Just before the revolt of 1857, the highest post an Indian could occupy in the military was the Subhedar. The highest civil administrative post that an Indian could occupy was :

The correct answer is - Sadr Amin

Key Points

• Sadr Amin
  • The Sadr Amin was the highest judicial and administrative post an Indian could occupy in the civil administration under British rule before the Revolt of 1857.
  • The role of the Sadr Amin was primarily concerned with civil litigation and judicial duties in district-level courts.
  • This position was subordinate to European judges and magistrates, reflecting the discriminatory nature of the colonial administrative system.
• Other options:
  • Taluqdar: A landlord or revenue collector, primarily responsible for collecting taxes from peasants and forwarding them to the British authorities. Not a judicial or high administrative post.
  • Mamlatdar: A revenue officer in charge of a taluka (sub-division of a district). This post was lower than Sadr Amin in the administrative hierarchy.
  • Kanungo: A local revenue officer responsible for maintaining records of land revenue in specific areas.

Additional Information

• Colonial Bureaucracy
  • The British colonial administration was hierarchical and discriminatory, reserving senior positions for Europeans.
  • Indians were deliberately excluded from higher posts to maintain British dominance and control over governance.
  • This policy created widespread resentment and was one of the causes leading to the Revolt of 1857.
• Military and Administrative Discrimination
  • In the military, the highest rank an Indian could achieve was Subhedar, which was far below the ranks reserved for British officers.
  • Similarly, in civil administration, Indians were limited to subordinate positions like Sadr Amin or lower-level revenue officers.
  • This systemic exclusion of Indians from senior positions fueled nationalist movements and demands for self-governance.