Question

Explain the following: a. Subsidiary Alliance b. Doctrine of Lapse

Answer 1

Subsidiary Alliance- The Subsidiary Alliance system was a method perfected by Lord Wellesley to subjugate Indian powers without the cost and botheration of war. Any Indian ruler, whose security was threatened, was encouraged to seek help and enter into an alliance with the English, who promised to protect the ruler from external attacks and internal revolts. The Indian ruler had to accept certain terms and conditions. This arrangement was known as Subsidiary Alliance.

Doctrine of Lapse- It was a policy of the British East India Company under which if the ruler of a princely state or territory under the paramountcy of the Company died without a natural heir, the state/territory would automatically be annexed to the British empire.