Easy2Siksha Sample Paper
GNDU Most Repeated (Important) Quesons
B.Com 5th Semester
Punjab History & Culture (From 1849–1947 A.D.)
(Based on 3-Year GNDU Queson Paper Trend Analysis: 2022–2024)
Must-Prepare Quesons (80–100% Probability)
SECTION–A (Brish Annexaon & Administraon in Punjab)
1. First Anglo-Sikh War – Events and Consequences (3 mes)
2022 (Q1), 2023 (Q1), 2024 (Q1)
Appears every year as the rst queson; extremely high probability. Always
theory-based with clear historical explanaon required.
Brish Administraon / Board of Administraon in Punjab (3 mes)
2022 (Q2), 2023 (Q2), 2024 (Q2 – related to annexaon & administraon)*
Every year focuses on Brish control and reforms aer annexaon. Must prepare
structure, funcons, and achievements of the Board
2025 Smart Predicon Table
(Based on 3-Year GNDU Paper Trend: 2022–2024)
Secon
Queson Topic
Years
Appeared
Priority
A
First Anglo-Sikh War – Events &
Consequences
2022–24
Very High
(100%)
A
Brish Administraon / Board of
Administraon
2022–24
Very High
(100%)
B
Brish Policy towards Agriculture & Industry
2022–24
Very High
(100%)
Easy2Siksha Sample Paper
2025 GUARANTEED QUESTIONS (100% Appearance Trend)
Top 5 Must-Prepare Quesons (Appear All 3 Years)
1. Describe the events and consequences of the First Anglo-Sikh War.
BONUS HIGH-PRIORITY QUESTIONS (80–90%)
6. Discuss the origin and development of the Gadhar Movement in Punjab.
GNDU Most Repeated (Important) Answers
B.Com 5th Semester
Punjab History & Culture (From 1849–1947 A.D.)
(Based on 3-Year GNDU Queson Paper Trend Analysis: 2022–2024)
Must-Prepare Quesons (80–100% Probability)
SECTION–A (Brish Annexaon & Administraon in Punjab)
First Anglo-Sikh War – Events and Consequences (3 mes)
2022 (Q1), 2023 (Q1), 2024 (Q1)
Appears every year as the rst queson; extremely high probability. Always theory-
based with clear historical explanaon required.
Ans: It is December 1845. The winter fog hangs heavy over the Sutlej river. On one side
stand the proud soldiers of the Khalsa Army, heirs of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s mighty
Sikh Empire. On the other side, the red-coated troops of the British East India Company,
disciplined, ambitious, and eager to expand their dominion. Both armies stare at each
other across the river, knowing that the peace of Punjab—and perhaps the fate of
northern India—will be decided in the coming months.
This is the beginning of the First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46), a short but bloody conflict
that reshaped the destiny of Punjab and brought the British closer to ruling all of India.
Let’s walk through this story step by step: the background, the key events and battles,
and the consequences.
Easy2Siksha Sample Paper
Background: Why Did War Break Out?
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the “Lion of Punjab,” had built a powerful Sikh Empire
stretching from the Sutlej to the Khyber.
• But after his death in 1839, the empire weakened due to court intrigues,
succession struggles, and the growing influence of ambitious generals.
• The Khalsa Army, once disciplined, became politicized and restless.
• The British East India Company, already controlling much of India, eyed Punjab as
the last great independent kingdom.
• Tensions rose along the Sutlej frontier, where British and Sikh forces faced each
other.
Trigger: In December 1845, the Sikh army crossed the Sutlej into British territory. The
Company declared war.
Major Events and Battles
The war lasted less than a year but saw several fierce battles.
1. Battle of Mudki (18 December 1845)
• The first clash.
• The British, led by Sir Hugh Gough and Governor-General Sir Henry Hardinge,
faced the Sikh army under Lal Singh.
• Fierce fighting, but the British managed to hold ground.
• Both sides suffered heavy casualties.
Story Note: Imagine the shock of British soldiers—accustomed to weaker Indian
armies—when they faced the disciplined Khalsa artillery and cavalry.
2. Battle of Ferozeshah (21–22 December 1845)
• One of the bloodiest battles.
• The Sikhs, strongly entrenched, nearly defeated the British.
• British forces were exhausted, ammunition ran low, and panic spread.
• But confusion in the Sikh leadership (some generals suspected of treachery)
allowed the British to recover and claim victory.
Story Note: British officers later admitted they had never come so close to defeat in
India.
3. Battle of Aliwal (28 January 1846)
• A turning point.
• British General Sir Harry Smith decisively defeated Sikh forces under Ranjodh
Singh Majithia.
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• The Sikh army retreated in disorder.
4. Battle of Sobraon (10 February 1846)
• The final and decisive battle.
• The Sikhs fortified their camp on the Sutlej with a bridge of boats.
• The British launched a massive assault.
• After hours of brutal fighting, the bridge collapsed, trapping thousands of Sikh
soldiers.
• The Khalsa army was crushed.
Story Note: Sobraon is remembered as the “Waterloo of the Sikhs.” Brave Sikh soldiers
fought to the last, but leadership failures doomed them.
Consequences of the War
The war ended with the Treaty of Lahore (March 1846) and the Treaty of Amritsar
(March 1846).
1. Loss of Territory
• The Sikhs ceded the Jalandhar Doab (land between Beas and Sutlej) to the
British.
• Kashmir was sold to Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu (Treaty of Amritsar).
2. British Resident in Lahore
• A British Resident (Henry Lawrence) was stationed in Lahore.
• Effectively, Punjab lost its independence in foreign affairs.
3. Reduction of the Khalsa Army
• The Sikh army was drastically reduced in size.
• This weakened Punjab’s military strength.
4. Financial Penalties
• The Lahore Darbar had to pay a huge indemnity of 1.5 crore rupees.
• Since they could not pay fully, Kashmir was transferred to Gulab Singh for 75 lakh
rupees.
5. Political Humiliation
• The young Maharaja Duleep Singh remained on the throne, but real power
shifted to the British.
• Maharani Jind Kaur, his mother, was sidelined.
Easy2Siksha Sample Paper
Broader Impact
• The war exposed the bravery of the Sikh soldiers but also the betrayal of their
leaders.
• It marked the beginning of the end of the Sikh Empire.
• The British gained a foothold in Punjab, which they would fully annex after the
Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–49).
• For the British, it was a costly victory—thousands of casualties—but it cemented
their reputation as the rising power in India.
Recap in a Narrative Table
Event
Date
Outcome
Battle of Mudki
18 Dec 1845
British hold ground, heavy losses
Battle of Ferozeshah
21–22 Dec 1845
Near Sikh victory, British survive
Battle of Aliwal
28 Jan 1846
Clear British victory
Battle of Sobraon
10 Feb 1846
Decisive British victory, Sikh army crushed
Treaty of Lahore
March 1846
Loss of territory, indemnity, British Resident
Treaty of Amritsar
March 1846
Kashmir sold to Gulab Singh
Simple Diagram (Conceptual Flow)
Death of Ranjit Singh (1839)
↓
Weakness in Sikh Empire
↓
Sikh Army crosses Sutlej (1845)
↓
First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46)
↓
Battles: Mudki → Ferozeshah → Aliwal → Sobraon
↓
Treaty of Lahore & Amritsar
↓
Loss of territory, money, and independence
↓
Prelude to Second Anglo-Sikh War
Wrapping the Story
So, the story of the First Anglo-Sikh War is really the story of a proud empire’s struggle
against a rising colonial power.
• The events show a series of fierce battles where Sikh courage met British
discipline.
• The consequences reveal how internal betrayal and external pressure broke the
backbone of the Sikh state.
Easy2Siksha Sample Paper
• The war ended not just with treaties, but with the slow eclipse of Punjab’s
independence.
Final Analogy: If the Sikh Empire was a great fortress built by Ranjit Singh, the First
Anglo-Sikh War was the first crack in its walls. The fortress still stood, but weakened—
waiting for the final blow that would come in the Second Anglo-Sikh War.
2. Brish Administraon / Board of Administraon in Punjab (3 mes)
2022 (Q2), 2023 (Q2), 2024 (Q2 – related to annexaon & administraon)*
Every year focuses on Brish control and reforms aer annexaon. Must prepare
structure, funcons, and achievements of the Board.
Ans: It is March 1849. The dust of the Anglo-Sikh wars has barely settled. The
once-mighty Sikh Empire, built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, has fallen. The Union Jack now
flutters over Lahore. But the British face a dilemma: “How do we govern this vast, proud,
and war-scarred land of Punjab?”
Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General, decides not to hand Punjab to a single governor
immediately. Instead, he experiments with a unique system: a Board of
Administration—a triumvirate of three men who would together manage the province.
This was the beginning of British administration in Punjab.
Let’s walk through this story step by step: the background, the formation of the Board,
its members, its working, achievements, failures, and legacy.
Background: Why a Board?
• After the Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–49), Punjab was annexed to the British
Empire on 29 March 1849.
• Punjab was unlike other provinces: it was militarized, culturally distinct, and
fiercely independent.
• Dalhousie feared that a single administrator might fail to control such a volatile
region.
• Hence, he created a Board of Administration—a collective leadership to balance
power and prevent mistakes.
Story Analogy: Imagine inheriting a huge, unruly farm. Instead of giving it to one
manager, you appoint three—one to handle crops, one to handle workers, and one to
handle accounts. That was Dalhousie’s logic.
Easy2Siksha Sample Paper
Composition of the Board
The Board had three members, each with specific responsibilities:
1. Henry Lawrence (President)
o Already the British Resident at Lahore.
o Handled political affairs, defence, and relations with Sikh chiefs
(sardars).
o Known for his sympathetic attitude towards Punjabis.
2. John Lawrence (Henry’s younger brother)
o In charge of land revenue and settlement.
o Practical, stern, and focused on efficiency.
o Later became Viceroy of India.
3. Charles Grenville Mansel
o A civilian officer.
o Entrusted with judicial administration.
o Replaced in 1850 by Robert Montgomery, who was stricter and more
aligned with John Lawrence.
Story Note: The Board was like a three-legged stool—each leg supporting a different
aspect of governance: politics, revenue, and justice.
Powers and Functions
The Board was directly under the Governor-General but had wide powers:
• Executive Authority: Managed day-to-day administration of Punjab.
• Judicial Authority: Acted as the final court of appeal.
• Military Authority: Controlled Punjab’s defence and policing.
• Revenue Authority: Collected land revenue, reorganized taxation.
• Law and Order: Suppressed banditry, maintained peace.
Achievements of the Board
Despite being experimental, the Board achieved several successes:
1. Peace and Order Restored
• Disbanded the Sikh army but absorbed many soldiers into the British-controlled
Punjab Irregular Force.
• Reduced lawlessness and curbed robber bands.
2. Revenue Settlement
• John Lawrence introduced a fairer land revenue system.
• Reduced arbitrary exactions, fixed assessments, and gave security to peasants.
Easy2Siksha Sample Paper
3. Judicial Reforms
• Simplified laws, set up courts, and introduced a system of appeals.
• Tried to blend British law with Punjabi customs.
4. Infrastructure Development
• Built roads, canals, and postal systems.
• Improved communication for both administration and trade.
5. Education and Social Measures
• Encouraged vernacular education.
• Supported missionary schools and promoted vaccination campaigns.
Story Note: For ordinary Punjabis, the Board brought a sense of stability after years of
war. Farmers could till their fields without fear of raids, and traders could move goods
safely.
Weaknesses and Criticism
But the Board was not without flaws:
1. Clash of Personalities
• Henry Lawrence (sympathetic, paternalistic) vs John Lawrence (stern, utilitarian).
• Their disagreements slowed decision-making.
2. Too Much Power in Few Hands
• The Board acted as executive, judiciary, and legislature—concentrating power
dangerously.
3. Cultural Insensitivity
• Despite Henry’s efforts, many policies ignored Punjabi traditions.
• Heavy reliance on British officers alienated locals.
4. Short-Lived Experiment
• By 1853, Dalhousie dissolved the Board.
• Replaced it with a Chief Commissioner system, with John Lawrence as the first
Chief Commissioner of Punjab.
Legacy of the Board
Easy2Siksha Sample Paper
• Though short-lived (1849–1853), the Board laid the foundation of British
administration in Punjab.
• Introduced efficient revenue, judicial, and police systems that lasted throughout
colonial rule.
• The Lawrence brothers became legendary figures in Punjab’s history—Henry
remembered for his compassion, John for his discipline.
• The experiment showed the British willingness to adapt governance models to
local conditions.
Recap in a Narrative Table
Aspect
Fund Flow Statement
Cash Flow Statement
Formation
1849, after annexation of Punjab
Created by Lord
Dalhousie
Members
Henry Lawrence (political), John
Lawrence (revenue),
Mansel/Montgomery (judicial)
Triumvirate system
Functions
Executive, judicial, revenue, defence
Directly under
Governor-General
Achievements
Peace, revenue reforms, justice,
infrastructure
Stability in Punjab
Weaknesses
Personality clashes, too much power,
cultural insensitivity
Abolished in 1853
Legacy
Foundation of British Punjab
administration
Paved way for Chief
Commissioner system
