Expansion of British Rule in India MCQ & Notes — Anglo Wars, Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse for UPSC, SSC

Expansion of British Rule in India MCQ & Notes — Anglo Wars, Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse for UPSC, SSC

The Expansion of British Rule in India (1757–1857) is one of the highest-weightage topics in Modern Indian History for UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, Railways and State PSC general studies papers. This guide covers the key battles, policies and annexations through which the East India Company grew from a trading firm into the paramount power in India, followed by 10 practice MCQs with answers.

Why This Topic Matters for Competitive Exams

The Anglo-Mysore, Anglo-Maratha and Anglo-Sikh Wars, along with the Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse, are recurring sources of MCQs across UPSC, SSC and state PSC exams because they combine precise dates, governors-general and territorial outcomes — ideal material for objective questions.

Battle of Plassey (1757)

The Battle of Plassey, fought on 23 June 1757, was the foundational event of British political power in India. Robert Clive, commanding the East India Company's forces, defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, aided by the betrayal of the Nawab's commander Mir Jafar. The Company installed Mir Jafar as a puppet Nawab, marking the beginning of British control over Bengal's revenues and administration.

Battle of Buxar (1764) and the Treaty of Allahabad (1765)

The Battle of Buxar (22 October 1764) saw the Company defeat a combined force of Mir Qasim (Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Awadh) and Shah Alam II (the Mughal emperor). The result was more decisive than Plassey. By the Treaty of Allahabad (1765), Shah Alam II granted the Company the Diwani (right to collect revenue) of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha, giving the Company a formal financial foothold recognised by the Mughal court.

Regulating Act, 1773

The Regulating Act of 1773 was the British Parliament's first attempt to control and regulate the East India Company's affairs in India. It created the post of Governor-General of Bengal, with Warren Hastings as the first holder of the office, and set up a Supreme Court at Calcutta.

Subsidiary Alliance System

Introduced by Lord Wellesley (Governor-General, 1798–1805), the Subsidiary Alliance required an allied Indian ruler to accept a British force within their territory (paid for by the ruler), surrender control of foreign affairs to the Company, and accept a British Resident at court. Hyderabad (the Nizam) was the first state to accept the alliance, in 1798, followed by Mysore, Awadh and several Maratha states.

Anglo-Mysore Wars

War	Years	Outcome
First Anglo-Mysore War	1767–1769	Treaty of Madras; stalemate
Second Anglo-Mysore War	1780–1784	Treaty of Mangalore
Third Anglo-Mysore War	1790–1792	Treaty of Seringapatam; Tipu Sultan cedes half his territory
Fourth Anglo-Mysore War	1799	Tipu Sultan killed at Seringapatam; Mysore falls to the British

Anglo-Maratha Wars

War	Years	Outcome
First Anglo-Maratha War	1775–1782	Treaty of Salbai
Second Anglo-Maratha War	1803–1805	British defeat Scindia and Bhonsle
Third Anglo-Maratha War	1817–1819	Peshwa Baji Rao II defeated; Peshwaship abolished; Maratha confederacy ends

Anglo-Sikh Wars and Annexation of Punjab

War	Years	Outcome
First Anglo-Sikh War	1845–1846	Treaty of Lahore
Second Anglo-Sikh War	1848–1849	Punjab annexed by Lord Dalhousie in 1849

Doctrine of Lapse

Lord Dalhousie (Governor-General, 1848–1856) applied the Doctrine of Lapse: if a ruler died without a natural male heir, the state would be annexed by the Company rather than pass to an adopted heir. States annexed under this doctrine included Satara (1848), Jaitpur and Sambalpur (1849), Baghat (1850), Udaipur (1852), Jhansi (1853) and Nagpur (1854).

Annexation of Awadh (1856)

In 1856, Governor-General Dalhousie annexed Awadh (Oudh) directly, citing "misgovernance" by the Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, without invoking the Doctrine of Lapse. This annexation caused deep resentment among Awadh's sepoys and landholders and became one of the political causes of the Revolt of 1857.

Timeline of British Expansion (1757–1857)

Year	Event
1757	Battle of Plassey
1764	Battle of Buxar
1765	Treaty of Allahabad; Company gets Diwani of Bengal
1773	Regulating Act; first Governor-General appointed
1767–99	Four Anglo-Mysore Wars
1775–1819	Three Anglo-Maratha Wars
1798	Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Wellesley
1845–49	Two Anglo-Sikh Wars; Punjab annexed
1848–56	Doctrine of Lapse under Dalhousie
1856	Annexation of Awadh

Expansion of British Rule in India MCQ — Practice Questions

Q1. The Battle of Plassey (1757) was fought between the East India Company and which ruler?
A. Mir Qasim B. Siraj-ud-Daulah C. Shuja-ud-Daulah D. Tipu Sultan
Answer: B. Siraj-ud-Daulah

Q2. Who commanded the East India Company's forces at the Battle of Plassey?
A. Warren Hastings B. Robert Clive C. Lord Wellesley D. Lord Dalhousie
Answer: B. Robert Clive

Q3. The Treaty of Allahabad (1765) granted the East India Company the Diwani of which regions?
A. Bengal, Bihar and Odisha B. Bengal and Awadh C. Bihar and Punjab D. Bengal and Mysore
Answer: A. Bengal, Bihar and Odisha

Q4. Who was appointed the first Governor-General of Bengal under the Regulating Act, 1773?
A. Robert Clive B. Warren Hastings C. Lord Cornwallis D. Lord Wellesley
Answer: B. Warren Hastings

Q5. The Subsidiary Alliance system was introduced by:
A. Lord Cornwallis B. Lord Wellesley C. Lord Dalhousie D. Lord Hastings
Answer: B. Lord Wellesley

Q6. Tipu Sultan was killed during which Anglo-Mysore War?
A. First B. Second C. Third D. Fourth
Answer: D. Fourth

Q7. The Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1819) ended with the abolition of which post?
A. Nizam B. Peshwa C. Diwan D. Sultan
Answer: B. Peshwa

Q8. Punjab was annexed by the British after which war?
A. First Anglo-Sikh War B. Second Anglo-Sikh War C. Third Anglo-Maratha War D. Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
Answer: B. Second Anglo-Sikh War

Q9. Under the Doctrine of Lapse, which of the following states was NOT annexed by Lord Dalhousie?
A. Jhansi B. Satara C. Hyderabad D. Nagpur
Answer: C. Hyderabad

Q10. Awadh was annexed by the British in 1856 on the grounds of:
A. Doctrine of Lapse B. Misgovernance C. Non-payment of tribute D. Military defeat
Answer: B. Misgovernance

Practice More on the Expansion of British Rule in India

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