QUESTION: The great rising of 1857 was an important event that produced far-reaching results. Explain the following with reference to the great uprising the changes introduced in the administrative set-up of the British territories in India.
Answer: The British realized that the ratio of Europeans and Indian sepoys in the army was a major factor in the Revolt of 1857. The number of European troops was increased and artillery and other weapons were placed under the Europeans only. To curb the unity among Indian troops, the new army was organized on division and counterpoise.
(i) A Royal Indian Army was created by merging the armies of the Company and the Crown together under a Commander-in-Chief.
(ii) The ratio of Europeans and Indians in the army was fixed at 1 : 2 in Bengal and 2 : 5 in Bombay and Madras.
(iii) Indian soldiers were excluded from the artillery and arsenal departments.
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