Question

Which of the following Governor generals of East India Company introduced the most controversial policy called ‘Doctrine of Lapse'?
1. Lord Curzon
2. Lord Mountbatten
3. Lord Dalhousie
4. Warren Hastings

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Lord Dalhousie

The correct answer is Lord Dalhousie.

• The doctrine of Lapse was a policy of annexation introduced by Lord Dalhousie, the then Governor-General of India.
• The Doctrine of Lapse declared that if any Indian ruler died without a male heir, his kingdom would 'lapse' i.e., become part of the Company's territory.
• The kingdoms that were annexed by applying this Doctrine were:
  • Satara (1848)
  • Sambalpur (1850)
  • Udaipur (1852)
  • Nagpur (1853)
  • Jhansi (1854)
  • Awadh (1856)

• In the case of the annexation of Awadh, the British argued that it was their duty to free the people of Awadh from the "misgovernment" of the Nawab.
• This Doctrine of annexation was one of the reasons for the great Revolt of 1857.
• Lord Dalhousie was the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856.