Question

The 1857 Revolt is also referred to as the Sepoy Mutiny by the British. With reference to the role played by the soldiers, answer the following question:

The British reformed the army after the revolt ended. Mention any four changes made in the army.

Answer 1

1. Increased the proportion of British troops and placed more British soldiers in key garrisons to reduce reliance on Indian sepoys.
2. Disbanded a number of regiments that had mutinied.
3. Deliberately mixed men of different castes and communities within units to prevent unity and collective revolt.
4. Adopted “divide-and-rule” personnel policies: favoured certain “martial races” for recruitment, reserved artillery and senior posts for British officers, and limited Indians’ promotion opportunities.