Question

What was the policy of Doctrine of Lapse?

• A. Company took over territories forcefully by waging wars.
• B. Company took over territories where the rulers asked the British government for help.
• C. Company took over territories from rulers who were not efficient to rule by themselves.
• D. Company took over territories that did not have natural heir.

Answer 1

The correct option is D Company took over territories that did not have natural heir.

The Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy applied by the British East India Company. It involved the British capturing the territories of rulers who did not have natural heir. The company took over the princely states of Satara, Jaipur and Sambalpur, Bhagat, Udaipur, Jhansi, Nagpur, Tore and Arcot under the terms of the Doctrine of Lapse.