The First War of Independence ( The Great Uprising of 1857)

Drain of wealth from India to England, Collapse of Indian handicrafts and cottage industries, Heavy land revenue and additional taxes, Unemployment due to annexation of native states

The economic causes included the systematic drain of wealth where India's resources were exploited for Britain's benefit. Indian handicrafts collapsed due to British manufactured goods flooding the market with heavy duties on Indian exports. Land revenue was doubled compared to Mughal times, and additional taxes were imposed. Annexations led to unemployment as armies were disbanded and administrative posts were lost. Railways and telegraphs were actually seen as social-religious threats by orthodox people, not economic causes.

True

The statement is true. The Great Uprising of 1857 officially started at Meerut on May 10, 1857, when sepoys revolted after 86 of their colleagues were dismissed and imprisoned for refusing to use greased cartridges. The revolting sepoys killed officers, attacked the jail, released prisoners, and then marched to Delhi. While Mangal Pandey had revolted earlier in March at Barrackpore, the systematic uprising began at Meerut.

Greased cartridges controversy

The immediate cause of the Great Uprising was the greased cartridges controversy. New Enfield rifles required cartridges greased with cow and pig fat. Before loading, sepoys had to bite off the cartridge tips with their teeth. This offended both Hindu sepoys (cow was sacred) and Muslim sepoys (pig was forbidden). While annexation of Awadh, abolition of Sati, and Doctrine of Lapse were important underlying causes, the cartridge issue was the spark that ignited the revolt.

Missionary activities and forced conversions, Abolition of Sati system, Introduction of Western education, Tax on religious properties

Social and religious causes included aggressive missionary activities that condemned Hindu and Muslim customs, hurting religious sentiments. The abolition of Sati in 1829 was seen as interference in religious practices. Western education was viewed suspiciously as a tool for conversion to Christianity. Taxes imposed on temples and mosques further angered people. While railways were mentioned as causing suspicion among orthodox people, it was more about social fears rather than being a direct religious cause like the other factors.