The correct option is (c) 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
The discontent among the sepoys of the British East India Company was a primary trigger for the Revolt of 1857. This discontent stemmed from a combination of professional grievances regarding pay and service conditions, as well as religious apprehensions regarding specific military regulations.
Statement 1 is Correct: The Indian sepoys were treated as inferior to their British counterparts. They were unhappy with their low pay, lack of prospects for promotion (an Indian soldier could not rise above the rank of a Subedar), and the withdrawal of foreign service allowances (bhatta) when serving in annexed territories such as Sindh and Punjab.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: The General Service Enlistment Act was passed by Lord Canning in 1856. It did not exempt recruits from overseas service; rather, it mandated that all future recruits to the Bengal Army must give an undertaking to serve anywhere their services might be required, whether within or outside India. This caused great resentment among the sepoys, particularly high-caste Hindus, who believed that crossing the seas (kala pani) would lead to a loss of caste.
Statement 3 is Correct: In 1824, during the First Anglo-Burmese War, the sepoys of the 47th Native Infantry at Barrackpore were ordered to go to Burma. While they were willing to travel by the land route, they refused to go by the sea route due to the religious taboo against crossing the ocean. This refusal led to the disbandment of the regiment and harsh punishment for the leaders.
Key Takeaway: The military causes of the Revolt of 1857 included professional discrimination regarding pay and rank, alongside religious grievances triggered by regulations like the General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 and the earlier incident of 1824 involving the sea route to Burma.