Sikh Empire & Colonial Annexations MCQs with Answers
Solved MCQs on Tipu Sultan and the Anglo-Mysore Wars, Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Sikh Empire, the Anglo-Sikh Wars and the British annexation of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan — for PPSC, FPSC, NTS, CSS and PMS.
Tipu Sultan is known as the ‘Tiger of Mysore’; his birth name was Fateh Ali.
Haider Ali established independent rule over Mysore in 1761.
The First Anglo-Mysore War (1767–1769) was fought between the English and Haider Ali.
Haider Ali died in 1782, and Tipu Sultan succeeded him.
The Treaty of Seringapatam (1792) ended the Third Anglo-Mysore War; Mysore ceded half its territory.
Lord Cornwallis led the British in the Third Anglo-Mysore War.
The Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1798–99) was directed by Lord Wellesley.
Tipu Sultan was martyred at Seringapatam on 4 May 1799; Mir Sadiq is remembered as the traitor.
Tipu Sultan sought a French alliance, corresponding with King Louis XVI.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh founded the Sikh Empire, ruling from Lahore.
Ranjit Singh captured Lahore in 1799 and ruled about 40 years until 1839.
Persian was the official language of the Punjab government under the Sikh Empire.
Ranjit Singh lost sight in one eye due to smallpox in childhood.
Ranjit Singh conquered Kashmir in 1819 and appointed Hari Singh Nalwa its governor.
Jean-Baptiste Ventura (French) and Colonel Alexander Gardner served in the Sikh Khalsa Army.
The Treaty of Amritsar (1809) fixed the Sutlej as the boundary and pledged mutual non-interference.
Ranjit Singh died in 1839; his eldest son Kharak Singh succeeded him.
Duleep Singh became Maharaja in 1843 and was the last ruler of the Sikh Empire.
The First Anglo-Sikh War was fought in 1845–1846.
Gulab Singh of Jammu sided with the British and was rewarded with Kashmir.
The Treaty of Amritsar (1846) sold Kashmir to Gulab Singh for 75 lakh (7.5 million) Nanakshahi Rupees.
The Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–1849) ended with the annexation of Punjab.
Punjab was annexed on 29 March 1849 under the Treaty of Lahore.
Lord Dalhousie was Governor-General when Punjab was annexed.
Charles James Napier annexed Sindh in 1843 into the Bombay Presidency.
The pretext for annexing Sindh was alleged non-cooperation in the First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–42).
The Goldsmid Line (1871), named after Major General Frederick Goldsmid, defined the Iran–Balochistan border.
Quetta was made a commissionership in 1876.
Kalat came under British influence in 1839, formalised by the Treaty of Mastung (1876).
Las Bela, founded in 1742, accepted British influence in 1869.
British expansion from Bengal to Balochistan relied on gradually weakening local rulers through subsidiary treaties.
What was the real name of Tipu Sultan?
Tipu Sultan was born Fateh Ali, later styled Sultan Fateh Ali Sahab Tipu. 'Tipu' was the name by which he became universally known.
Tipu Sultan was the ruler of:
Tipu Sultan was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India.
Tipu Sultan maintained diplomatic relations with which French king?
Tipu Sultan corresponded with King Louis XVI of France, seeking an alliance against the British East India Company.
The First Anglo-Mysore War was fought between:
The First Anglo-Mysore War was fought between the British East India Company and Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan's father.
The Fourth Anglo-Mysore War started in:
The Fourth Anglo-Mysore War began in 1798 and ended in 1799 with Tipu Sultan's death.
Who is titled the 'Tiger of Mysore'?
Tipu Sultan is famously known as the 'Tiger of Mysore' for his fierce resistance to British expansion.
In which year did Haider Ali establish the state of Mysore?
Hyder Ali established his independent authority over Mysore in 1761.
During which years was the First Anglo-Mysore War fought?
The First Anglo-Mysore War took place from 1767 to 1769.
Who succeeded Haider Ali as ruler of Mysore after his death in 1782?
Tipu Sultan succeeded his father, Hyder Ali, in 1782.
Which treaty concluded the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-1792)?
The Third Anglo-Mysore War ended with the Treaty of Seringapatam in 1792.
In which year did Haider Ali die, leaving Tipu Sultan to continue the fight against the British?
Hyder Ali died in 1782 during the Second Anglo-Mysore War.
Who led the British forces in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1798-1799)?
Governor-General Lord Wellesley directed the campaign that ended Tipu Sultan's rule.
When was Tipu Sultan martyred during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War?
Tipu Sultan was killed defending his capital Seringapatam on 4 May 1799.
Who was the traitor held responsible for Tipu Sultan's defeat in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War?
Mir Sadiq, a minister in Tipu's court, is traditionally held to have betrayed him during the siege of Seringapatam.
Which British general fought the Third Anglo-Mysore War?
Lord Cornwallis led the British forces during the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-1792).
What was the result of the Treaty of Seringapatam?
Under the treaty Tipu Sultan was forced to cede half of his kingdom to the British and their allies.
Who founded the independent Sikh state?
Maharaja Ranjit Singh founded the Sikh Empire in the Punjab region.
In the early 19th century, what was the official language of the Punjab government?
Persian was the official court and administrative language of the Sikh Empire under Ranjit Singh.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh ruled Punjab for approximately:
Ranjit Singh ruled from his capture of Lahore in 1799 until his death in 1839 — roughly 40 years.
Ranjit Singh ruled Punjab from which city?
Lahore was the political capital of the Sikh Empire.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh lost vision in his left eye as a result of:
Ranjit Singh lost the sight of one eye to smallpox in childhood.
The British annexed Punjab under which treaty?
Punjab was annexed under the Treaty of Lahore (1849) following the Second Anglo-Sikh War.
Who was the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire?
Duleep Singh, the youngest son of Ranjit Singh, was the last ruler of the Sikh Empire before its annexation.
In which year did Ranjit Singh establish his rule in Punjab?
Ranjit Singh consolidated his control over Lahore in 1799.
Which region did Ranjit Singh conquer in 1819?
Ranjit Singh conquered Kashmir in 1819.
Who was appointed governor of Kashmir by Ranjit Singh?
Hari Singh Nalwa, Ranjit Singh's most celebrated general, served as Governor of Kashmir from 1820.
Which European served as a general in Ranjit Singh's army?
Jean-Baptiste Ventura, a French officer of Napoleon's former army, commanded the Fauj-i-Khas of the Sikh Khalsa Army.
Near which Lahore landmark was Jean Baptiste Ventura allowed to reside during Ranjit Singh's rule?
During Sikh rule the Badshahi Mosque complex was used for military purposes, and Ventura was quartered in that precinct.
Which well-known Western soldier served as a colonel in Ranjit Singh's army?
Colonel Alexander Gardner, an adventurer of Scottish descent born in America, served in the Sikh army and left a famous memoir.
In which year did Ranjit Singh pass away?
Maharaja Ranjit Singh died in 1839, after which the Sikh Empire rapidly destabilised.
What was the name of the 1809 treaty between the British and Ranjit Singh?
The Treaty of Amritsar (1809) fixed the boundary between Ranjit Singh's territories and the British East India Company.
What did the 1809 Treaty of Amritsar stipulate?
The core of the treaty was mutual non-interference, with the Sutlej River as the agreed boundary.
Who became ruler of Punjab immediately after Ranjit Singh's death in 1839?
Kharak Singh, Ranjit Singh's eldest son, succeeded him in 1839. After a turbulent succession, Duleep Singh became Maharaja in 1843.
In which year did the First Anglo-Sikh War begin?
The First Anglo-Sikh War was fought from 1845 to 1846.
Which Dogra leader sided with the British during the First Anglo-Sikh War?
Gulab Singh, Raja of Jammu, acted in British interests during the war and was rewarded with Kashmir. Hari Singh Nalwa had died in 1837, years before the conflict.
The Treaty of Amritsar (1846) handed Kashmir to which ruler?
The Treaty of Amritsar (1846) transferred Kashmir to Raja Gulab Singh, founder of the Dogra dynasty. (Hari Singh was the last Dogra Maharaja, but only from 1925.)
For how much was Kashmir sold under the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846?
Kashmir was sold to Gulab Singh for 75 lakh (7.5 million) Nanakshahi Rupees.
What role was Duleep Singh given after the First Anglo-Sikh War?
After the war Duleep Singh remained the nominal ruler of Punjab under British supervision.
When did the Second Anglo-Sikh War take place?
The Second Anglo-Sikh War was fought from 1848 to 1849.
What was the result of the Second Anglo-Sikh War?
The war ended with the complete British annexation of Punjab in 1849.
When was Punjab officially annexed by the British?
Punjab was officially annexed on 29 March 1849.
Under which Governor-General did the British annex Punjab?
Lord Dalhousie was Governor-General of India at the time of the annexation of Punjab.
Who annexed Sindh into the Bombay Presidency in 1843?
Sindh was annexed by General Charles James Napier in 1843.
What was the stated reason for the annexation of Sindh by Charles James Napier?
The British claimed the Talpur rulers of Sindh had failed to cooperate during the First Anglo-Afghan War, providing the pretext for annexation.
When was the Goldsmid Line established to define the Balochistan border?
The Goldsmid Line was demarcated in 1871 to settle the border between Persia and Balochistan (Kalat).
Which area was given the status of a commissionership in 1876?
Quetta was given the status of a commissionership during the British consolidation of Balochistan.
When did Kalat come under British influence?
Kalat came under British influence in 1839, when a treaty was imposed during the First Anglo-Afghan War. British control was formalised further by the Treaty of Mastung in 1876.
When did Las Bela come under British influence?
Las Bela accepted British influence in 1869. The date 1742 refers to the founding of the Las Bela state itself under the Aliani dynasty.
What was the main British strategy for annexing areas from Bengal to Balochistan?
British strategy involved gradually undermining local rulers through subsidiary treaties, subsidies and staged annexations.
Which war indirectly influenced the annexation of Sindh?
The failure of the First Anglo-Afghan War (1839-1842) motivated the British to secure Sindh as a strategic outpost.
Which British official defined the border between Iran and Balochistan?
Major General Frederick John Goldsmid demarcated the boundary, which is named the Goldsmid Line after him.
Sikh Empire & Colonial Annexations — Complete Reference for Competitive Exams
This chapter covers the century in which the subcontinent passed decisively into British hands. It runs from Tipu Sultan and the four Anglo-Mysore Wars, through Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Sikh Empire and the two Anglo-Sikh Wars, to the British annexation of Punjab (1849), Sindh (1843) and the consolidation of Balochistan. These topics recur constantly in PPSC, FPSC, NTS, CSS, PMS and OTS papers. It is Chapter 3 of our Pakistan Studies MCQs hub.
Anglo-Mysore Wars & Tipu Sultan
| War | Years | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| First Anglo-Mysore | 1767–1769 | English vs Haider Ali, who founded Mysore’s independent rule in 1761 |
| Second Anglo-Mysore | 1780–1784 | Haider Ali died in 1782; Tipu Sultan succeeded him |
| Third Anglo-Mysore | 1790–1792 | Led by Lord Cornwallis; ended with the Treaty of Seringapatam — Mysore ceded half its territory |
| Fourth Anglo-Mysore | 1798–1799 | Directed by Lord Wellesley; Tipu Sultan martyred 4 May 1799; Mir Sadiq remembered as the traitor |
Maharaja Ranjit Singh & the Sikh Empire
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capital | Lahore — captured 1799, ruled about 40 years |
| Official language | Persian |
| Kashmir | Conquered 1819; Hari Singh Nalwa appointed governor |
| European officers | Jean-Baptiste Ventura (French), Colonel Alexander Gardner |
| Treaty of Amritsar | 1809 — Sutlej boundary, mutual non-interference with the British |
| Death | 1839; succeeded by his eldest son Kharak Singh |
| Last Maharaja | Duleep Singh (Maharaja from 1843) |
British Annexations — Dates You Must Know
| Event | Year | Key Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Annexation of Sindh | 1843 | Charles James Napier |
| First Anglo-Sikh War | 1845–1846 | Gulab Singh sided with the British |
| Treaty of Amritsar (Kashmir sold) | 1846 | Gulab Singh — 75 lakh Nanakshahi Rupees |
| Second Anglo-Sikh War | 1848–1849 | Ended Sikh sovereignty |
| Annexation of Punjab | 29 March 1849 | Lord Dalhousie (Treaty of Lahore) |
| Kalat under British influence | 1839 | Formalised by Treaty of Mastung, 1876 |
| Las Bela under British influence | 1869 | State itself founded 1742 |
| Goldsmid Line | 1871 | Maj. Gen. Frederick Goldsmid — Iran/Balochistan border |
| Quetta commissionership | 1876 | British consolidation of Balochistan |
Common exam trap: Gulab Singh received Kashmir under the 1846 Treaty of Amritsar and founded the Dogra dynasty. Hari Singh was the last Dogra Maharaja, ruling only from 1925 — and Hari Singh Nalwa, Ranjit Singh’s general, is a third person entirely who died in 1837. Question banks mix all three.
For further reading see Wikipedia’s entries on the Sikh Empire and Tipu Sultan. Syllabus references are published by FPSC and PPSC.