British paramountcy over princely States (group B - Gazetted) under MPSC.
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📝Topic: A brief Important point summary of British Paramountcy over princely states
By : Elisa Lalrinngheta (Zo Guide)
✅India rama lo kal European sumdawngtute chuan anmahniin sumdawng company-ah an insiam a. Heng sumdawng company-te hi an sawrkar theuhvin Charter (thupek) an pe a ni.
✅He charter hian heng Company-te hi indona siam theihna, inremna siam theihna, ram hneh theihna leh luah theihna, kulh siam theihna, etc. thuneihna a pe tlangpui a. India hmun hrang hrang (lal, Nawab leh hotu lian hrang hrangte) nena inbiak theihna an nei bawk.
✅English-ho chuan hma an sawn chho a, India ram an hneh tan ta a. Kum 1856-57 velah chuan India ram pumpui, Portuguese-ho kuta la awm Goa, Diu leh Daman tih loh leh French-ho kuta la awm Pondicherry tih lohvah chuan, British East India Company sawrkar hnuaiah a lut vek ta a ni.
✅British Sawrkar chuan he sumdawng Company tumruhna hi an thlawp a, an pui bawk a.A tira chuan, British Company chuan thuneitu hrang hrangte remruatnain sumdawng hmun thenkhat "factories" an tih mai, a taka erawh chuan "forts" (kulh) an ni zawk, an din a. Chuvangin, Company sumdawng member-te pawh indo mi an lo ni ve ta a ni.
📝British Paramountcy Lo Chawrchhuah Dan:
Lord Warren Hastings, India Governor-General hmasa ber (de facto) kum 1773 atanga 1785 chhung khan ani.
✅British East India Company chuan kum zabi sawmpariatna tir lam atangin ram zauh policy khirh tak an kalpui a, Lord Hastings, India Governor General hmasa ber (1813) hnuaiah ani.
✅Paramountcy policy hnuaiah chuan, company chuan an thuneihna chu paramount emaw supreme (chungnung ber) a ni a; chuvangin Indian state te thuneihna aiin an thuneihna a lian zawk an ti. Indona hrang hrang hmangin ram chungah hian an thuneihna an tinghet chho zel a.
✅India rama British thuneihna din chungchang thawnthu inzawm dan chu hetiang hi a ni:
1.Deccan Wars pathum 1746-48, 1748-54 leh 1756-63 te an hneh avangin, English ho chuan South India a French ho awmna an hnawtchhuak a, chutah chuan thuneitu ber an lo ni ta a.
2.Plassey (1757) leh Buxar (1764) indona avangin English ho chu Bengal, Bihar leh Orissa lal an lo ni ta a.
3.Pitt's India Act of 1784 hmangin British Government chuan East India Company political leh administrative activities chungah thuneihna an la ta a.
4.British Sawrkar hruaina hnuaiah Lord Cornwallis-a'n Tipu Sultan-a ram thenkhat lian tak a la.
5.Kum 1798-1805 chhungin, 'Subsidiary Alliance' policy hmangin, Lord Wellesley-a'n Hyderabad chu British kutah a dah a, Gwalior, Baroda, Indore, Nagpur leh Poona chu an thuhnuaiah a dah bawk.
6.Kum 1813-1823 chhungin Lord Hastings-a'n Marathas, Rajputana State te leh Nepal Gurkha-ho a hneh.
7.Lord Emherst-a, Hastings-a hnungzuitu, Burmese-ho a hneh.
8.Sikh Indona pahnih, 1845-46 leh 1849 hmangin British-ho'n Punjab an la.
9.Kum 1856-ah Oudh lalram chu an la.
Lord Dalhousie-a, kum 1848-a India Governor-General lo ni, "Doctrine of Lapse" hmangin lalram te thenkhat chu British-ho'n an la.
10.British-ho hian an ram hneh hnuah, Goa, Daman leh Diu, Dadra leh Nagar Haveli chu Portuguese ramah a la awm a, Pondicherry, Mahe leh Karaikal chu French ho rorelna hnuaiah a la awm bawk.
11.India sawrkar chu East India Company atangin British Crown hnuaiah November ni 1, 1858 khan a insawn (transfer) a ni.
✅A chunga hunbi (timeline) hian India mite'n zalenna an hloh dan leh East India Company hnuai Governor General (lal)-te leh a hnuah British Sawrkarin an ro an rel dan a tarlang a ni.
📝Economy and Policy under British Paramountcy
Kum 1800 CE khan, India chuan khawvel puma thil siam chhuah zawng zawng atanga 20% lai a siam chhuak a. Mahse, kum 1900-ah chuan, India chu retheihna nen a inkawp tlat a, a thil export chu khawvel puma sumdawnna atanga 1.7% chauh a ni tawh a, British sawrkar kum 82 chhungin mi maktaduai 30 chuang (India mipuite atanga 10% chuang) an tam (starvation) avangin an thi a ni.
Paul Kennedy chuan a lehkhabu 'The Rise and Fall of Great Powers' tihah kum 1750-1900 inkara India leh British hausakna a inthlak danglam (reversed) dan statistics a pe a ni. He inthlak danglamna hi British-ho'n India rama an thuneihna a pun chak hun lai nen a inang (coincides) bawk.
Kum 1818 hnuah British-ho India rama thuneitu lian an nih hnuin India rama thil siam chhuah chu a tla hniam chak hle.
Kum 1757 khan British-ho chuan Bengal (leh Bihar) an la a, kum 1799-ah Mysore an la a, kum 1818-ah chuan India rama thuneitu lian ber Marathas-ho an inpe a, kum 1849-ah British-ho chuan Sikh lalram Punjab an la a.
Politika thuneihna an din rualin, British hotute chuan India rama sumdawnna tichereuin, anmahni British sumdawnna leh commerce hmasawnna chu an duhsak tlat a. India rama sumdawnna chu sumdawnna dan khauh tak hmangin an tichhe ta vek a.
Industrial Revolution tir lamah khan, India rama bungraw tha tak tak, intlansiak theih em emte chu 70 atanga 80 percent vel (duty) an chawi tir thin a.
A Hnu lamah pawh, khawl hmanga siam British bungrawte chuan traditional (hmanlai) hmanga siam India bungrawte aiin 10 atanga 27 percent duty advantage an la nei zui zel a.
✅ British historian of India, Wilson-a chuan heti hian a sawi a: "Kum 1813 a hriattirnaah chuan, India rama cotton leh silk bungraw chu British market-ah England rama siam aiin 50 atanga 60 percent a tlawmin hralh theih a ni a... India textile-ah 70 leh 80 percent duty awm lo se chuan, Paisley leh Manchester mills te kha an tirah an tawp daih ang."
✅ Kum 1840 Parliamentary inquiry report chuan a sawi a, British cotton leh silk bungraw chu India ramah 3.5 per cent duty-in an la lut a, woollen goods chu 2 percent-in an la lut bawk a, India bungraw chu Britain ramah cotton tan 10 percent, silk tan 20 percent leh woollen goods tan 30 percent duty-in an la lut thung a ni.
✍️The Policy of Subordinate Isolation
Princely states -te nena inlaichinna thar chu Lord Hasting-a lo kal rualin a intan a. British lalberna (paramountcy) chu India Princely states chungah din a duh a ni.
Anni nena an inremnaah chuan, intluktlang taka an inbiakna aiin, a hnuaia insawrbawk turin a nawr a. Priceste chuan an pawn lama sovereignty (mahni inrelbawl theihna) chu an chang vek a ni. Chhung lam thil ah pawh British resident-te chu an inrawlh a, roreltute chungah an thutlukna an nghat lui thin a ni.
✅ Lord Hastings-a ngeiin a private journal-ah a ziah angin, "A tirah ambassador chanvo chelh aiin, ani (Resident) chuan diktator hna a chelh zawk; an private thil engkimah a inrawlh, an lalte dodaltute a thlawp a, a thuneihna hman dan chu a pho lang nasa hle."
✅ Lord Hastings-a chuan central India ram 145, Kathiawar ram 145, leh Rajputana ram 20 chu subsidiary system hnuaiah a hlang lut.
Chung ramte chu la tel vek a duh lo a, mahse anmahni chauhva awmtir (subordinate isolation) dinhmunah a dah zawk a duh. Khawi hmunah pawh subsidiary system hman a nih chuan, lalte chu mawhphurhna nei lo ah an chang a, rorelna dik lo a awm hluai thin.
✅ Treaty-ah chuan Princely states te chu ram hrang hrang angin an awm reng dawn nia sawi leh guarantee ni mahse, a takah chuan princely states tam tak chu lak belh (annex) an ni.
✅ Kum 1841-ah, Court of Directors chuan India Sawrkar hnenah "ram leh sum lakna dik leh zahawm" engmah bansan lo turin thu a pe. Annexation chu native rulers ten ro an rel dik loh vang nia sawiin an justify.
✅ Lord Hastings-a a pension hnu kumah chuan, company thuneihna chu chung ramte rorelna chhungah a pung chak hle.
✅ British Resident-te hi India sawrkar leh India ram hotute inkawmna hmanrua an ni tlangpui. Tih theih an neih leh an dinhmun a sang chho zel a. Dalhousie-a'n ram a lak chhan pahnih chu: rochung tur awm loh dan (doctrine of lapse) leh ram hotute'n an ram an enkawl that tawk loh vang a ni.
✅ Company-in an thuneihna an nemngheh chhunzawm zelna leh, thawhpui tura inngaihna an vawn avangin, sumdawnna pawl, East India Company chu India rama thuneitu ber an lo ni ta a.
Chuvangin, state tin a British Resident awmte chuan India ram state-te enkawlna leh sipaite hna an thawk vek a. Charter Act of 1833 hmangin, company chu an sumdawnna lam ngawt bihchiang turin an ti a. He dan hian company-in India ram state-te an ngaihdan ah danglamna nasa tak a thlen a ni.
✅ Kum 1834-ah khan court of directors-te chuan ram lak belh zel dan tur an duang a. He hun laia governor-general-te hi ram la duh tak tak an ni.
Ram lak belh hi British-hoin an ram zauh nan hmanrua pui ber a ni. Amaherawhchu, ram lak belh hi sum lakluhna hmun thar neih nan emaw, India ram hotute fa rochung tur an neih loh avanga an ram enkawl that tawk loh vang emaw a ni.
✅ East India Company-in 1818-ah an thuneihna a nemngheh hnuah pawh, India ram state hrang hrang leh Company inlaichinna chu a buai, a chiang lo, leh a inkalh tlat a ni.
Conclusion (Tawpkharna):
Governor-General-te paramountcy policy (thuneihna sang ber policy) chu India khua leh tui ten an hnial tlat thuneihna phutna a ni.
He policy hi India ram sawrkar dan tur framework chiang leh tawi fel tak siam tura duan a ni, mahse India Constitution (Danpui)-in sawrkar dan democratic zawk a pe a ni tiin sawiseltute hnen atangin sawiselna a tawk nasa hle.
He sawiselna karah pawh, paramountcy policy hi a la nung reng a, a nghawng pawh India khawtlangah a la hriat reng ani.
____________ Thank you ____________
✅⬇️Practice Questions:
1. Who initiated the policy of 'Paramountcy' to establish British supremacy over Indian states?
(a) Lord Wellesley
(b) Lord Dalhousie
(c) Lord Hastings
(d) Lord Curzon
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Lord Hastings, during his tenure as Governor-General (1813-1823), introduced paramountcy, asserting the Company's supreme authority.
2. The policy of paramountcy meant:
(a) Indian states were equal to the British East India Company.
(b) The Company would protect states but remain subordinate.
(c) The Company's authority was supreme, justifying intervention.
(d) All princely states were annexed immediately.
Answer: (c)
Explaination: Paramountcy established the British as the ultimate sovereign power, allowing intervention for 'empire's interest'.
3. Which treaty followed the Battle of Buxar (1764) and helped lay the foundation for paramountcy?
(a) Treaty of Versailles
(b) Treaty of Seringapatam
(c) Treaty of Allahabad (1765)
(d) Treaty of Lahore
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Treaty of Allahabad after Buxar secured revenue rights and placed the British in a dominant position, paving the way for paramountcy.
4. The Doctrine of Lapse, a method to annex states, was introduced by which Governor-General?
(a) Lord Hastings
(b) Lord Canning
(c) Lord Minto
(d) Lord Dalhousie
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Lord Dalhousie used the Doctrine of Lapse (annexing states without natural heirs) as a key instrument, building on paramountcy.
5. What ended the Doctrine of Paramountcy?
(a) Government of India Act, 1935
(b) Revolt of 1857
(c) Indian Independence Act, 1947
(d) Charter Act of 1813
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Indian Independence Act of 1947 abrogated paramountcy, freeing the states to join India or Pakistan or remain independent.
✅Try the following Question😕:
Q.The policy of Paramountcy was introduced by:
(a) Warren Hastings
(b) Lord Cornwallis
(c) Lord Wellesley
(d) Lord Hastings
Ans:
Q.British Paramountcy over princely states was declared in:
(a) 1813
(b) 1833
(c) 1858
(d) 1935
Ans:
Q.Who claimed that the British authority was paramount in Indian states?
(a) Lord Dalhousie
(b) Lord Hastings
(c) Lord Canning
(d) Lord Mayo
Ans:
Q.The term "Paramountcy" signifies:
(a) Equality between British and states
(b) British supremacy over princely states
(c) Autonomy of states
(d) Joint governance
Ans:
Q.Subsidiary Alliance and Control Subsidiary Alliance was introduced by:
(a) Lord Wellesley
(b) Lord Dalhousie
(c) Lord Hastings
(d) Lord William Bentinck
Ans:
Q.First state to sign Subsidiary Alliance:
(a) Hyderabad
(b) Mysore
(c) Awadh
(d) Nizam of Hyderabad
Ans:
Q.Under Subsidiary Alliance, princes had to:
(a) Dismiss European officers
(b) Maintain British troops
(c) Pay subsidy
(d) All of the above
Ans:
Q.Which state did not sign Subsidiary Alliance?
(a) Indore
(b) Gwalior
(c) Baroda
(d) Bhopal
Ans:
Q.Doctrine of LapseDoctrine of Lapse was propounded by:
(a) Lord Dalhousie
(b) Lord Canning
(c) Lord Ripon
(d) Lord Lytton
Ans:
Q.Which state was first annexed under Doctrine of Lapse?
(a) Jhansi
(b) Satara
(c) Nagpur
(d) Awadh
Ans:
Q.Satara was annexed in:
(a) 1848
(b) 1852
(c) 1853
(d) 1856
Ans:
Q.Jhansi's queen Rani Lakshmibai fought against British due to:
(a) Subsidiary Alliance
(b) Doctrine of Lapse
(c) Misgovernance charge
(d) Pension denial
Ans:
Q.States annexed by Doctrine of Lapse:
(a) Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur
(b) Punjab, Awadh, Berar
(c) Mysore, Hyderabad
(d) Travancore, Cochin
Ans:
Q.Interventions and ResidentsBritish Residents were posted in princely states to:
(a) Advise rulers
(b) Intervene in succession
(c) Control administration
(d) All of above
Ans:
Q.Policy of Ring Fence aimed at:
(a) Protecting frontier states
(b) Annexing states
(c) Trade promotion
(d) Cultural exchange
Ans:
Q.Lord Hastings' declaration of 1813 emphasized:
(a) Non-interference
(b) Paramount authority
(c) Equal treaties
(d) Military aid
Ans:
Q.Which Governor-General abolished the Doctrine of Lapse?
(a) Lord Canning
(b) Lord Elgin
(c) Lord Lawrence
(d) Lord Mayo
Ans:
Q.Post-1857 ChangesAfter 1857 Revolt, paramountcy shifted to:
(a) East India Company
(b) British Crown
(c) Governor-General
(d) Secretary of State
Ans:
Q.Government of India Act 1935 and princely states:
(a) Ended paramountcy
(b) Federated India
(c) Annexed all states
(d) No change
Ans:
Q.Instrument of Accession was signed by princely states in:
(a) 1947
(b) 1949
(c) 1950
(d) 1956
Ans:
✅Assertion-Reason Type
Q.Assertion (A): British paramountcy lapsed in 1947.
Reason (R): Princes became sovereign.
(a) Both true, R explains A
(b) Both true, R not explain A
(c) A true, R false
(d) A false, R true
Ans: (b)
Q.Assertion (A): No state could have relations with foreign powers.
Reason (R): Paramountcy forbade it.
(a) Both true, R explains A
(b) Both true, R not explain A
(c) A true, R false
(d) Both false
Ans: (a)
Q.Match the Following23-26. Match:
A. Satara - 1. 1853
B. Nagpur - 2. 1848
C. Jhansi - 3. 1854
D. Sambalpur - 4. 1849
Ans: A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
Q.27-30. Match Governor-General and Policy:
A. Wellesley - 1. Doctrine of Lapse
B. Dalhousie - 2. Subsidiary Alliance
C. Hastings - 3. Paramountcy
D. Canning - 4. Queen's Proclamation
Ans: A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
✅Additional Practice MCQs
Q.Number of princely states in British India:
(a) 562
(b) 600
(c) 500
(d) 400
Ans: (a)
Q.Hyderabad signed Subsidiary Alliance in:
(a) 1798
(b) 1800
(c) 1790
(d) 1810
Ans: (a)
Q.Awadh annexed on grounds of:
(a) Lapse
(b) Misrule
(c) War
(d) Debt
Ans: (b)
Q.Berar annexed from:
(a) Nizam
(b) Scindia
(c) Holkar
(d) Gaekwad
Ans: (a)
Q.Punjab annexed in:
(a) 1849
(b) 1857
(c) 1839
(d) 1846
Ans: (a)
Q.Policy of annexation ended by:
(a) 1857 Revolt
(b) 1935 Act
(c) 1947 Independence
(d) All
Ans: (a)
Q.Residents reported to:
(a) Governor-General
(b) Viceroy
(c) King
(d) Parliament
Ans: (a)
Q.Largest princely state by area:
(a) Hyderabad
(b) Mysore
(c) Jammu & Kashmir
(d) Baroda
Ans: (c)
Q.Travancore acceded to India in:
(a) 1947
(b) 1949
(c) 1956
(d) 1971
Ans: (b)
Q.Junagadh acceded to:
(a) India
(b) Pakistan
(c) Independent
(d) Merged later
Ans: (b)
Q.Lord Mountbatten's role in integration:
(a) Advisor
(b) Negotiator
(c) Annexer
(d) Ruler
Ans: (b)
Q.Who said "Paramount power"?
(a) Hastings
(b) Wellesley
(c) Dalhousie
(d) Canning
Ans: (a)
