Doctrine of Lapse

Q. What were the effects of the Doctrine of Lapse policy?

1. Many Indian states lost their sovereignty and became British territories.
2. This policy favoured the Peshwa Kings.
3. This led to unrest among the Indian rulers.
4. Sepoy Mutiny broke out only in South India.

Q. Which policy was introduced by Lord Dalhousie?

1. Doctrine of Lapse
2. Subsidiary Alliance
3. Land revenue policy
4. Drain of Wealth

Q. What was the aim of Doctrine of Lapse?

1. To expand the British rule.
2. To acquire more territories.
3. To make states independent.
4. To check the military might of Sikhs.

Q. According to the Doctrine of Lapse, in what situation(s) would the state become a British possession?

1. Without a natural heir.
2. With an adopted heir.
3. With a natural heir.
4. In case of no heir.

Q. When did Lord Dalhosie reach India?

1. 1848
2. 1856
3. 1847
4. 1849

Q. This policy of the British became one of the prime causes of Sepoy Mutiny in 1857. It was a formula devised to deal with questions of succession to Hindu Indian states. Which policy is being talked about here?

1. Subsidiary Alliance
2. Continuous Friendship Policy
3. Doctrine of Lapse
4. Lahore Agreement

Q. Under whom did Britain become the predominant power in India?

1. Lord Hastings
2. Lord Dalhousie
3. Lord Hardinge
4. Lord Minto

Q. The Doctrine of Lapse policy was implemented by

1. Lord Dalhousie
2. Lord Hastings
3. Lord Wellesley

Q. Which Governor-General introduced the Doctrine of Lapse in India?

1. Robert Clive
2. Lord Wellesley
3. Warren Hastings
4. Lord Dalhousie

Q. The British government, realising that they lacked the military strength to control the situation, announced early in 1947 that they would leave India no later than June 1948. The idea was to try to shock the Indians into adopting a more responsible attitude. Lord Louis Mountbatten was sent as the new viceroy, and he soon decided that partition was the only way to avoid civil war. He realised that there would probably be bloodshed whatever solution was tried, but felt that partition would produce less violence than if Britain tried to insist on the Muslims remaining part of India. Within six weeks Mountbatten had worked out a plan for dividing the country up and for the British withdrawal. This was accepted by Jinnah and Nehru, although M. K. Gandhi, known as the Mahatma (Great Soul), the other highly respected Congress leader, who believed in non-violence, was still hoping for a united India. Afraid that delay would cause more violence, Mountbatten brought the date for British withdrawal forward to August 1947.

(Source: Norman Lowe, “Mastering Modern World History”)

The British government lacked the military strength to control the pressure of independence in India. Which of the following options best explains why this was the case?

[1 mark]

1. They had lost US support.
2. The Second World War had weakened them.
3. The First World War had taken a huge toll on them.
4. Their military abandoned them.

Q. The Doctrine of Lapse granted the right to rule to Indian Kings.

1. True
2. False

Q. Choose the correct pair:

1. Lord Wellesley
2. Lord Dalhousie
3. Continuous Friendship Pact
4. Subsidiary Alliance
5. Ranjith Singh
6. Doctrine of Lapse