The correct answer is A B C D.

• The Revolt of 1857 AD:
  • It occurred during the reign of Governor-General Lord Canning.
  • Causes of the Revolt:
    • Political: Nana Sahib was refused pension, as he was the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II. Avadh was annexed in 1856. On charges of mal-administration, Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur, and Sambalpur were annexed owing to the Doctrine of Lapse.
    • Economic: Heavy taxation, forced evictions, discriminatory tariff policy against Indian products.
    • Socio-religious: Abolition of Sati in 1829 AD; legalization of widow remarriage in 1856 AD, etc.
    • Military: Discrimination with Indian soldiers. Indian soldiers were paid low salaries.
    • Immediate cause: The introduction of Enfield rifles, whose cartridges were said to have a greased cover made of beef and pork, sparked off the revolt.
    • The Beginning and Spread of the Revolt: On March 29, 1857, AD, an Indian sepoy of 34 Native Infantry, Mangal Pandey, killed two British officers–Hugeson and Baugh on parade at Barrackpore (near Calcutta). He was arrested and hanged.
• The chronological order of the revolt of 1857 is Meerut, Delhi, Awadh, Kanpur, Lucknow, Bareilly, Jhansi, Bihar, Kota.

• Centers of Revolt and Their Leaders:
  • Delhi: Bahadur Shah and General Bakhti Khan.
  • Kanpur: Nana Sahib/Dhondu Pant (adopted son of Baji Rao II), Tantya Tope, and Azimullah Khan.
  • Jhansi: Rani Lakshmi Bai.
  • Lucknow: Begum Hazrat Mahal, her son Birjis Qadr.
  • Faizabad: Maulvi Ahmadullah.
  • Bareilley: Khan Bahadur Khan.
  • Bihar: (Arrah) Kunwar Singh, Zamindar of Jagdishpur.