a. Subsidiary alliance: One of the most essential alliances or treaties in understanding the dynamics of the British gaining control over India.
There were two parties in the respective alliance; princely states of India and Britishers. The concept was first proposed by French Governor Joseph François Dupleix, but Lord Wellesley, the then Governor General of India, put it into action.
The Nawab of Awadh is said to have been the first monarch to form a subsidiary alliance with the British, but it was Nizam of Hyderabad who formed a well-crafted political alliance with the British.
The ruler (who accepted the subsidiary alliance) obliged to allow the British army into his domain, according to the Subsidiary Alliance.
It was resolved that in the event of a revolution or protest, the British army would assist the affected state.
However, the monarch was required to pay for the upkeep of the British army, and if he did not, his area would be taken away by Britishers.
b. Doctrine of Lapse: The Doctrine of Lapse was a British annexation doctrine used to carry out aggressive expansionist ambitions in India.
To address the problem of Hindu state succession, Lord Dalhousie formulated and implemented the Doctrine of Lapse.
According to the doctrine, if a ruler accepts or forms an alliance with the British, his realm is forfeited if he dies without an heir.
It further stated that Britishers would decide if the ruler was capable or not, and if he was not, his land would be taken away.
Such measures displaced the long-standing policy of ‘hereditary’ as the sole criterion for throne succession in India.
Final Answer:
Subsidiary Alliance- Lord Wellesley perfected the Subsidiary Alliance concept to subjugate Indian kingdoms without the cost and trouble of war. Any Indian monarch whose safety was in jeopardy was encouraged to seek assistance and form an alliance with the English, who pledged to protect him against external attacks and internal uprisings. Certain terms and conditions had to be accepted by the Indian ruler. Subsidiary Alliance was the name given to this arrangement.
Lapse Doctrine- The British East India Company had a policy wherein if the monarch of a princely state or territory under the Company’s paramountcy died without a natural heir, the state or territory would be automatically annexed to the British empire.