Question

The princely state of Baghat was annexed to the British in
1. 1848
2. 1850
3. 1852
4. 1853

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : 1850

The correct answer is 1850.

• The princely state of Bhagat was annexed by the Britishers in the year 1850 by the application of the Doctrine of Lapse under Lord Dalhousie.
• Baghat was a princely state of the British Raj located in modern-day Himachal Pradesh. The first time the State was annexed was in 1739.
  • This happened when the leader died without an issue of an heir and the state was deemed as a lapsed state leading it to be annexed by the British.

• The chief instrument through which Lord Dalhousie implemented his policy of annexation was the ‘Doctrine of Lapse’.
  • Under the Doctrine of Lapse, when the ruler of a protected state died without a natural heir, his/her state was not to pass to an adopted heir as sanctioned by the age-old tradition of the country.
  • Lord Dalhousie came to India as the Governor-General in 1848.
  • During Lord Canning's tenure “Doctrine of Lapse” was withdrawal.
  • Withdrawal of the “Doctrine of Lapse” was one of the main reasons for the Revolt of 1858.