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.

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