Doctrine of Lapse: British Annexation Policy
The question asks to identify the specific British policy that enabled the annexation of Indian states if their rulers died without a natural heir. This policy was known as the Doctrine of Lapse.
Understanding the Doctrine of Lapse
The Doctrine of Lapse was a controversial policy enacted by the British East India Company. Its core principle stated that:
- If the ruler of an Indian state under British paramountcy died without a natural-born successor, the state would automatically lapse to the British Empire.
- A "natural heir" was generally understood as a direct descendant or an adopted son recognised under traditional practices.
- This policy was most aggressively implemented during the tenure of Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856. Several prominent states, such as Satara, Jhansi, and Nagpur, were annexed under this doctrine, significantly expanding British control over India.
Evaluating Other British Policies
The other options provided represent different British policies, none of which directly match the condition mentioned in the question:
Permanent Settlement
This policy, introduced in 1793, was primarily a land revenue system. It aimed to fix the amount of revenue payable by landowners (zamindars) to the state, thereby establishing a more predictable income for the British administration. It did not concern the succession of rulers or annexation based on heirs.
Subsidiary Alliance
Introduced earlier by Lord Wellesley, the Subsidiary Alliance system required Indian rulers to accept the stationing of British troops within their territory and pay for their maintenance. In return, the British offered "protection" from external threats. While it compromised the sovereignty of Indian states, it was not directly linked to annexation due to the absence of a natural heir.
Dual Government
This term typically refers to a system of governance where power is divided between two authorities. In the context of British India, it often described the arrangement in Bengal after 1765, where the East India Company controlled revenue collection and military affairs, while the Nawab retained nominal administrative authority. This was a governance structure, not an annexation policy based on succession.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis, the Doctrine of Lapse is the specific British policy that allowed for the annexation of Indian states whose rulers passed away without leaving a natural heir.
Important Questions from Modern History
- Which of the following statements best describe the outcome of the British building the Coast Canal on the Odisha coast?
- The Brahmo Samaj, a socio-religious reform movement, was founded by:
- Who was the first president of the Indian National Congress in 1885?
- Read the given statements and conclusions carefully. Assuming that the information given in the statements is true, even if it appears to be at variance with commonly known facts, decide which of the given conclusion(s) logically follow(s) from the statements.
Statements:
Some petals are flowers.
No flower is a bat.
Conclusions:
(I) Some petals are bats.
(II) Some flowers are petals. - Who among the following founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897 to spread the teachings of his guru?
