DOCTRINE OF LAPSE

Lord Dalhousie made a rule related to the adopted son issue. This was not introduced by Dalhousie though he documented it. He divided the Indian state into three categories-

1. The states which were created, directly or indirectly, by the British charter (for this it was announced that in the absence of a real heir, the state would be merged into British India).
2. The State which were subordinate to the British(before nominating the adopted son as heir ,permission from East India company ‘s government was mandatory, the Company was free to accept or reject the application)
3. The state which was independent (free to nominate anyone).

The annexation based on the first category came to be known as the Doctrine of Lapse.

1. Satara-1848
2. Jaitpur-1849
3. Sambhalpur-1849
4. Baghat-1850
5. Udaipur-1852
6. Jhansi-1853
7. Nagpur -1854

1. Subsidiary Alliance

• This policy evolved in the second half of the eighteenth century but it developed fully during the Governor-Generalship of Lord Wellesley.
• The credit to begin the system goes to Dupleix; the French Governor. He lent his army on rent to an Indian princess.

Wellesley Subsidiary Alliance

The four-stage development of Subsidiary Alliance

1. The company rented its army to the Indian state instead of cash. Hyderabad signed a pact of this nature in 1768.
2. The company kept its army near the boundaries of the Indian state for the protection of that state and collected fees annually. e.g. Sindhia in 1784.
3. The company kept its army inside the boundaries of an Indian state for the protection of the state and collected fees annually. Hyderabad, in 1798 signed this treaty.
4. The company kept its army inside the boundaries of an Indian state for the protection of that state and took some pieces of land instead of cash. Hyderabad, in 1800 and Oudh in 1801 made a similar arrangement

The rulers who signed had to accept the following conditions-

1. The Indian state which signed such a treaty would not employ any European or American other than English or any other enemy of the company in their kingdom.
2. The British Resident would be appointed in the court of such Indian states.
3. The foreign relations of such a state would be dictated by the company.
4. The company would protect such states from an outside attack.
5. The company would not interfere in the internal matters of the states.

• Order of subsidiary alliance-
• Hyderabad 1798
• Mysore 1799
• Tanjore 1799
• Awadh 1801
• Peshwa 1802
• Scindia 1803
• Gaekewad 1803

Benefits to the Company Because of the Subsidiary Alliance

• English East India Company was relieved from the possible threat of the French as the Indian states which accepted this would not at least employ any European or enemy of the company.
• The Indian states lost their sovereignty. They were not allowed to establish diplomatic ties with each other without the knowledge and approval of the company
• The company's military empire expanded in the entire Indian subcontinent. Due to the presence of its army in every part of India, the influence of the company in every matter increased.
• The company could maintain a large army without burdening the exchequer.
• The company regularly increased its territory for the services which it rendered to the states through its army.
• The stationing of the company‘s troops in the capital of the Indian princes gave English control of strategic and key positions

Losses to Indian States

• THE company regularly demanded heavy amounts and claimed the most fertile lands instead of their so-called services. This ruined Indian states.
• The British Resident interference in almost all the matters of Indian states.
• This made Indian rulers dependent on others. Slowly they lost the power of making decisions and their self-esteem.
• People had to suffer the most, people were governed by two rulers, a British and a Princess both not concerned about the plight of the people.