48th to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008

After the revolt of 1857, the British recruited the Soldiers from the

aBrahmins of U.P. & Bihar
bBengalis and Oriyas from the East
cGurkhas, Sikhs, and Punjabis in the North✓ Correct
dMadras Presidency and Marathas

Explanation

After the Revolt of 1857, the British government shifted recruitment away from the high-caste Hindus of Bengal, Bihar and Awadh, and selected people whom the British called “martial races,” especially Dogras, Jats, Rajputs, Baluchis, Garhwalis, Gorkhas, Sikhs and people from the northern provinces of Punjab. The soldiers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar had played an important role in igniting the revolt of 1857, so the British government looked at them with suspicion. During the revolt, 60% of the soldiers of the Bengal Army were from Awadh and the North-Western Provinces (U.P.). For this reason, under Queen Victoria’s Proclamation dated 1 November, 1858, the army was reorganized, which was based on the policy of division and inducement.

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