Cultural and historical background to the Pakistan Movement Banker
7 questions · about 14% of the marks we indexed · examined in 5 of 5 sessions.
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2026
2026 May/June · Paper 11 · Q2 (a, b, c)12.5 marksBritish expansion and the East India Company · Mughal decline and the Marathas · Religious revival movements
2025
2025 May/June · Paper 11 · Q2 (a, b, c)12.5 marksBritish expansion and the East India Company · Mughal decline and the Marathas · Religious revival movements
2024
2024 May/June · Paper 11 · Q1 (a, b, c, d)25 marksOfficial paper ↗British expansion and the East India Company · War of Independence 1857
2024 May/June · Paper 11 · Q2 (a, b, c)12.5 marksOfficial paper ↗Indian National Congress 1885 · Mughal decline and the Marathas · Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Aligarh Movement
2023
2023 May/June · Paper 11 · Q1 (a, b, c, d)25 marksBritish expansion and the East India Company · Religious revival movements
2022
2022 May/June · Paper 11 · Q2 (a, b, c)12.5 marksReligious revival movements · War of Independence 1857
2022 May/June · Paper 11 · Q3 (a)2 marksSir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Aligarh Movement
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References only, not question text. Open Official paper ↗ where Cambridge publishes the paper,
or see the official Cambridge past-papers page; for other papers, ask your
school. “Paper 42” means Paper 4, variant 2.
Practice questions
Original questions written by HomiLabs in the style of the exam, with answers and mark schemes. They are not
Cambridge past paper questions and have not been reviewed by Cambridge. Try each one before opening the answer.
Q1British expansion and the East India Company · Core · Paper 1 style · 11 marks
(a)Describe how the East India Company began trading in the subcontinent in the seventeenth century.[4]
(b)Explain why the East India Company became involved in the politics of the subcontinent during the eighteenth century.[7]
Show answer
(a) The Company received a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I at the end of 1600 to trade with the East; it was attracted by the profits from spices, cotton cloth, silk, indigo and saltpetre; it gained permission from the Mughal emperor Jahangir to set up a trading post (factory) at Surat, and Sir Thomas Roe was sent to Jahangir's court to secure trading rights; it later set up bases at Madras (Fort St George), Bombay (received from the English Crown in 1668) and Calcutta (1690, later Fort William).
1 mark per accurate point, up to 4: charter of 1600 from Elizabeth I; aim of profitable trade (spices, textiles, indigo, saltpetre); factory at Surat with Mughal permission (Jahangir); embassy of Sir Thomas Roe; Madras / Fort St George; Bombay 1668; Calcutta 1690 / Fort William; competition with the Portuguese and Dutch.
(b) After the death of Aurangzeb the Mughal Empire declined, so local rulers and nawabs fought each other and the Company had to protect its trade in an unstable country; rivalry with the French East India Company led both companies to back rival Indian rulers and build up private armies, for example in the Carnatic; Company officials such as Clive saw that interfering in succession disputes could bring land, revenue and personal fortunes; disputes over trading privileges with the Nawab of Bengal led to Plassey (1757) and, after Buxar, the grant of the diwani of Bengal (1765) gave the Company the right to collect revenue, turning it into a ruling power.
Level marking. L1 (1–2): general statements. L2 (3–4): identifies or describes reasons. L3 (5–7): explains reasons, 5–6 for one well-explained reason, 7 for two or more. Reasons to credit: Mughal decline and political instability; need to protect trading posts and trade routes; rivalry with the French; ambition and greed of Company officials; trade disputes with the Nawab of Bengal (misuse of dastaks); revenue from the diwani made territorial control profitable.
Q2British expansion and the East India Company · Core · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe the Battle of Plassey (1757).[4]
(b)Explain why the East India Company won the Battle of Plassey.[4]
Show answer
(a) Fought in Bengal in 1757 between the East India Company under Robert Clive and the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah. Clive's force was much smaller, but Mir Jafar, the Nawab's commander, had been promised the throne and kept his troops out of the fight. Siraj-ud-Daulah was defeated and later killed. Mir Jafar became Nawab under Company control.
1 mark per accurate point, max 4: Siraj-ud-Daulah, Nawab of Bengal; Company army led by Clive; Company heavily outnumbered; Mir Jafar's treachery / bribed to stay out of battle; Nawab defeated and killed; Mir Jafar made a puppet Nawab; Company gained control of Bengal's trade and wealth.
(b) Mir Jafar's betrayal meant a large part of the Nawab's army did not fight, so the Company did not need to beat the full force. The Company's troops were better trained and disciplined and had effective artillery, so they held firm when the Nawab's attack faltered.
Level-style: 1 mark per reason identified, +1 for each explained (max 2 reasons x 2). Reasons: treachery of Mir Jafar / other nobles; superior discipline and training; artillery and firepower; Clive's leadership; Nawab's unpopularity with Hindu bankers (Jagat Seth).
Q3British expansion and the East India Company · Core · Paper 1 style · 7 marks
(a)Who was Tipu Sultan?[2]
(b)Explain why Tipu Sultan was defeated by the British in 1799.[5]
Show answer
(a) Ruler of Mysore in southern India (from 1782), son of Haider Ali, who fought the East India Company in the Anglo-Mysore wars.
1 for ruler of Mysore; 1 for son of Haider Ali / fought the British in the Mysore wars.
(b) Tipu could not get real help from the French, who were busy with wars in Europe and Egypt. The Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas allied with the British instead of with him. The Company had greater resources and men, and some of Tipu's own officials betrayed him; he was killed defending his capital, Seringapatam.
Up to 2 marks per explained reason, max 5: lack of French help; neighbouring rulers (Nizam, Marathas) sided with the British; Company's superior resources / Wellesley's determination; treachery within his court; siege and fall of Seringapatam.
Q4British expansion and the East India Company · Core · Paper 1 style · 7 marks
Source A (written for this question): 'After the 1760s the Company's servants no longer acted only as merchants. They collected taxes, kept armies and decided who sat on the throne of Bengal. A Nawab who tried to stop them, such as Mir Qasim, soon found himself at war with them.'
(a)According to Source A, identify three ways in which the Company acted as more than a trading company.[3]
(b)Explain why Mir Qasim came into conflict with the East India Company.[4]
Show answer
(a) It collected taxes; it kept armies; it decided who ruled Bengal (chose the Nawab).
1 mark each, from the source only.
(b) Mir Qasim tried to rule independently: he moved his capital to Monghyr and built up his own army. He objected to Company officials misusing dastaks (duty-free trade permits) for private trade, which ruined Indian merchants and cut his revenue, and when he abolished duties for everyone the Company went to war (1763).
2 explained points x 2: misuse of dastaks; loss of revenue; abolished all duties; independent army/capital; led to war and Buxar.
Q5British expansion and the East India Company · Standard · Paper 1 style · 11 marks
(a)Describe the struggle between the British and the French in southern India between 1746 and 1763.[4]
(b)Explain why the British defeated the French in the struggle for power in the subcontinent.[7]
Show answer
(a) Three Carnatic Wars were fought between the British and French East India Companies and their Indian allies; the French under Dupleix at first gained the upper hand and backed rival claimants to the thrones of the Carnatic and Hyderabad; Robert Clive's capture and defence of Arcot (1751) turned the tide for the British; the British defeated the French at the Battle of Wandiwash (1760) and captured Pondicherry (1761); after the Treaty of Paris (1763) the French kept only a few unfortified trading posts.
1 mark per accurate point, up to 4: three Carnatic Wars; part of wider Anglo-French wars; Dupleix and the French support for rival Indian rulers; Clive at Arcot 1751; Dupleix recalled to France (1754); Wandiwash 1760 (Eyre Coote); fall of Pondicherry 1761; Treaty of Paris 1763 left the French with trading posts only.
(b) The British navy controlled the sea routes, so the British could send troops and supplies while French forces were cut off; after Plassey the British controlled the rich revenue of Bengal, which paid for their armies, while the French company was short of money; the British company was a private trading company with merchants who supported it, while the French company depended on a French government that gave it little support and recalled Dupleix in 1754; the British had able commanders such as Clive and Eyre Coote, while French commanders quarrelled.
Level marking. L1 (1–2): general statements. L2 (3–4): identifies or describes reasons. L3 (5–7): explains reasons, 5–6 for one well-explained reason, 7 for two or more. Reasons to credit: naval superiority; Bengal revenue after 1757; stronger finances and backing from London merchants; weak support from the French government / recall of Dupleix; better leadership (Clive, Coote); French defeats in Europe and elsewhere.
Q6British expansion and the East India Company · Standard · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe the Battle of Buxar (1764) and the settlement that followed it.[4]
(b)Explain why Buxar was a more important victory for the Company than Plassey.[4]
Show answer
(a) The Company, led by Hector Munro, defeated the combined armies of Mir Qasim (former Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Awadh) and the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II. By the Treaty of Allahabad (1765) Shah Alam granted the Company the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, the right to collect their land revenue.
1 mark per point, max 4: date/place in Bihar; Munro; the three allies named (1 mark for any two); allies defeated; Treaty of Allahabad 1765; Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa; Shah Alam given a pension / Allahabad and Kora.
(b) At Plassey the Company won largely by bribery against one ruler; at Buxar it defeated the Mughal emperor and two Nawabs in open battle, showing its military power. Buxar also brought the Diwani, giving the Company legal right to Bengal's revenue, which paid for its army and further expansion.
2 explained points, 2 marks each: open military victory, not treachery; defeated the emperor himself, ending Mughal authority in the east; Diwani gave legal revenue rights; revenue funded armies for further conquest.
Q7British expansion and the East India Company · Standard · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe what a Subsidiary Alliance required of an Indian ruler.[4]
(b)Explain how the Subsidiary Alliance system helped the British to expand their control.[4]
Show answer
(a) The ruler had to accept a force of Company troops in his state and pay for them (in cash or by giving up territory). A British Resident was placed at his court. He could not employ other Europeans, especially the French, and could not make war or treaties without Company permission.
1 mark each, max 4: British troops stationed in state; ruler pays for them / cedes land; British Resident at court; no other Europeans employed; foreign policy controlled by Company; introduced by Lord Wellesley (1798); Hyderabad first to accept.
(b) Rulers lost control of their armies and foreign policy, so they became dependent on the Company without a war. If a ruler failed to pay for the troops the Company took his land, so territory grew cheaply; the Company also had an army paid for by Indians in the heart of each state.
2 explained points x 2: control without fighting; land ceded when payments fell behind; Indian rulers paid for British troops; French influence removed; Resident interfered in internal affairs.
Q8British expansion and the East India Company · Standard · Paper 1 style · 7 marks
(a)Describe the Doctrine of Lapse.[3]
(b)Explain why the Doctrine of Lapse caused anger among Indians.[4]
Show answer
(a) Introduced by Lord Dalhousie (Governor-General 1848–56): if a ruler of a dependent state died without a natural male heir, his state passed (lapsed) to the Company; adopted sons were not accepted as heirs. Satara, Jhansi and Nagpur were taken this way.
1 mark each: Dalhousie; no natural male heir → state annexed; adopted heir not recognised; example (Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur).
(b) Adoption of an heir was an accepted Hindu custom, so refusing to recognise adopted sons was seen as an attack on religion and tradition. Ruling families lost their thrones and pensions (for example the Rani of Jhansi), and their soldiers and servants lost jobs, creating powerful enemies who later joined the 1857 rising.
2 explained points x 2: against custom of adoption; rulers dispossessed; loss of jobs for courtiers/soldiers; fear that no state was safe; link to leaders of 1857.
Q9British expansion and the East India Company · Standard · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe how the British took control of Sindh and the Punjab in the 1840s.[4]
(b)Explain why the British wanted to control Sindh.[4]
Show answer
(a) Sindh: Charles Napier defeated the Talpur Amirs at the Battle of Miani (1843) and Sindh was annexed. Punjab: after Ranjit Singh's death (1839) the Sikh state became unstable; the British won the First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46) and took land and control, then annexed the Punjab in 1849 after the Second Anglo-Sikh War.
1 mark each, max 4: Napier; Talpur Amirs; Miani 1843; Ranjit Singh's death and instability; two Anglo-Sikh wars; Punjab annexed 1849 (Dalhousie).
(b) Sindh controlled the Indus River and the route to Afghanistan, which mattered after the First Afghan War, and the British feared Russian advance from Central Asia. The Indus and the port of Karachi also offered trade routes into the interior.
2 explained points x 2: strategic route to Afghanistan / fear of Russia; control of the Indus for trade and transport; port of Karachi; wish to restore prestige after Afghan defeat.
Q10British expansion and the East India Company · Standard · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe the main changes made by the Regulating Act (1773) and Pitt's India Act (1784).[4]
(b)Explain why the British government passed laws to control the East India Company in this period.[4]
Show answer
(a) Regulating Act: the Governor of Bengal became Governor-General (Warren Hastings), with a council of four, and a Supreme Court was set up at Calcutta; the British government began to supervise the Company. Pitt's India Act: a Board of Control in London, appointed by the government, oversaw the Company's political affairs, giving dual control by Company and Crown.
1 mark each, max 4 (at least one per Act for full marks): Governor-General of Bengal; council of four; Supreme Court at Calcutta; Board of Control; dual control; Company kept trade.
(b) Company officials were becoming rich through corruption and private trade while the Company itself was near bankruptcy and asked Parliament for loans. Parliament also felt that ruling millions of people was too important to leave to a trading company, so it wanted political oversight.
2 explained points x 2: corruption of officials; Company's financial crisis / loans; ruling territory is a government matter; misrule in Bengal / famine 1770.
Q11British expansion and the East India Company · Challenge · Paper 1 style · 18 marks
(a)Describe how the East India Company dealt with the Marathas between 1775 and 1818.[4]
(b)'The Battle of Plassey was the most important event in the expansion of British power in the subcontinent before 1850.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer.[14]
Show answer
(a) The Company fought three Anglo-Maratha Wars; the first (1775–1782) ended in the Treaty of Salbai with little change; in the second (1803–1805) Arthur Wellesley won the Battle of Assaye (1803) and Lord Lake captured Delhi, bringing the Mughal emperor under British protection; some Maratha chiefs were forced into subsidiary alliances; in the third war (1817–1818) the Peshwa was defeated, his lands were annexed and he was pensioned off, ending Maratha power.
1 mark per accurate point, up to 4: three wars; Treaty of Salbai 1782; Assaye 1803 / Arthur Wellesley; Delhi taken 1803 and Mughal emperor under British protection; Treaty of Bassein (1802) subsidiary alliance with the Peshwa; 1817–18 war; Peshwa's territory annexed and Peshwa pensioned; Maratha confederacy broken up.
(b) Agree: Plassey (1757) put a British puppet, Mir Jafar, on the throne of Bengal, the richest province, and gave the Company money, land and control of trade, which paid for later wars. Disagree: Plassey was won mainly by treachery and Mir Jafar was later replaced; Buxar (1764) defeated the combined forces of the deposed Nawab of Bengal (Mir Qasim), the Nawab of Awadh and the Mughal emperor, and led to the grant of the diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa (1765), giving legal control of revenue; the defeat of Tipu Sultan at Seringapatam (1799) removed the strongest opponent in the south; the Maratha wars, ending in 1818, removed the last major Indian power and the Company took Delhi in 1803; the subsidiary alliance system and the Doctrine of Lapse extended control without war; the annexation of Sindh (1843) and Punjab (1849) completed expansion in the north-west. Judgement: e.g. Plassey was the start, but Buxar or the defeat of the Marathas did more to establish British supremacy.
Level marking. L1 (1–2): general answer. L2 (3–6): describes relevant events with little explanation. L3 (7–10): explains the given factor OR other factors. L4 (9–13): explains the given factor AND other factors. L5 (13–14): as L4 with a supported judgement on 'how far'. Points to credit: Plassey: Bengal's wealth, puppet nawab, trade privileges. Other events: Buxar and the diwani; Anglo-Mysore wars and Tipu's death (1799); Anglo-Maratha wars and the capture of Delhi; subsidiary alliances (Wellesley); Doctrine of Lapse (Dalhousie); annexation of Sindh and Punjab.
Q12British expansion and the East India Company · Challenge · Paper 1 style · 16 marks
(a)Name the Governor-General who introduced the Subsidiary Alliance and the one who introduced the Doctrine of Lapse.[2]
(b)'Military strength was the most important reason why the British were able to take control of much of the subcontinent by 1850.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer.[14]
Show answer
(a) Lord Wellesley (Subsidiary Alliance); Lord Dalhousie (Doctrine of Lapse).
1 mark each.
(b) Agree: victories at Plassey, Buxar, the Mysore, Maratha and Sikh wars depended on disciplined, well-armed troops. Disagree: much was won by diplomacy and policy (Subsidiary Alliance, Doctrine of Lapse), by treachery (Mir Jafar) and because Indian rulers were divided and the Mughal empire was weak; Company wealth from Bengal's revenue paid for armies. Judgement: military power mattered, but disunity among Indian rulers made it effective.
Level marking (14 marks). L1 (1–2): general statements with no relevant detail. L2 (3–6): identifies or describes relevant factors without explaining them. L3 (7–10): explains factors on one side only (7–8 for one explained point, 9–10 for two or more). L4 (9–13): explains factors on both sides (more developed points and accurate detail move the answer up the band). L5 (14): as L4, plus a supported judgement that answers 'how far' (or 'was it the most important'). Content points (credit any relevant, accurate point; each needs explaining, not just stating) — Military strength: disciplined, well-armed troops; victories at Plassey 1757, Buxar 1764, Mysore, Maratha and Sikh wars; naval power. Other reasons: divisions among Indian rulers; Mughal decline; Subsidiary Alliance (Wellesley) and Doctrine of Lapse (Dalhousie); bribery and treachery (Mir Jafar); Company wealth from Bengal revenue paid for armies. A judgement must weigh the stated factor against the others, not just repeat the question.
Q13Religious revival movements · Core · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe the work of Shah Waliullah.[4]
(b)Explain why Shah Waliullah's work was important for Muslims.[4]
Show answer
(a) Shah Waliullah (1703–62) translated the Quran into Persian so ordinary educated Muslims could understand it. He wrote books such as 'Hujjat-Allah al-Baligha'. He tried to reduce differences between Muslim sects and schools of thought. He wrote to Ahmad Shah Abdali, who defeated the Marathas at Panipat (1761).
1 mark each, max 4: Quran translated into Persian; books (Hujjat-Allah al-Baligha); reconciling sects; return to Quran and Hadith; invitation to Abdali / Panipat 1761; trained students who continued work.
(b) Muslims were declining politically as the Mughal empire weakened, and religious practice had absorbed un-Islamic customs. By making the Quran accessible and calling for a return to its teaching, he revived pride and unity; his sons and pupils, such as Shah Abdul Aziz, carried his ideas into later movements.
2 explained points x 2: Quran accessible; purified practice; unity between sects; political revival (Abdali); influence on later reformers (Syed Ahmad Barelvi).
Q14Religious revival movements · Core · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)State three aims shared by the religious revival movements of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.[3]
(b)Explain why religious revival movements appeared among Muslims at this time.[5]
Show answer
(a) Any three: return to the Quran and Sunnah; remove un-Islamic customs; unite Muslims; restore Muslim political power; resist non-Muslim (Sikh, Maratha, British) domination; protect poor Muslims from exploitation.
1 mark each.
(b) As the Mughal empire declined, Muslims lost political power to the Marathas, Sikhs and British, and reformers saw this as a result of weakened faith. Muslim religious practice had absorbed Hindu customs, which reformers wanted to purify. Muslims, especially in Bengal, were also suffering economic hardship under landlords and planters.
Up to 2 marks per explained reason, max 5: Mughal decline; rise of non-Muslim powers; impure practices; economic exploitation; influence of reform ideas from Arabia.
Q15Religious revival movements · Standard · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe Syed Ahmad Barelvi's jihad movement.[4]
(b)Explain why Syed Ahmad Barelvi's movement failed.[4]
Show answer
(a) He wanted to purify Islam and free Muslims in the Punjab and north-west from Sikh rule. He gathered followers (mujahideen) and set up a base among the Pathan tribes. His forces captured Peshawar in 1830, but in 1831 he and Shah Ismail were killed fighting the Sikhs at Balakot.
1 mark each, max 4: purpose (against Sikh rule / purify Islam); support from Pathan tribes; Peshawar 1830; Balakot 1831; Shah Ismail; Islamic rules introduced in captured areas.
(b) Some Pathan tribal leaders turned against him because his strict Islamic laws and taxes reduced their power, and some betrayed him to the Sikhs. The Sikh army was large, well organised and trained by European officers, so the poorly equipped mujahideen were defeated at Balakot.
2 explained points x 2: betrayal by tribal chiefs; unpopular strict laws / taxes; superior Sikh army; lack of weapons and resources; leaders killed at Balakot.
Q16Religious revival movements · Standard · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe the Faraizi Movement.[4]
(b)Explain why the Faraizi Movement was popular among Bengali peasants.[4]
Show answer
(a) Founded in Bengal by Haji Shariatullah after he returned from Arabia. It told Muslims to perform their 'faraiz', their obligatory religious duties, and give up Hindu customs. He declared India 'Dar-ul-Harb', so Friday and Eid prayers were not to be held. After his death his son Dudu Miyan organised peasants against Hindu landlords and British indigo planters.
1 mark each, max 4.
(b) Most peasants were poor Muslims who paid heavy, sometimes illegal, taxes to Hindu landlords (zamindars) and were forced to grow indigo for British planters. The movement defended them against these demands and gave them a clear religious identity, so it offered both economic protection and faith.
2 explained points x 2: protection from zamindars' taxes; opposition to indigo planters; Dudu Miyan's organisation; religious revival / identity.
Q17Religious revival movements · Challenge · Paper 1 style · 16 marks
(a)Who was Titu Mir?[2]
(b)'Shah Waliullah was the most important religious reformer of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer.[14]
Show answer
(a) A Bengali religious reformer and peasant leader who opposed Hindu landlords and British indigo planters; he was killed in 1831 when the British attacked his bamboo fort at Narkelberia.
1 for Bengali reformer/peasant leader; 1 for bamboo fort / killed 1831.
(b) For: his translation of the Quran and writings shaped all later reform; his pupils and family inspired Syed Ahmad Barelvi. Against: Syed Ahmad Barelvi actually fought for Muslim freedom; Haji Shariatullah and Titu Mir reached the mass of peasants in Bengal and stood up to landlords and planters. Judgement weighs intellectual influence against direct action.
Level marking (14 marks). L1 (1–2): general statements with no relevant detail. L2 (3–6): identifies or describes relevant factors without explaining them. L3 (7–10): explains factors on one side only (7–8 for one explained point, 9–10 for two or more). L4 (9–13): explains factors on both sides (more developed points and accurate detail move the answer up the band). L5 (14): as L4, plus a supported judgement that answers 'how far' (or 'was it the most important'). Content points (credit any relevant, accurate point; each needs explaining, not just stating) — Shah Waliullah: translated the Quran into Persian; Hujjat Allah al-Baligha; tried to unite Sunni and Shia; wrote to Ahmad Shah Abdali against the Marathas; his sons and pupils carried on the work and inspired Syed Ahmad Barelvi. Other reformers: Syed Ahmad Barelvi (jihad movement, Balakot 1831); Haji Shariatullah (Faraizi movement); Titu Mir (stood up to landlords and indigo planters in Bengal). A judgement must weigh the stated factor against the others, not just repeat the question.
Q18War of Independence 1857 · Core · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe the events at Meerut in May 1857.[4]
(b)Explain why many Indian soldiers took part in the war of 1857.[4]
Show answer
(a) Sepoys refused to use new Enfield rifle cartridges, believed to be greased with cow and pig fat. Eighty-five of them were court-martialled and imprisoned. Other sepoys rose, freed them and killed British officers, then marched to Delhi, where they declared Bahadur Shah Zafar their leader.
1 mark each, max 4.
(b) The greased cartridges offended both Hindus and Muslims, who had to bite them open. Sepoys also had grievances: low pay compared with British troops, few chances of promotion, and fear of being sent overseas, which broke caste rules.
2 explained points x 2: cartridges; pay and promotion; overseas service (General Service Enlistment Act 1856); fear of conversion; annexation of Awadh (home of many sepoys).
Q19War of Independence 1857 · Standard · Paper 1 style · 7 marks
(a)Name the last Mughal emperor and the place to which he was exiled.[2]
(b)Explain why the war of 1857 failed.[5]
Show answer
(a) Bahadur Shah Zafar (Bahadur Shah II); exiled to Rangoon (Burma).
1 each.
(b) The rising had no central leadership or common plan: leaders such as Bahadur Shah, the Rani of Jhansi and Nana Sahib fought separately. Large areas, including the Punjab, Bengal and the south, stayed loyal, and Sikh and Gurkha soldiers helped the British. The British had better weapons, supplies and communications (the telegraph and railways) and could bring in reinforcements.
Up to 2 marks per explained reason, max 5: lack of unity / leadership; limited area; loyal Indian troops and rulers; British weapons and resources; Delhi recaptured, leaders killed.
Q20War of Independence 1857 · Standard · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe the changes to the government of India after 1857.[4]
(b)Explain why the British blamed Muslims more than Hindus for the war.[4]
Show answer
(a) The Government of India Act 1858 ended East India Company rule; India came under the British Crown. A Secretary of State for India in London ran Indian affairs with the Viceroy in India. Queen Victoria's Proclamation (1858) promised to respect Indian religions and princes' rights, and the Mughal dynasty was ended.
1 mark each, max 4: Company abolished; Crown rule; Secretary of State and Council of India; Viceroy; Queen's Proclamation; no more annexation; army reorganised (more British troops).
(b) The rebels had made the Mughal emperor, a Muslim, their leader, so the British saw it as an attempt to restore Muslim rule. Muslims had lost most power to the British and were thought to want revenge, and some ulema had called for jihad.
2 explained points x 2: Bahadur Shah as leader; Muslims as former rulers; jihad fatwas; Hindus seen as more willing to cooperate.
Q21War of Independence 1857 · Standard · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe the part played by the Rani of Jhansi in the war of 1857.[3]
(b)Explain why Delhi was important to both sides during the war.[5]
Show answer
(a) Her state was annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse after her adopted son was not recognised; she led her forces against the British at Jhansi and later joined Tantia Tope; she died fighting near Gwalior in 1858.
1 mark each, max 3.
(b) For the rebels, Delhi was the seat of the Mughal emperor, so holding it gave the rising legitimacy and a symbol around which Indians could unite. For the British, recapturing Delhi (September 1857) was vital to restore prestige and break the rebellion's heart; once it fell, resistance elsewhere lost its focus.
Up to 2 marks per explained point, max 5, at least one point for each side for full marks.
Q22War of Independence 1857 · Challenge · Paper 1 style · 16 marks
(a)State two military causes of the war of 1857.[2]
(b)'Religious causes were the most important reason for the outbreak of the war in 1857.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer.[14]
Show answer
(a) Any two: greased cartridges; low pay; little promotion for Indians; overseas service; British troops outnumbered.
1 each.
(b) For: cartridges seen as an attack on both faiths; missionaries' activity and fear of forced conversion; laws ending sati and allowing widow remarriage. Against: political causes (Doctrine of Lapse, annexation of Awadh, treatment of the Mughal emperor); economic causes (heavy land taxes, ruin of handicrafts); military grievances. Judgement should be supported.
Level marking (14 marks). L1 (1–2): general statements with no relevant detail. L2 (3–6): identifies or describes relevant factors without explaining them. L3 (7–10): explains factors on one side only (7–8 for one explained point, 9–10 for two or more). L4 (9–13): explains factors on both sides (more developed points and accurate detail move the answer up the band). L5 (14): as L4, plus a supported judgement that answers 'how far' (or 'was it the most important'). Content points (credit any relevant, accurate point; each needs explaining, not just stating) — Religious causes: greased cartridges (cow and pig fat) offended both faiths; missionary activity and fear of conversion; laws ending sati and allowing widow remarriage. Other causes: political (Doctrine of Lapse, annexation of Awadh 1856, treatment of the Mughal emperor); economic (heavy land taxes, ruin of handicrafts); military grievances (pay, service overseas, British officers' attitude); social (British racial attitudes, English replacing Persian). A judgement must weigh the stated factor against the others, not just repeat the question.
Q23Mughal decline and the Marathas · Core · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe the problems Aurangzeb left for his successors when he died in 1707.[4]
(b)Explain why the Mughal Empire declined after 1707.[4]
Show answer
(a) Long wars in the Deccan had emptied the treasury. Rebellions by the Marathas, Sikhs, Jats and Rajputs continued. His policies such as the jizya had made many Hindus hostile. There was no agreed rule of succession, so his sons fought each other.
1 mark each, max 4.
(b) His successors were weak and fought wars of succession, so central control broke down and governors became independent (e.g. Hyderabad, Bengal, Awadh). Outside invasions such as Nadir Shah's sack of Delhi (1739) took away wealth and destroyed prestige.
2 explained points x 2: weak successors; wars of succession; independent provinces; Maratha and Sikh power; invasions (Nadir Shah, Abdali); empty treasury; arrival of Europeans.
Q24Mughal decline and the Marathas · Standard · Paper 1 style · 11 marks
(a)Describe the Third Battle of Panipat (1761).[4]
(b)Explain why the Third Battle of Panipat was important for the subcontinent.[7]
Show answer
(a) Fought on 14 January 1761 at Panipat, north of Delhi; between the Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali (Durrani) and the Marathas led by Sadashiv Rao Bhau; Abdali was supported by Indian Muslim allies such as the Rohilla chief Najib-ud-Daula and Shuja-ud-Daula of Awadh; Shah Waliullah had written to Abdali asking him to help Muslims against the Marathas; the Marathas were heavily defeated, with tens of thousands killed, including the Peshwa's son.
1 mark per accurate point, up to 4: date 1761; location Panipat, north of Delhi; Ahmad Shah Abdali against the Marathas; Maratha commander Sadashiv Rao Bhau; Indian Muslim allies (Najib-ud-Daula, Shuja-ud-Daula); Shah Waliullah's invitation; crushing Maratha defeat / very heavy losses; Abdali returned to Afghanistan afterwards.
(b) It stopped the Marathas from taking control of northern India and Delhi, which many Muslims feared; the Marathas lost a generation of leaders and soldiers, so their confederacy was weakened and became divided among rival chiefs; Abdali did not stay to rule, so no strong power replaced the Marathas or the Mughals, leaving a power vacuum in the north; this vacuum made it easier for the East India Company to expand, defeating Indian rulers at Buxar only three years later.
Level marking. L1 (1–2): general statements. L2 (3–4): identifies or describes reasons. L3 (5–7): explains reasons, 5–6 for one well-explained reason, 7 for two or more. Reasons to credit: Maratha advance into the north halted; heavy losses of Maratha leaders weakened the confederacy for years; Abdali's withdrawal left a power vacuum and the Mughal emperor still weak; British expansion helped (Buxar 1764, diwani 1765); relief for Muslims / fulfilment of Shah Waliullah's appeal.
Q25Mughal decline and the Marathas · Standard · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe the rise of the Marathas.[4]
(b)Explain why Maratha power declined in the late eighteenth century.[4]
Show answer
(a) The Marathas were Hindu warriors from the Deccan in western India. Under Shivaji (d. 1680) they fought the Mughals with guerrilla tactics and built a kingdom. After Aurangzeb's death the Peshwas led a Maratha confederacy that expanded north, collecting tribute (chauth) as far as Delhi.
1 mark each, max 4.
(b) Their defeat by Ahmad Shah Abdali at the Third Battle of Panipat (1761) killed many leaders and soldiers. The confederacy split into rival chiefs, which allowed the British to defeat them separately in the Anglo-Maratha wars.
2 explained points x 2: Panipat 1761; internal rivalry; British wars; Subsidiary Alliance accepted by Peshwa (1802).
Q26Mughal decline and the Marathas · Challenge · Paper 1 style · 16 marks
(a)Who was Nadir Shah and what did he do in 1739?[2]
(b)'Weak successors were the main reason for the decline of the Mughal Empire.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer.[14]
Show answer
(a) Ruler of Persia; he invaded India, defeated the Mughals and sacked Delhi, carrying off huge wealth including the Peacock Throne.
1 for Persian ruler; 1 for sack of Delhi / Peacock Throne.
(b) For: rulers after Aurangzeb were short-lived, pleasure-seeking or controlled by nobles; wars of succession weakened the centre. Against: Aurangzeb's own costly Deccan wars and religious policy; Maratha and Sikh rise; invasions by Nadir Shah and Abdali; the growing power of the British and French. Judgement supported.
Level marking (14 marks). L1 (1–2): general statements with no relevant detail. L2 (3–6): identifies or describes relevant factors without explaining them. L3 (7–10): explains factors on one side only (7–8 for one explained point, 9–10 for two or more). L4 (9–13): explains factors on both sides (more developed points and accurate detail move the answer up the band). L5 (14): as L4, plus a supported judgement that answers 'how far' (or 'was it the most important'). Content points (credit any relevant, accurate point; each needs explaining, not just stating) — Weak successors: short-lived, pleasure-seeking rulers after 1707; controlled by nobles (Sayyid brothers); wars of succession weakened the centre. Other reasons: Aurangzeb's costly Deccan wars and religious policy; rise of the Marathas and Sikhs; invasions by Nadir Shah (1739) and Ahmad Shah Abdali; size of the empire; financial problems; growing power of the British and French. A judgement must weigh the stated factor against the others, not just repeat the question.
Q27Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Aligarh Movement · Core · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe Sir Syed Ahmad Khan's educational work.[4]
(b)Explain why Sir Syed believed Muslims needed a modern Western education.[4]
Show answer
(a) He opened schools at Moradabad and Ghazipur, and founded the Scientific Society (1864), which translated English books into Urdu. He founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) School at Aligarh in 1875, which became the MAO College in 1877, teaching Western subjects alongside Islamic studies. In 1886 he set up the Muhammadan Educational Conference.
1 mark per accurate point, max 4: schools at Moradabad/Ghazipur; Scientific Society; translations into Urdu; MAO School 1875; MAO College 1877; Educational Conference 1886.
(b) After 1857 Muslims were distrusted by the British and lacked English, so they could not get government jobs that Hindus were taking. Sir Syed believed learning English and science would let Muslims compete, regain status and show loyalty, while keeping their faith.
2 explained points x 2: jobs in government required English; Hindus had advanced; improve economic/social position; Islam not opposed to science; build trust with British.
Q28Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Aligarh Movement · Core · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
Source A (written for this question): 'At the new college at Aligarh, boys studied English, science and mathematics, but they also prayed together and learned about Islam. They lived in boarding houses, played cricket and debated in the student union, as students did at the old universities in England.'
(a)According to Source A, identify three features of student life at Aligarh.[3]
(b)Explain why Sir Syed's Aligarh Movement met opposition.[5]
Show answer
(a) Studied English, science and mathematics; prayed together and learned about Islam; lived in boarding houses / played cricket / debated in the union.
1 mark each, from the source.
(b) Many conservative ulema feared Western education would weaken Islam; some issued fatwas against him and called him a 'nechari' because of his rational interpretation of religion. Some Muslims distrusted any closeness to the British. Some Hindus disliked his separate Muslim stance and opposition to Congress.
Up to 2 marks per explained reason, max 5: ulema/ Deoband opposed Western learning; his modern religious views; seen as too pro-British; Hindu nationalists opposed separate Muslim politics; funding/caste issues.
Q29Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Aligarh Movement · Standard · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe how Sir Syed tried to improve relations between Muslims and the British after 1857.[4]
(b)Explain why Sir Syed thought good relations with the British were important.[4]
Show answer
(a) He wrote 'Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind' (Causes of the Indian Revolt), arguing the British had caused the war by not understanding Indians. In 'The Loyal Muhammadans of India' he listed Muslims who helped the British. He wrote a commentary on the Bible to show the common ground between Islam and Christianity, and explained that Muslims could eat with Christians.
1 mark each, max 4: Causes of the Indian Revolt; Loyal Muhammadans; Tabyin-ul-Kalam (commentary on Bible); 'Ahkam-i-Ta'am-i-Ahl-i-Kitab' on dining with Christians; urged loyalty.
(b) The British blamed Muslims for 1857 and treated them harshly, removing them from jobs and land. Sir Syed saw that the British would stay in power, so Muslims could only improve their position by cooperating and gaining British trust.
2 explained points x 2: Muslims blamed for 1857; harsh treatment / loss of jobs; British were in power for the foreseeable future; trust needed for education and jobs.
Q30Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Aligarh Movement · Standard · Paper 1 style · 7 marks
(a)What was the Hindi–Urdu controversy of 1867?[2]
(b)Explain why Sir Syed advised Muslims not to join the Indian National Congress.[5]
Show answer
(a) Some Hindus in Benares demanded that Hindi in the Devanagari script replace Urdu (in Persian script) as an official language in the courts and offices.
1 for demand to replace Urdu with Hindi; 1 for Devanagari script / official language / Benares.
(b) He believed Congress would represent the Hindu majority, so under elections Muslims would always be outvoted. After the Hindi–Urdu controversy he saw Hindus and Muslims as separate nations with different interests. He also feared that Congress's political demands would anger the British and harm Muslims, who still needed British trust and education.
Up to 2 marks per explained reason, max 5: majority rule = Hindu rule; two-nation idea; Urdu controversy; Muslims not ready for politics / needed education first; agitation would provoke British.
Q31Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Aligarh Movement · Challenge · Paper 1 style · 16 marks
(a)Name the journal Sir Syed published to promote social reform among Muslims, and state the year in which it was first published.[2]
(b)'Sir Syed's educational work was his most important contribution to the Muslims of the subcontinent.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer.[14]
Show answer
(a) Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq; first published in 1870.
1 for Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq (accept Tehzeeb-ul-Akhlaq / Mohammedan Social Reformer); 1 for 1870.
(b) Agree: MAO College trained a Muslim elite of lawyers, officials and later League leaders; the Educational Conference spread schools. Disagree: his writings rebuilt trust with the British; his Two-Nation idea and advice to stay out of Congress laid the basis of separate Muslim politics; his religious and social reforms changed attitudes. Judgement: education was the vehicle through which the other contributions worked, so it was most important, or his political ideas were.
Level marking (14 marks). L1 (1–2): general statements with no relevant detail. L2 (3–6): identifies or describes relevant factors without explaining them. L3 (7–10): explains factors on one side only (7–8 for one explained point, 9–10 for two or more). L4 (9–13): explains factors on both sides (more developed points and accurate detail move the answer up the band). L5 (14): as L4, plus a supported judgement that answers 'how far' (or 'was it the most important'). Content points (credit any relevant, accurate point; each needs explaining, not just stating) — Education: MAO School 1875 / College 1877; trained Muslim lawyers, officials and future League leaders; Scientific Society (translations); Muhammadan Educational Conference 1886. Other contributions: writings (Causes of the Indian Revolt, Loyal Muhammadans) rebuilt trust with the British; Two-Nation idea; advice to stay out of Congress; religious and social reform (Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq, commentary on the Quran); defence of Urdu. A judgement must weigh the stated factor against the others, not just repeat the question.
Q32Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and the Aligarh Movement · Challenge · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe the Muhammadan Educational Conference.[3]
(b)Explain how the Aligarh Movement contributed to the later political development of Muslims.[5]
Show answer
(a) Founded by Sir Syed in 1886; it met each year in a different city to promote modern education among Muslims; it encouraged local schools; its 1906 session at Dhaka led to the founding of the All-India Muslim League.
1 mark each, max 3.
(b) Aligarh produced educated Muslims who could argue their case with the British; many became leaders of the Simla Deputation (1906) and the Muslim League. The idea that Muslims were a separate nation with separate interests came from Sir Syed and was carried on by his successors such as Mohsin-ul-Mulk. The college became a centre of Muslim political activity and later supported the Pakistan Movement.
Up to 2 marks per explained point, max 5: educated leadership; Two-Nation idea; Simla Deputation / League founded at Educational Conference; Aligarh students in Pakistan Movement; Urdu as symbol of identity.
Q33Indian National Congress 1885 · Core · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)Describe the founding of the Indian National Congress.[4]
(b)Explain why the demands of the Indian National Congress were moderate in its early years.[4]
Show answer
(a) Founded in December 1885 at Bombay. A. O. Hume, a retired British civil servant, helped organise it. Its first session had about 72 delegates, mostly educated Hindus, and W. C. Bonnerjee was president. It aimed to give educated Indians a voice and a share in government.
1 mark each, max 4.
(b) Its members were mostly Western-educated lawyers, teachers and officials who admired British institutions and wanted reform within British rule, not independence. After the harsh suppression of 1857 they believed that petitions and loyal, peaceful requests were more likely to succeed and would not provoke the government; British sympathisers such as A. O. Hume encouraged this approach.
2 explained points x 2: members Western-educated / loyal to Britain; wanted a share in government, not independence; fear of repression after 1857; belief in petitions and constitutional methods; influence of Hume and British sympathisers.
Q34Indian National Congress 1885 · Standard · Paper 1 style · 8 marks
(a)State three early demands of the Indian National Congress.[3]
(b)Explain why the Indian National Congress was formed in 1885.[5]
Show answer
(a) Any three: more Indians in the legislative councils; civil service examinations held in India as well as in England; reduced military spending; lower taxes / economic relief; elected members in councils.
1 each.
(b) Western-educated Indians wanted a share in government and a forum to express their views peacefully. A. O. Hume and some British officials thought a body like this would act as a 'safety valve' and prevent another 1857. Railways, the press and the English language made all-India organisation possible.
Up to 2 marks per explained reason, max 5.
Similar questions
Questions that test the same subtopic in different years, grouped so you can work on one skill at a time.
References only: find each question in its paper (official link where available, otherwise through your school).
British expansion and the East India CompanyBanker4 questions · 4/5 sessions
