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Who introduced Subsidiary Alliance?
A. Lord Dalhousie
B. Lord Cornwallis
C. Lord Wellesley
D. Lord Hector Munroe

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Last updated date: 27th Mar 2024
Total views: 364.5k
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MVSAT 2024
Answer
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Hint:
- He was also the governor general of India from 1798-1805.
- The first to accept the Subsidiary Alliance in 1798 was the Nizam of Hyderabad.

Complete answer:
What?
- The subsidiary alliance in India was planned by Lord Wellesley, the Governor-General of India from 1798 to 1805.
- The Subsidiary Alliance was a treaty between the British East India Company and the princely Indian states, which forced the Indian kingdoms to surrender their authority to the English.
- It was also a significant phase that culminated in the construction of the British Empire in India.
- The French Governor-General, Marquis Dupleix, actually used it for the first time.

Why were Subsidiary Alliance made?
Under the subsidiary alliance scheme, the ruler of the Allied Indian State was obliged to allow the permanent stationing within his territory of a British force and to pay a subsidy for its maintenance.

Features of Subsidiary Alliance –
- An Indian king joining the Subsidiary Alliance with the British had to disband his own armed forces in his territories and recognise British forces.
- He had to pay for the upkeep of the British army as well. A part of his land would be taken away and ceded to the British if he refused to make the payment.
- The British would, in return, defend the Indian state from any external assault or internal rebellion.
- The British pledged non-interference in the Indian state's internal affairs, but this was seldom upheld.
- No alliance with any other international power could be entered into by the Indian state.
- He could also not hire in his service any other foreign nationals other than Englishmen. And, if he hired any, he had to terminate them from his service upon the signing of the alliance. The idea was to curb the strength of the French.
- Without British permission, the Indian state could also not enter into any political relation with another Indian state.
- In terms of foreign relations and the military, the Indian king thus lost all powers.
- He lost nearly all his freedom and became a 'protectorate' of Britain.
- There was also a British resident stationed at the Indian Court.

Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Note:
- Many individuals were left unemployed as a result of the Indian rulers disbanding their armies.
- Many Indian states have lost their independence, and most parts of India have been slowly brought under British influence.
- In Oudh, Lord Clive also introduced the subsidiary system and the Treaty of Allahabad was concluded, where the British promised enemies like Marathas the Oudh land.