Question

The doctrine of lapse policy was introduced by _________.
A. Lord Dalhousie
B. Lord Bentick
C. Lord Curzon
D. Lord Ripon

Answer 1

Hint:
The policy was introduced during the British East India Company in India.
It was given by the Governor General of East India Company.
It was introduced during the year 1848 and 1856.

Complete answer:
Lord Dalhousie is also known as James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie who was the Governor General of the East India Company and a famous Scottish statesman. The Doctrine of Lapse policy was devised in the year 1847 by the Court of Directors in some of the smaller states but it was used to a greater extent by Lord Dalhousie in order to expand the territorial reach of the company.

Before this policy was introduced the states followed a ritualized method regarding the succession of throne where an heir or an individual would be succeeding the throne and would become the owner of all the property and rights of his father or any ruler earlier ruling. In case there is no successor of a ruler then he can adopt a son who would immediately succeed the throne but after the implementation of the doctrine any ruler who does not give birth to a legal male heir would be annexed by the company and any adopted son would not be allowed to succeed the throne and would not receive any property, rights, pension, title or anything.

Therefore, the correct answer is A

Note:
In the year 1824 when the policy was introduced then the state Kittur was acquired by the Company.
According to this policy Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II and Rani of Jhansi’s adopted son were devoid of the titles.
This policy was one of the causes of Indian Revolt 1857.