal Empire?

1. Shifting allegiance of Zamindars.
2. Jagirdari crisis.
3. Rise of powerful regional groups

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer – D

• Option (d) is correct: The Great Mughal period began in 1526 AD with Babur’s accession to the throne and ended in 1707 AD with Aurangzeb’s death. The death of Aurangzeb signaled the end of an era in Indian history. The Mughal Empire was the largest in India when Aurangzeb died. The Mughal Empire, however, crumbled within fifty years of his death. Historians have identified various factors that contributed to the decline and disintegration of the once-mighty Mughal Empire.

Causes of Decline of the Mughal Empire:

• Weak Successors
• Absence of Definite Law of Succession
• Aurangzeb’s Religious and Deccan Policies
• Shifting allegiance of Zamindars
• Deterioration of Army
• Too Vast an Empire
• External Invasions
• Economic Decline
• The advent of Europeans
• Jagirdari Crisis
• Rise of regional aspirations

Q5. Under whose leadership the Kingdom of Bharatpur emerged as a strong State?

(a) Rajaram I
(b) Suraj Mal
(c) Raja Nahar Singh
(d) Todar Mal

Answer – B

• Option (b) is correct: The Jats were successful farmers, and cities like Panipat and Ballabgarh grew into significant trading centers in the territory they dominated. The kingdom of Bharatpur grew into a powerful state under Suraj Mal’s leadership. Many of Delhi’s notables sought sanctuary there after Nadir Shah stormed the city in 1739. Jawahir Shah, Suraj Mal’s son, had his own 30,000 warriors and recruited another 20,000 Maratha and 15,000 Sikhs to battle the Mughals.

Q6. Which of the following were the factors that brought the Portuguese to India?

1. Expansion in the European economy
2. Increase in demand for oriental goods
3. The virtual monopoly of Ottoman Turk over the trade of pepper
4. Expansion of Turkish power towards Eastern Europe

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer – D

• Option (d) is correct: There are the following factors that brought the Portuguese to India.
• Expansion in the European economy
• Urbanisation and Trade
• Monopoly of Ottoman Turk over the trade of pepper
• Expansion of Turkish power toward eastern Europe

Q7. With reference to the Portuguese ruler Dom Henrique, Consider the following statements:

1. He is also known as Henry the Navigator.
2. One of his objectives behind searching out a sea route to India was the conversion of Indian people into Christianity.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer – C

• Statement 1 is correct: Dom Henrique of Portugal, Duke of Viseu (4 March 1394 – 13 November 1460), better known as Prince Henry the Navigator was a central figure in the early days of the Portuguese Empire and in the 15th-century European maritime discoveries and maritime expansion. Through his administrative direction, he is regarded as the main initiator of what would be known as the Age of Discovery.
• Statement 2 is correct: From 1418, Prince Henry sent two or three ships every year to explore the western coast of Africa, and to search out a sea route to India. His objects were two-fold:
• First, to oust the Arabs as well as his European rivals, the Venetians, from the rich eastern trade, and Second, to counterpoise the growing power of the Turks and Arabs by converting the ‘heathens’ of Africa and Asia (including India) to Christianity. Both objectives were steadily pursued. In fact, they justified and supported each other. The Pope lent his support by issuing a Bull in 1453 by which he granted to Portugal ‘in perpetuity’ whatever lands it ‘discovered’ beyond Cape Nor in Africa up to India on the condition of converting to Christianity the peoples of those lands.

Q8. Consider the following statements:

1. Renaissance was a fervent period of European culture.
2. The Portuguese acted as a bridge for transmitting to India the science and technology, which had grown in Europe since the Renaissance.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer – A

• Statement 1 is correct: The Renaissance was a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political, and economic “rebirth” following the Middle Ages. Generally described as taking place from the 14th century to the 17th century, the Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature, and art. Some of the greatest thinkers, authors, statesmen, scientists, and artists in human history thrived during this era, while global exploration opened new lands and cultures to European commerce and the invention or application of such potentially powerful innovations as paper, printing, the mariner’s compass, and gunpowder
• statement 2 is not correct: The Portuguese could not act as a bridge for transmitting to India the science and technology which had grown in Europe since the Renaissance. This was partly because the Portuguese were themselves not as deeply affected by the Renaissance as Italy and North Europe. Later, with the growth of a Catholic religious reaction led by the Jesuits, they even set their face against the new science. They did, however, help to transmit a number of agricultural products from Central America, such as potatoes, tobacco, maize, peanuts, etc. These became widespread only gradually

Q9. Consider the following statements:

1. The direct trade between India and Europe grew exponentially after Vasco da Gama’s visit to India.
2. Afonso de Albuquerque had embarked upon a policy of dominating the entire oriental commerce by setting up forts at various strategic places in Asia and Africa.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer – B

• Statement 1 is not correct: Vasco da Gama landed at Calicut in 1498, with Gujarati pilots on board. The strong colony of Arab merchants settled there was hostile, but the Zamorin welcomed the Portuguese and allowed them to take pepper, drugs, etc., on board. In Portugal, the goods brought by Gama were computed at sixty times the cost of the entire expedition.
• Despite this, direct trade between India and Europe grew slowly. One reason for this was the monopoly exercised by the Portuguese government. From the beginning, the Portuguese rulers were determined to treat the eastern trade as a royal monopoly, excluding not only rival nations in Europe and Asia, but also private Portuguese traders.
• Statement 2 is correct: Afonso de Albuquerque succeeded as the Governor of the Portuguese possession in the east in 1509. He advocated and embarked upon a policy of dominating the entire oriental commerce by setting up forts at various strategic places in Asia and Africa. This was to be supplemented by a strong navy.
• He initiated his new policy by capturing Goa from Bijapur in 1510. The island of Goa was an excellent natural harbor and fort. It was strategically located, and from it the Portuguese could command the Malabar trade and watch the policies of the rulers in the Deccan.

Q10. Fierce battles among the trading companies of Europe is an important feature of the 17th and 18th centuries. What led to these battles?

(a) All the companies were interested in buying the same things
(b) Urge to secure markets
(c) Urge to increase profit
(d) All of the above

Answer – D

• Option (d) is correct: The 17th and 18th centuries were marked by fierce wars between European trading companies. The issue was that all of the companies wanted to buy the same goods. In Europe, good quality cotton and silk manufactured in India had a large market. Spices like pepper, cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon were also in high demand. As a result of the competition among European companies, the prices at which these goods could be acquired eventually increased, reducing the profits that could be made. The only option for the trading corporations to thrive was to eliminate their rivals

Q11. What were the benefits to the East India Company of the charter acquired from Queen Elizabeth I in 1600?

1. No other trading group in England could compete with the East India Company.
2. It could prevent other European powers from entering the Eastern markets.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer – A

• Statement 1 is correct: In 1600, the East India Company acquired a charter from the ruler of England, Queen Elizabeth I, granting it the sole right to trade with the East. This implied the East India Company did not face any competition from any other trading group of England. The charter allows the company to venture across the geography and search new lands from where it can buy cheaper goods and sell them back at higher prices in Europe. Other trading companies could not give any competition to the East India Company. In those days, Mercantile trading companies excluded competition so that they could have a monopoly over price.
• Statement 2 is not correct: The royal charter was not able to prevent other European powers from entering markets of the Eastern world. The Portuguese reached India before and had already made their significant presence before the English could even come to India

Q12. In the context of which of the following regions, Robert Clive declared “We must indeed become nawabs ourselves”?

(a) Awadh
(b) Hyderabad
(c) Bengal
(d) Madras

Answer – C

• Option (c) is correct: Sirajuddaulah, the nawab of Bengal, was assassinated after the defeat at Plassey and Mir Jafar was appointed nawab. The company was still adamant about not taking over the administration. The expansion of trade was its primary goal. If this could be accomplished without conquering, with the assistance of local rulers prepared to award privileges, regions would not need to be taken over directly. When Mir Jafar objected, the Company deposed him and replaced him with Mir Qasim. When Mir Qasim protested, he was defeated in a fight at Buxar (1764), expelled from Bengal, and Mir Jafar was restored.

Q13. With reference to the victory of the East India Company in the Battle of Plassey, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Mir Qasim became the Nawab of Bengal.
2. It laid the foundation of the British Empire in India.
3. The battle established the military supremacy of the English in Bengal.
4. The sovereignty of the English over Calcutta was recognized.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 3 and 4 only

Answer – B

• The East India Company, led by Robert Clive, and the Nawab of Bengal (Siraj-Ud-Daulah) fought the Battle of Plassey. The battle became famous because it was the first major victory the company won in India.
• Significance of the Battle of Plassey:
• Mir Jafar became the Nawab of Bengal as a result of this victory. He provided the English with significant amounts of funds as well as the zamindari of 24 Parganas. Mir Jafar was completely reliant on others to keep his newly acquired position. (Statement 1 is not correct)
• The Battle of Plassey was significant politically because it established the British Empire in India; it is rightfully recognized as the beginning of British dominance in India. (Statement 2 is correct)

Q14. The Dual System of Government in Bengal after the Battle of Buxar was introduced by?

(a) Mir Qasim
(b) Robert Clive
(c) Warren Hastings
(d) Alivardi Khan

Answer – B

• Option (b) is correct: The East India Company became the true masters of Bengal after the Battle of Buxar. In Bengal, Robert Clive established the Dual System of Government, i.e., the rule of two the Company and the Nawab-in which the Company controlled both the Diwani, i.e., tax collection, and the nizam, i.e., police and judicial functions. As the diwan, the Company exercised Diwani rights and Nizamat rights through its authority to nominate the deputy Subahdar. The emperor gave the Company the Diwani functions, while the Subahdar of Bengal gave the Company the Nizamat function

Q15. Which of the following was the aim of the Treaty of ‘Eternal Friendship’ signed by the British with Amirs of Sindh?

(a) To get Free passage through Sindh
(b) Resolving some border disputes with Punjab
(c) To create a barrier between Russia and British India
(d) To obtain a counteracting influence over the Afghans

Answer – C

• Option (c) is correct: Treaty of ‘Eternal Friendship’- Napoleon Bonaparte joined Tilsit’s alliance with Alexander I of Russia in June 1807. One of the requirements of the agreement was a united land invasion of India. The British now wanted to create a barrier between Russia and British India. To do this, Lord Minto sent three delegations, each led by a famous figure, to forge alliances. Metcalfe was sent to Lahore, Elphinstone to Kabul, and Malcolm to Tehran as a result

Q16. Consider the following statements about Haider Ali:

1. He took the help of the Dutch to set up an arms factory at Dindigul.
2. He introduced Western methods of training for his army.
3. He never lost a battle against Marathas.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer – B

• In 1761, Haidar Ali became the de facto ruler of Mysore. He saw that only quick cavalry could confine the extremely mobile Marathas, that only effective artillery could quiet the Nizami army’s cannons, and that superior Western weaponry could only be matched by arms brought from the same area or created with the same know-how.
• Statement 1 is not correct: With the help of the French, Haidar Ali set up an arms factory at Dindigul (now in Tamil Nadu).
• Statement 2 is correct: For his army, he used Western training methods. He also began to employ his vast diplomatic skills to outmaneuver his enemies.
• Statement 3 is not correct: After recovering from their setback at Panipat, the Marathas led by Madhavrao attacked Mysore in 1764, 1766, and 1771, and defeated Haidar Ali.

Q17. Who among the following signed the Treaty of Madras with the British?

(a) Madhavrao
(b) Tipu Sultan
(c) Haidar Ali
(d) Raghunathrao

Answer – C

• Option (c) is correct: The English were confident in their military power after their easy victory in Bengal. They signed a pact with the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1766, promising to give them the Northern Circars (region) in exchange for protecting the Nizam from Haidar Ali. Haidar was already embroiled in a territorial conflict with the Nawab of Arcot and a feud with the Marathas. Against Haidar Ali, the Nizam, the Marathas, and the English allied together. Haidar acted with a great deal of delicacy and diplomacy. He bought the Marathas’ neutrality by pledging to split acquired lands with the Nizam, and the Nizam became his ally. After that, he joined the Nizam in an attack on the Nawab.

Q18. Which of the following was the immediate cause for the breakout of the Second Anglo-Mysore War?

(a) Territorial disputes with the Nawab of Arcot
(b) English attempt to capture Mahe
(c) War against Travancore
(d) Break out of the American War of Independence

Answer – B

• Option (b) is correct: Between 1780 and 1784, the Second Anglo-Mysore War happened. When Haidar Ali was attacked by the Marathas in 1771 and the English failed to help him, he accused them of breach of faith and non-observance of the Treaty of Madras. In addition, he discovered that the French were far more helpful than the English and supplied his troops with firearms, saltpeter, and lead. As a result, some French war material was delivered to Mysore via Mahe, a French territory on the Malabar coast. Meanwhile, the American War of Independence had begun, with the French siding with the rebels against the English. In these conditions, Haidar Ali’s affinity with the French alarmed the English even more. As a result, they attempted to seize Mahe, whom Haidar considered to be under his protection. The English effort to take Mahe was seen by Haidar as a direct threat to his power.

Q19. With reference to the Policy of Ring Fence (1765-1813), consider the following statements

1. It was reflected in Warren Hastings’ wars against Marathas only.
2. Wellesley’s policy of subsidiary alliance was an extension of the policy of ring fence.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer – B

• Statement 1 is not correct: Warren Hastings’ campaigns against the Marathas and Mysore were based on the Ring Fence policy, which attempted to create buffer zones to protect the Company’s frontiers. The Marathas and Afghan invaders posed the greatest threat (the Company agreed to organize Awadh’s defense in order to ensure Bengal’s security).
• Statement 2 is correct: Wellesley’s subsidiary alliance policy was an extension of the ring fence that sought to reduce states to a position of dependence on the British Government in India. Subsidiary alliances were accepted by major nations such as Hyderabad, Awadh, and the Marathas. As a result, British dominance was established.

Q20. Consider the following events:

1. Queen’s Proclamation
2. Act for the Better Government of India
3. Annexation of Awadh

What is the correct chronological sequence of the above events, starting from the earliest?
(a) 1-2-3
(b) 2-1-3
(c) 3-2-1
(d) 3-1-2

Answer -C

• Option (c) is correct: Annexation of Awadh (1856)- In 1856, the Company used the Doctrine of Lapse to annex Awadh, citing misgovernment as a reason. Act for the Better Government of India (August 2, 1858)- On August 2, 1858, the British Parliament passed an Act for the Better Government of India. The Act established Queen Victoria as the sovereign of British India and established a Secretary of State for India (a member of the British cabinet). The British Crown seized direct responsibility for the country’s governance and Company control was dissolved

Q21. With reference to the subsidiary alliance system, consider the following statements:

1. One of the objectives behind Lord Wellesley’s strengthening of the subsidiary alliance system was to keep the French from reviving and expanding their influence in India.
2. The Sindhias were the last Maratha confederation to accept the Subsidiary Alliance.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer – A

• Lord Wellesley was governor-general from 1798 – 1805 With the help of a subsidiary alliance system, he tried to expand the Empire in India. According to this system, the ally Indian state was bound to have permanent stationing of the British force in their territory and they were also required to pay a subsidy for their maintenance. Indian rulers had to accept the condition of British residents in their court. The Indian rulers were also not allowed to employ any other Indian ruler without consulting the governor-general. In exchange for this, the British were to defend the the ruler from their enemies and adopt a policy of non-interference in the internal matters of the allied state.
• Statement 1 is correct: One of the main objectives behind the subsidiary alliance system was to disallow the French from reviving and expanding their influence in India. At this time, the threat of Napoleon was quite near. The British felt that the western coast of India could be attacked from their colonies of Mauritius. With the help of the Subsidiary Alliance system, the British could use strategic locations to their advantage and keep the French at Bay. The subsidiary alliance would eventually, strengthen the hold of the British over the Indian states and bring more territories under their domain.
• Statement 2 is not correct: The Indian princes who accepted the subsidiary system were: the Nizam of Hyderabad (September 1798 and 1800), the ruler of Mysore (1799), the ruler of Tanjore (October 1799), the Nawab of Awadh (November 1801), the Peshwa (December 1801), the Bhonsle Raja of Berar (December 1803), the Sindhia (February 1804), the Rajput states of Jodhpur, Jaipur, Macheri, Bundi and the ruler of Bharatpur (1818)

Q22. What was the reason given by the British for the Annexation of Awadh?

(a) The adopted son of Wajid Ali Shah could not be the heir as per the terms of the Doctrine of Lapse.
(b) Frequent raids by Bhutanese into adjoining territories in Assam could be managed.
(c) To free the people of Awadh from the misgovernment of the Nawab.
(d) To increase the revenue collection of the British Empire.

Answer – C

• Option (c) is correct: Lord Dalhousie was Governor-General from 1848 to 1856. Under him the final annexations of the British occurred. He formulated the Policy of Doctrine of Lapse. According to the doctrine, if an Indian ruler died without a male heir, then the kingdom would lapse, which means it will become part of the territory of the company. The kingdoms that were annexed were Satara (1848), Sambalpur (1850), Udaipur (1852), Nagpur (1853) and Jhansi (1854). In 1856, Awadh was taken over. But Awadh was not annexed on the basis of the Doctrine of Lapse. This time the British had an added argument – Awadh was annexed on the pretext of misgovernance of the state. The people of Awadh were angry at the manner in which the state was annexed, hence they joined the revolt of 1857

Q23. Who among the following rulers first accepted the subsidiary alliance?

(a) Ruler of Mysore
(b) Ruler of Tanjore
(c) Rajput states of Jodhpur
(d) Nizam of Hyderabad

Answer – D

• Option (d) is correct: Lord Wellesley was governor-general from 1798 to 1805. With the help of a subsidiary alliance system, he tried to expand the Empire in India. According to this system, the ally Indian state was bound to have permanent stationing of the British force in their territory and they were also required to pay a subsidy for their maintenance. Indian rulers had to accept the condition of British residents in their court. The Indian rulers were also not allowed to employ any other Indian ruler without consulting the governor-general. In exchange for this, the British were to defend the ruler from their enemies and adopt a policy of non-interference in the internal matters of the allied state

Q24. Consider the following pairs:

British Treaties: Neighbouring Countries

1. Treaty of Sagauli: Bhutan
2. Treaty of Yandabo: Afghanistan
3. Treaty of Lhasa: Tibet (China)

How many pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) Only 1 pair
(b) Only 2 pairs
(c) All 3 pairs
(d) None of the above

Answer – A

• Pair 1 is not correctly matched: From the successors of Ranjit Malla of Bhatgaon in 1760, the Gorkhas wrested control of Nepal. Later, they began to expand their dominion beyond mountains. The north was defended by the Chinese, hence they moved towards the south. Gorakhpur was annexed by the British in 1801, and hence the boundary of Gorkha and that of the company came together. The capture of Butwal and Sheoraj by the Gorkhas started the conflict. It was the period of Lord Hastings (1813- 23). The Treaty of Sagauli, 1816 ended the war, which favored the British.
• Pair 2 is not correctly matched: In the opening decades of the 19th century, The Burmese made attempts to expand towards the west and occupied Arakan and Manipur. Hence the first war with Burma was fought. The prominent threat to Brahmaputra Valley and Assam, consequently, resulted in friction along the ill-defined border of Burma and Bengal. The British expeditionary forces occupied Rangoon in May 1824 and reached within 72 km of the capital at Ava. Peace was established in 1826 with the Treaty of Yandabo.

Q25. “Treaty of Gandamak” was signed after which of the following wars?

(a) Second Anglo-Afghan War
(b) First Anglo-Afghan War
(c) Third Burma War
(d) Second Burma War

Answer – A

• Option (a) is correct: Sher Ali granted permission to keep a Russian envoy in Kabul but refused to keep a British envoy in Kabul. Owing to this displeasure, Lord Lytton invaded Afghanistan when Russia withdrew its envoy from Kabul. Sher Ali fled and the British signed a Treaty of Gandamak (May 1879) with Yakub Khan, the eldest son of Sher Ali.
• Treaty of Gandamak (May 1879):
• The treaty signed after the Second Anglo-Afghan War provided that:
• The Amir conduct his foreign policy with the advice of the Government of India
• A permanent British resident be stationed at Kabul
• The Amir got all support against foreign aggression and an annual subsidy from the government of India. But very soon, Yakub abdicated under popular pressure and the British recaptured Kabul and Kandahar. Abdur Rehman became the new Amir. Lytton tried to dismember Afghanistan but could not execute it. Later, Ripon abandoned this plan and decided to have Afghanistan as a buffer state.

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