Describe the changes that occurred in the composition of the Company’s army.

New administrative system was established by the company but its power and strength were depended on its military strength. The company’s army comprised of the cavalry and Infantry. Cavalry was also known by another term ‘Sawars’ means trained soldiers on horseback. The Mughal state didn’t found it necessary to have trained infantry because the cavalry was the main component of the army. Infantry is the foot (paidal) soldiers who were given training in archery (teer-andazi) and sword. In rural areas, there was a large number of armed peasants. The Mughals were often supplied with foot soldiers by the local Zamindars.

During the 18th century, in the areas like Awadh and Benaras, the Mughal rulers started employing peasants and trained them well to include them in their army as professional soldiers. Learned from this, East India Company adopted the same strategy and recruited Indians in their army, which came to know as sepoy army. The term is adopted from the Indian word Sipahi, means soldier.

By the 1820s, the demand for the improvement of the cavalry in the army declined. It is because, at that time, the army of the British were fighting in Burma, Afghanistan and Egypt. The soldiers in these countries were using muskets and matchlocks. The company found it essential to change according to the changing military requirements and changes in the infantry was considered important.

The British focussed on creating a uniform military custom during the early 19th century. The soldiers have to adopt European-style training, practice discipline to become professional soldiers.

NOTES – Muskets-Muskets were the heavy guns used by the foot soldiers.

Matchlocks-it is also a type of gun but the powder inside this was set on fire with the matchstick.