Topic

Expansion of British Power - Part 2 - Topic Guide and MCQs

Part of General Knowledge > Modern History - 25 questions, about 12.5 min, with an explanation after every answer.

25
Question count
about 12.5 min
Estimated time
Mixed
Difficulty
03 Oct 2026
Last updated
Quick answer

Expansion of British Power - Part 2 is a topic inside General Knowledge (Modern History). It runs 25 MCQs at 30 seconds each - roughly 12.5 min - and every question explains its answer the moment you submit it.

Topic introduction

What Expansion of British Power - Part 2 covers

The shape of the set before you start it.

Expansion of British Power - Part 2 sits inside General Knowledge, under the Modern History lane, and the portal keeps it as one self-contained set: 25 questions, four options each, 30 seconds on the clock and a written explanation behind every answer.

Attempt it untimed first to find the gaps, read why each distractor is wrong, then repeat the same set against the clock. The questions you miss twice are the ones worth writing down.

Question bank

Expansion of British Power - Part 2: all 25 questions

Read the question, pick an option, then open the answer.

  1. Under the Treaty of Amritsar (1809) between Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the East India Company, which river became the boundary?

    1. Beas
    2. Ravi
    3. Sutlej
    4. Chenab
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Sutlej

    Explanation: The Treaty of Amritsar (1809) fixed the Sutlej as the boundary between Ranjit Singh's kingdom and British territory.

  2. The Tripartite Treaty of 1838 was signed by Ranjit Singh, the British and

    1. Shah Shuja
    2. Dost Mohammed
    3. Sher Ali
    4. Yakub Khan
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Shah Shuja

    Explanation: In 1838 Ranjit Singh, the British and Shah Shuja signed the Tripartite Treaty, which preceded the First Anglo-Afghan War.

  3. Sindh was annexed in 1843 during the tenure of which Governor-General?

    1. Lord Auckland
    2. Lord Dalhousie
    3. Lord Hardinge
    4. Lord Ellenborough
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Lord Ellenborough

    Explanation: Lord Ellenborough annexed Sindh in 1843 after the Amirs revolted and were defeated. Charles Napier became its first British Governor.

  4. Who became the first British Governor of Sindh?

    1. Nicholas Smith
    2. Charles Napier
    3. Henry Lawrence
    4. John Lawrence
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Charles Napier

    Explanation: Charles Napier, who defeated the Amirs, became the first British Governor of Sindh after its annexation in 1843.

  5. Which of these battles was NOT fought in the First Anglo-Sikh War (1845-46)?

    1. Mudki
    2. Ferozeshah
    3. Sabraon
    4. Chillianwala
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Chillianwala

    Explanation: Mudki, Ferozeshah, Aliwal and Sabraon belong to the First Anglo-Sikh War. Chillianwala (1849) was fought in the Second Anglo-Sikh War, along with Ramnagar and Gujrat.

  6. Before the First Anglo-Sikh War, Lal Singh was the Wazir. Who was the Commander of the Sikh army, also blamed for the defeats?

    1. Sher Singh
    2. Gulab Singh
    3. Mulraj
    4. Teja Singh
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Teja Singh

    Explanation: Lal Singh (Wazir) and Teja Singh (Commander) led the Sikh side in 1845-46; the defeats are mainly attributed to their betrayal.

  7. Under the Treaty of Lahore (1846), which territory was annexed by the British?

    1. Jalandhar Doab
    2. Multan
    3. Kashmir
    4. Peshawar
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Jalandhar Doab

    Explanation: The Treaty of Lahore (March 1846) took the Jalandhar Doab, imposed a war indemnity of over one crore rupees and placed a British Resident at Lahore.

  8. Since the Sikh durbar could not pay the full war indemnity in 1846, Kashmir including Jammu was transferred to

    1. Lal Singh
    2. Teja Singh
    3. Gulab Singh
    4. Sher Singh
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Gulab Singh

    Explanation: Unable to pay the full indemnity under the Treaty of Lahore, the Sikh state lost Kashmir, which the British transferred to Gulab Singh.

  9. Under the Treaty of Bhairowal (December 1846), who was removed from the position of Regent?

    1. Daleep Singh
    2. Rani Jindan
    3. Lal Singh
    4. Mulraj
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Rani Jindan

    Explanation: The Treaty of Bhairowal removed Rani Jindan as Regent and set up a Council of Regency working under British Resident Henry Lawrence.

  10. Who was appointed the British Resident at Lahore after the First Anglo-Sikh War?

    1. Henry Lawrence
    2. John Lawrence
    3. Charles Napier
    4. Charles Mansel
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Henry Lawrence

    Explanation: Henry Lawrence was the British Resident at Lahore; the Council of Regency under the Treaty of Bhairowal worked under him.

  11. The revolt that led to the Second Anglo-Sikh War began at Multan under

    1. Sher Singh
    2. Lal Singh
    3. Teja Singh
    4. Mulraj
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Mulraj

    Explanation: The Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-49) started with the revolt of Diwan Mulraj at Multan; Sher Singh later joined it.

  12. Which was the final, decisive battle of the Second Anglo-Sikh War, after which the Sikh army surrendered?

    1. Ramnagar
    2. Chillianwala
    3. Gujrat
    4. Sabraon
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Gujrat

    Explanation: The three battles of the Second Anglo-Sikh War were Ramnagar, Chillianwala and Gujrat (in Punjab). After Gujrat (February 1849) the Sikh army surrendered.

  13. Punjab was annexed to British India in 1849 by

    1. Lord Ellenborough
    2. Lord Dalhousie
    3. Lord Hardinge
    4. Lord Auckland
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Lord Dalhousie

    Explanation: Lord Dalhousie personally supervised the Second Anglo-Sikh War and annexed Punjab in March 1849.

  14. Who was the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire?

    1. Daleep Singh
    2. Sher Singh
    3. Kharak Singh
    4. Nau Nihal Singh
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Daleep Singh

    Explanation: Daleep Singh, with Rani Jindan as Regent, was the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire. Punjab was annexed in 1849.

  15. After the Board of Administration was abolished in 1853, who became the first Chief Commissioner of Punjab?

    1. Henry Lawrence
    2. Charles Mansel
    3. Charles Napier
    4. John Lawrence
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) John Lawrence

    Explanation: Punjab was first run by a three-member Board (Henry Lawrence, John Lawrence, Charles Mansel). In 1853 the Board was abolished and John Lawrence became the first Chief Commissioner.

  16. The Ring-Fence Policy, under which the Company defended neighbouring states to secure its own frontiers, is associated with

    1. Lord Wellesley
    2. Lord Dalhousie
    3. Warren Hastings
    4. Lord Cornwallis
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Warren Hastings

    Explanation: Warren Hastings followed the Ring-Fence Policy: allied states were defended by Company troops at their own cost to protect British borders.

  17. The Subsidiary Alliance system was introduced by

    1. Lord Wellesley
    2. Warren Hastings
    3. Lord Dalhousie
    4. Lord Hastings
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Lord Wellesley

    Explanation: Lord Wellesley introduced the Subsidiary Alliance, an extension of the Ring-Fence Policy. Hyderabad, Mysore, Awadh and the Peshwa were among the states that accepted it.

  18. Which of the following was NOT a condition of the Subsidiary Alliance?

    1. A permanent British force was kept in the state
    2. The ruler paid for the upkeep of that force
    3. A British Resident was posted at the ruler's court
    4. The ruler could freely employ any European
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) The ruler could freely employ any European

    Explanation: Under the Subsidiary Alliance the ruler kept a British force at his own cost, accepted a British Resident, and could NOT employ Europeans, declare war or make treaties without British approval.

  19. The Doctrine of Lapse is associated with

    1. Lord Wellesley
    2. Lord Dalhousie
    3. Lord Lytton
    4. Lord Auckland
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Lord Dalhousie

    Explanation: Under Lord Dalhousie's Doctrine of Lapse, a state whose ruler died without a natural male heir could be annexed; an adopted son could inherit only private property.

  20. Which was the first state annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse (1848)?

    1. Jhansi
    2. Nagpur
    3. Satara
    4. Sambalpur
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Satara

    Explanation: Satara (1848) was the first state annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse, followed by Sambalpur, Baghat, Jhansi and Nagpur.

  21. Awadh was annexed in 1856 on which ground?

    1. Doctrine of Lapse
    2. Subsidiary Alliance
    3. Defeat in war
    4. Misgovernment
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Misgovernment

    Explanation: Awadh was annexed in 1856 on the ground of misgovernment and Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was removed. It was NOT annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse - a common exam trap.

  22. The Forward Policy that led to the First Anglo-Afghan War (1839-42) is associated with

    1. Lord Auckland
    2. Lord Lytton
    3. John Lawrence
    4. Lord Dalhousie
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Lord Auckland

    Explanation: Lord Auckland (Governor-General from 1836) followed the Forward Policy to stop a feared Russian advance; the British put Shah Shuja on the Afghan throne.

  23. The 'Policy of Masterly Inactivity' towards Afghanistan was followed by

    1. Lord Lytton
    2. John Lawrence
    3. Lord Auckland
    4. Lord Ellenborough
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) John Lawrence

    Explanation: John Lawrence followed Masterly Inactivity - no interference in Afghanistan - and kept friendly relations with Sher Ali. Lord Lytton's policy was 'Proud Reserve'.

  24. The 'Policy of Proud Reserve' towards Afghanistan is associated with

    1. John Lawrence
    2. Lord Lytton
    3. Lord Auckland
    4. Lord Wellesley
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Lord Lytton

    Explanation: Lord Lytton, Viceroy from 1876, followed the Policy of Proud Reserve to secure a 'scientific frontier'. John Lawrence's policy was Masterly Inactivity; Lord Auckland's was the Forward Policy.

  25. The Treaty of Gandamak (1879), which ended the main phase of the Second Anglo-Afghan War, was signed with

    1. Dost Mohammed
    2. Sher Ali
    3. Yakub Khan
    4. Shah Shuja
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Yakub Khan

    Explanation: Sher Ali refused a British envoy after accepting a Russian one; Lord Lytton ordered the invasion. Sher Ali fled, and the Treaty of Gandamak (1879) was signed with his son Yakub Khan.

Why it matters

Why Expansion of British Power - Part 2 is worth the hours

Where the marks actually come from.

Expansion of British Power - Part 2 is factual rather than analytical: you either recall it in seconds or you lose the mark to somebody who did. That makes it one of the cheapest sections to convert - a handful of short sittings usually settles the whole cluster.

Exam relevance

Exams where Expansion of British Power - Part 2 matters

Derived from the subject and lane this topic belongs to.

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The highest-volume recruitment on this list. Build your base with Punjab GK and current affairs, then drill reasoning until speed is automatic.

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The most competitive paper here. Polity, history and quant reasoning decide the rank - so take full timed mocks before the exam.

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A tighter syllabus: general awareness, Punjabi and basic reasoning. Perfect for a daily quiz habit - short sessions, high consistency.

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Punjab Police recruits across several posts - Constable, ASI, Sub-Inspector, Intelligence Assistant and Jail Warder each have their own page below. Start with your post, then drill the shared subjects as daily MCQs.

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General awareness and English carry this paper. Track Punjab policy news daily and revise it as MCQs, not as notes.

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Grammar, comprehension, typing and basic computer knowledge. Accuracy beats speed here - review every wrong answer.

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Expected questions

Expected questions from Expansion of British Power - Part 2

What an examiner usually reaches for in this cluster.

Expect one-line recall questions - definitions, stand-for expansions, identifiers and the ordering of things. Practise the wording as well as the concept: these papers test terminology, and the set above uses the same four-option shape they do.

Daily habit

Keep the Expected MCQs habit running

20 fresh mixed questions a day, plus the current-affairs sets examiners keep reusing.

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Previous year questions

Previous Year Questions

How this topic behaves in real papers.

Past papers reuse clusters like this almost verbatim across years and posts. Run the same set until every distractor is familiar - previous-year style questions stop being recall and start being free marks.

Where the previous-year sets live

The portal's previous-year practice runs through the General Knowledge lane and the daily mixed quiz.

Previous Year Questions Daily Quiz
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Related topics

Neighbouring sets in this subject, then the rest of the portal.

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Expansion of British Power - Part 2 - common questions

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How long is the Expansion of British Power - Part 2 quiz?

Expansion of British Power - Part 2 runs 25 questions - about 12.5 min at 30 seconds each. The set clears at 40% and you can retake it as often as you like.

What kind of questions does Expansion of British Power - Part 2 ask?

The set answers that: each question carries four options and a full explanation, so you learn the wording an examiner uses, not just the fact behind it.

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