Final answer:
The reasons for the confidence of the British rulers in India before May 1857 were economic stability, military strength, and political control.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reasons for the confidence of the British rulers about their position in India before May 1857 can be attributed to economic stability, military strength, and political control. Firstly, the British East India Company provided the British with a strong basis of military and economic power in South Asia. Additionally, the British emerged from the Seven Years' War as the world's leading economic, military, and political power. Lastly, the British took advantage of the fragmented society in India due to the decline of the Mughal empire and exploited divisions among rival princes, using advanced weaponry to overpower local rulers.