Modern Indian History

📚 This topic overlaps across exams — read our in-depth, shared write-up: 19th Century Socio-Religious Reform Movements →

📚 This topic overlaps across exams — read our in-depth, shared write-up: The Revolt of 1857 →

📚 This topic overlaps across exams — read our in-depth, shared write-up: Wars Fought by the British in India →

📚 This topic overlaps across exams — read our in-depth, shared write-up: Indian National Congress: Formation to Quit India →

📚 This topic overlaps across exams — read our in-depth, shared write-up: Gandhian Era: Champaran to the Cripps Mission →

📖 British expansion and colonial rule

British control expanded decisively after the Battle of Plassey (1757) and Battle of Buxar (1764), giving the East India Company revenue rights (Diwani) over Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha. Tools like the Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse extended British territorial control across India, including into the Deccan and South India.

✊ The freedom struggle

The Revolt of 1857 marked the first major armed challenge to British rule. The Indian National Congress (1885) evolved from a moderate constitutional movement into a mass movement under Mahatma Gandhi, through the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22), Civil Disobedience Movement (1930), and Quit India Movement (1942).

🗺️ Andhra's role in the freedom struggle

Andhra region contributed significantly to the national movement — figures like Alluri Sitarama Raju led armed resistance (the Rampa Rebellion), while the region was also central to early linguistic-state demands that shaped post-independence India, discussed further in Modern Andhra History.

💡 Key Facts

British political control began decisively with the Battle of Plassey, 1757.
The Revolt of 1857 was the first major armed challenge to British rule.
INC was founded in 1885; Gandhi later led three major mass movements (1920-22, 1930, 1942).
Alluri Sitarama Raju led the Rampa Rebellion, a significant armed resistance movement in the Andhra region.

🔖 60-Second Revision

Plassey (1757) → Buxar (1764) → Diwani rights.
Subsidiary Alliance & Doctrine of Lapse → territorial expansion.
1857 Revolt → INC (1885) → Gandhian mass movements (1920-22, 1930, 1942).
Andhra: Alluri Sitarama Raju's Rampa Rebellion — key regional resistance movement.