What was the initial cause of the Indian Rebellion of 1857

Question

The Mughal leader Aurangzeb began persecuting Hindus and Sikhs in India
Conflicts between the Maratha and British broke out over the enforcement of the doctrine of lapse
Rumors spread among Hindu and Muslim sepoy that the British were using animal fat to grease rifle cartridges
British tax collectors began forcing peasants to grow cash crops rather than food, causing a massive famine

Answer 1

The initial cause of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 was the rumors that spread among Hindu and Muslim sepoys that the British were using animal fat (specifically, pig and cow fat) to grease rifle cartridges. This caused significant outrage as it went against the religious beliefs of both communities—Hindus consider cows sacred, while Muslims do not consume pork. This issue surrounding the cartridges sparked widespread discontent and ultimately led to the rebellion against British rule.