Which event marked the final collapse of the British policy of annexation?

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (B) Revolt of 1857

Explanation:

• The Revolt of 1857 marked the final collapse of the British policy of annexation in India.
• The British annexation policies, such as the Doctrine of Lapse and the annexation of princely states like Awadh (Oudh), were major contributors to the outbreak of the revolt.
• The rebellion led to widespread resistance from Indian rulers, soldiers, and civilians, ultimately resulting in the end of East India Company rule and the establishment of direct British rule (the British Raj) over India.

Information Booster:

• The revolt began on May 10, 1857, in Meerut and quickly spread to other parts of northern India.
• The Revolt of 1857 was triggered by several factors, with the Doctrine of Lapse being one of the key issues. This doctrine allowed the British to annex any princely state if the ruler died without a natural heir.
• Mangal Pandey, a sepoy, was one of the first to openly rebel against British authority in Barrackpore, which sparked the revolt.
• The revolt spread across northern India, with Delhi, Meerut, Kanpur, and Lucknow being major centers of resistance.
• After the suppression of the revolt, Bahadur Shah Zafar, the Mughal emperor, was captured and exiled to Rangoon (now Yangon, Myanmar), marking the symbolic end of the Mughal Empire.

Additional Knowledge:

• Option A: Quit India Movement
• Incorrect. The Quit India Movement (1942) was a major civil disobedience movement demanding an end to British rule, but it came after the Revolt of 1857.
• Option C: Government of India Act, 1935
• Incorrect. The Government of India Act, 1935 introduced reforms for governance but did not end the British annexation policy. It was more of a political step toward limited self-governance.
• Option D: Partition of Bengal
• Incorrect. The Partition of Bengal (1905) was part of the British policy of divide and rule but had nothing to do with the collapse of annexation policies. It was aimed at weakening the nationalist movement by creating divisions based on religion.