Q. What was the immediate cause of the Mutiny of 1857?
Answer: The use of greased cartridges in the new Enfield Rifle
Notes: The use of greased cartridges in the new Enfield Rifle is considered by historians as the immediate cause of the 1857 Revolt. It was believed that the cartridges that were standard issue with this rifle were greased with lard (pork fat) which was regarded as unclean by Muslims and tallow (cow fat) which angered the Hindus as cows were equal to a goddess to them. This insulted both Hindu and Muslim religious practices.