Consider the following statements regarding the British policy in Awadh immediately after its annexation in 1856:1.The taluqdars were dispossessed of their estates but allowed to retain their arms and forts.2.A Summary Revenue Settlement was made in 1856 assuming that the taluqdars were outsiders.3.The British believed in taking revenue directly from the peasants by removing the taluqdars.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A

   2 and 3 only

   2 and 3 only. Statement 2 is correct because the Summary Revenue Settlement of 1856 was based on the assumption that the taluqdars were interlopers who had established their hold over the land through force and fraud. Statement 3 is correct because British policy aimed to bypass the taluqdars and settle revenue directly with the actual cultivators, believing this would protect peasants and increase state revenue.

2. B

   1 and 3 only

   Statement 1 claims that the taluqdars were allowed to retain their arms and forts, which is incorrect. As part of the pacification and disarmament of Awadh, the British dismantled thousands of taluqdars' forts and confiscated their weapons, making this option wrong.

3. C

   1, 2 and 3

   This option includes statement 1, which is incorrect because the British systematically disarmed the taluqdars and destroyed their mud forts.

4. D

   2 only

   This option is incomplete because while statement 2 is correct, statement 3 is also correct as part of the core British land revenue policy in newly annexed Awadh. Summary. Official key is (a). The British annexation of Awadh in 1856 led to the Summary Revenue Settlement, which treated taluqdars as intruders and sought to settle revenue directly with the cultivators, thereby undermining traditional authority structures. Statement 1 is incorrect because taluqdars were disarmed and their forts were dismantled.

Summary. Official key is (a). The British annexation of Awadh in 1856 led to the Summary Revenue Settlement, which treated taluqdars as intruders and sought to settle revenue directly with the cultivators, thereby undermining traditional authority structures. Statement 1 is incorrect because taluqdars were disarmed and their forts were dismantled.