Question

'Doctrine of Lapse' was the policy devised by the Governor General of the East India company in India. This doctrine was based on the idea that in case a ruler of dependent state died childless, the right of ruling over the state reverted or lapsed to the sovereign. Who among the following devised this 'Doctrine of Lapse'?

• A. Lord Dalhousie
• B. Lord Ripon
• C. Lord Canning
• D. Lord Hastings

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

• The Doctrine of Lapse was implemented by Lord Dalhousie, who was the Governor General for the East India Company in India between 1848 and 1856.
• As per the ‘Doctrine of Lapse’, if any ruler of a princely state died without a natural heir, the states’ authority will pass to the British East India Company.
• Under the terms of the doctrine of lapse, the Company annexed many princely states viz. Satara (1848), Jaipur and Sambalpur (Odisha) (1849), Nagpur and Jhansi (1854), Tanjore and Arcot (1855), Udaipur (Chhattisgarh) and Oudh (1856).