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How did the General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 anger soldiers in the Bengal army?

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Illustration of De Kantzow defending the treasury at Mainpuri during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, showing a British officer confronting armed sepoys inside a building as tensions rise during the uprising. — Indian Rebellion of 1857 Indian sepoys (soldiers) corner a British officer amid their attack on a treasury in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh.

The General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 angered soldiers in the Bengal army because it required new recruits to serve overseas if ordered to do so.1

This mandate posed a significant challenge to the caste sensibilities of the troops, who made up a large portion of the Bengal army—including many Brahmins and Rajputs. In the context of the time, crossing the sea was often viewed as a source of caste pollution, and the act was perceived as a direct threat to the traditional religious and social practices of the soldiers. This requirement, combined with other grievances regarding caste consciousness and the introduction of greased cartridges for Enfield rifles, contributed to the deep-seated suspicion and unrest that fueled the Indian Rebellion of 1857.1