Question

Describe the policy adopted by Lord Dalhousie to expand the British empire in India.

Answer 1

• Doctrine of Lapse:

1. Lord Dalhousie was one of the chief architects of the British Empire in India. He was an imperialist. He adopted a new policy known as Doctrine of Lapse to extend the British Empire.
2. He made use of this precedent and declared in 1848 that if the native rulers adopted children without the prior permission of the Company, only the personal properties of the rulers would go to the adopted sons and the kingdoms would go to the British paramount power. This principle was called the Doctrine of Lapse.
3. It was bitterly opposed by the Indians and it was one of the root causes for the great revolt of 1857.