Lord dalhousie doctrine of lapse map

Fredrick J. Halliday became the first Lieutenant Governor of Bengal. Similarly, the newly acquired territories, such as Punjab, were placed under the supervision of Commissioners to ensure effective governance and management. Although Dalhousie is not primarily known for social reforms, his administration continued the policies of his predecessors in addressing social issues.

Lord Dalhousie's infrastructure reforms were pivotal in modernising India. He introduced key developments such as the establishment of the railway system, the expansion of the telegraph network, and the overhaul of the postal system. Lord Dalhousie focused on modernising the British Indian Army. Gurkha regiments were established, and the artillery from Calcutta was relocated to Meerut.

To strengthen the military presence, he increased the number of English soldiers by creating three new British army regiments. Additionally, a Sikh force was formed in Punjab under British officers, and Gurkhas were integrated into the Indian army. The Doctrine of Lapse was one of Lord Dalhousie's most controversial policies. This doctrine stated that any princely state or territory directly influenced by the British East India Company would be annexed if the ruler died without a male heir.

It prohibited such monarchs from adopting a son to ascend to their thrones. Dalhousie justified this policy as a means of preventing misrule by incompetent or corrupt rulers while also ensuring their subjects' stability and prosperity. By the use of the doctrine of lapse, the Company took over the princely states of Satara , Jaitpur , Sambalpur , Baghal , Udaipur Chhattisgarh State , Jhansi , Nagpur , Tanjore and Arcot Awadh is widely believed to have been annexed under the doctrine, but in fact was annexed by Dalhousie under the pretext of mis-governance.

Mostly claiming that the ruler was not ruling properly, the Company added about four million pounds sterling to its annual revenue by this doctrine. With the increasing power of the East India Company, discontent simmered among many sections of Indian society, included disbanded soldiers; these rallied behind the deposed dynasties during the Indian Rebellion of , also known as the Sepoy Mutiny.

Following the rebellion, in , the new British Viceroy of India, whose rule replaced that of the East India Company, renounced the doctrine. Dalhousie vigorously applied the lapse doctrine for annexing Indian princely states, but the policy was not solely his invention. The princely state of Kittur , ruled by Kittur Chennamma the queen at the time , was taken over by the East India Company in , when after the death of her husband and son she adopted a new son and attempted to make him heir to the throne, which the British refused to accept.

This development has similarities with the later 'doctrine of lapse', which the Court of Directors of the East India Company articulated early in The doctrine of lapse was widely considered illegitimate by many Indians. By , the British had immense power in India, since they were the de facto direct rulers of territories such as the Madras , Bombay , and Bengal Presidencies, Assam , Mysore , and the Punjab , as well as the indirect rulers of princely states of Rajputana , Sindh , Patiala , the Carnatic , and many others.

Most of the rulers of the remaining states which had not yet been annexed by the British were in a weak position against their mighty forces. Not willing to spend huge amounts of money and soldiers, the Indian rulers had little option but to give in to this policy. This caused increased resentment against the British Empire in India, and was one of the causes of the Uprising of Around 1 million aspirants learn from the ClearIAS every month.

Our courses and training methods are different from traditional coaching. We give special emphasis on smart work and personal mentorship. Your email address will not be published. Subscribe Now. Table of Contents Toggle. Before the introduction of this doctrine, the princely states had a ritualised method of adoption practised for centuries An heir apparent would eventually be selected from a pool of candidates, who were groomed for succession from an early age, called bhayats if no competent born-to son were produced an obviously unsuitable or treasonous born-to son could be excluded from the succession.

If the ruler died before adopting a successor, one of his widows could adopt an heir, who would immediately accede to the throne. The adoptee would cut all ties with his birth family.

Lord dalhousie doctrine of lapse map

Once the Doctrine of Lapse came into place the following features were now faced by the Indian rulers. To know more about the legislation passed in British India , click on the linked article. Watch the video below to learn more:. The states that were annexed under this policy are given below in chronological order:. Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published.