GS Mains Model Question & Answer: Discuss the
importance of subsidiary alliance in making British company the supreme
sovereign authority in India? Comment
Q. Discuss the importance of subsidiary alliance
in making British company the supreme sovereign authority in India? Comment
Model Answer:
Discuss the importance of
subsidiary alliance in making British company the supreme sovereign authority in
India?
It was framed by Lord Wellesley, British Governor-General in India from 1798
to 1805. Early in his governorship, Wellesley adopted a policy of
non-intervention in the princely states, but he later adopted the policy of
forming subsidiary alliances, which played a major role in the expansion of
British rule in India.
Important feature of Subsidiary Alliance are:
a) princely rulers were not allowed to have an independent armed force.
b) protected by the East India Company but had to pay for the subsidiary
forces that the company was to maintain for protection. If Indian rulers failed
to make the payment, part of their territory was taken away as penalty
c) The ruler would accept a British Resident in his state.
d) The ruler who entered into a subsidiary alliance would not join any
alliance with any other power or declare war against any power without the
permission of the British.
e) The ruler would dismiss any Europeans other than the British and avoid
employing new ones.
f) The ruler would let the British rule on any conflict any other state.
g) The ruler would acknowledge the East India Company as the paramount power
in India.
h) The ruler would have his state be protected by the Company from external
dangers and internal disorders.
i) If the rulers failed to make the payments that were required by the
alliance, part of their territory would be taken away as a penalty.
With these features like control of foreign policy of subordinate states and
control of their security and defence made them sovereign authority in India.
