The question asks about the policy Lord Dalhousie used for annexing Indian states into British India. Let's examine the options provided to identify the correct method.

Understanding Lord Dalhousie's Annexation Policy

Lord Dalhousie served as the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856. He was known for his aggressive policy of expansion, significantly increasing the territory under British control. One of the primary tools he employed for annexing states was a specific doctrine.

The Doctrine of Lapse

The policy adopted by Lord Dalhousie to annex Indian states was the Doctrine of Lapse. This was a controversial annexation policy that stated if a princely state under the indirect rule of the British East India Company or a protected state under the British paramountcy did not have a natural male heir, the state would be annexed by the Company's territory.

According to the Doctrine of Lapse, the ruler's personal property would pass to the heir, but the state itself would "lapse" to the British government. This effectively denied the Indian rulers the right to adopt an heir in cases where they did not have a natural born son, a practice that was common in Hindu tradition to ensure continuity of the ruling line.

Several significant states were annexed under the application of the Doctrine of Lapse by Lord Dalhousie, including:

• Satara (1848)
• Sambalpur (1849)
• Udaipur (1852)
• Nagpur (1853)
• Jhansi (1854)

This policy caused considerable resentment among Indian rulers and was one of the factors contributing to the Revolt of 1857.

Analysis of Other Options

Rowlatt Act

The Rowlatt Act, officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, was legislation passed by the Imperial Legislative Council in Delhi. This act allowed the British government to imprison any person suspected of terrorism living in British India for up to two years without trial, and gave the imperial authorities power to deal with revolutionary activities. It had nothing to do with the annexation of princely states and was introduced decades after Lord Dalhousie's tenure.

Policy of Subsidiary Alliance

The Policy of Subsidiary Alliance was a treaty introduced by British Governor-General Lord Wellesley in 1798. Under this policy, an Indian ruler would have to accept permanent stationing of a British force within his territory and pay a subsidy towards its maintenance. The ruler would also have to dismiss his own army and remove all non-British Europeans from his service. In return, the Company would protect the ruler from his enemies. While this policy brought many states under British influence and control, it was different from direct annexation based on the absence of a natural heir, which was the core of the Doctrine of Lapse. It was implemented by Lord Wellesley, not Lord Dalhousie.

Policy of Permanent Settlement

The Policy of Permanent Settlement was a land revenue system introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha. Under this system, zamindars were recognized as the owners of the land and were given the right to collect rent from the peasants. The amount of revenue to be paid by the zamindars to the Company was fixed permanently. This policy was related to land administration and revenue collection, not the annexation of states.

Conclusion on Annexation Policy

Based on the analysis, the policy specifically adopted and extensively used by Lord Dalhousie to annex Indian states that lacked a natural heir was the Doctrine of Lapse.

Revision Table: Lord Dalhousie's Policies

This table summarizes the key policy related to annexation under Lord Dalhousie discussed in the question.

Additional Information on British Annexation

While the Doctrine of Lapse was a major tool for Lord Dalhousie, the British used various methods to expand their control over Indian states:

• War and Conquest: Directly fighting and defeating Indian rulers (e.g., Mysore, Punjab).
• Treaties: Signing agreements that gradually reduced the independence of states (e.g., Subsidiary Alliances).
• Misgovernance: Claiming that a state was being mismanaged as a pretext for annexation (e.g., Awadh in 1856, also under Dalhousie, though not strictly under the Doctrine of Lapse).
• Doctrine of Lapse: As discussed, annexing states without natural heirs.

Each of these methods contributed to the consolidation of British power in India.