Class 8 History L-9

EXPANSION OF BRITISH POWER IN INDIA Q/A

Short Question & Answers

Q 1: Name the strategies of indirect annexation used by the British?

Ans: The British policy of expansion in India was broadly based on two strategies:

a) Military conquests
b) Subjugation through indirect policies

Q2. What was the purpose of the British behind introducing the policy of Subsidiary Alliance?

Ans: The purpose of the British behind introducing the policy of subsidiary alliance was to check the
Indian rulers so that they could not employ any European officer in their courts without the
permission of the British. The rulers could not negotiate or form an alliance with other rulers
without consulting the British.

Q 3: Name the five centres of power that the Maratha Empire broke into after their defeat in the
third battle of panipat?

Ans: The five centres of power were Peshwas of Pune, Scindhias of Gwalior, Holkars of Indore,
Gaekwads of Baroda and Bhonsles of Nagpur.

Q 4: What is meant by Doctrine of Lapse?

Ans: Lord Dalhousie created the policy of Doctrine of Lapse, according to which all subordinate states
where the rulers died without a natural male heir would automatically lapse that is, pass to the
British rulers.

Q 5: Name the States which became the victims of the Doctrine of Lapse?

Ans: States like Satara, Jhansi and Nagpur were annexed to the British Empire by imposing the
Doctrine of Lapse.

Q 6: When and on what ground was Awadh annexed to the company's dominions?

Ans: In 1856 Nawab Wazid Ali shah was deposed on grounds of maladministration from the Awadh.