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Doctrine of lapse Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

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Study Guide: The Doctrine of Lapse: British Annexation Policy and its Legacy in India

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The Doctrine of Lapse: British Annexation Policy and its Legacy in India Study Guide

Definition and Historical Development

The Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy primarily initiated by the British Crown in the Indian subcontinent.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Doctrine of Lapse was initiated by the East India Company, not directly by the British Crown, although it was a British policy.

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Under the Doctrine of Lapse, a princely state could be annexed if its ruler was deemed 'manifestly incompetent or died without a male heir'.

Answer: True

Explanation: The core principle of the Doctrine of Lapse stipulated that a princely state could be annexed if its ruler was deemed 'manifestly incompetent or died without a male heir'.

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The Doctrine of Lapse upheld the traditional right of an Indian sovereign to adopt an heir in the absence of a natural male heir.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Doctrine of Lapse directly challenged and supplanted the traditional right of Indian sovereigns to adopt an heir when they died without a natural male heir.

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The Doctrine of Lapse was solely an invention of Governor-General Dalhousie during his tenure from 1848 to 1856.

Answer: False

Explanation: While Dalhousie is strongly associated with its implementation, the Doctrine of Lapse was articulated by the East India Company's Court of Directors as early as 1834, and some states were annexed before his governorship.

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The princely state of Kittur was taken over in 1824 after the British refused to recognize an adopted son as a legitimate successor.

Answer: True

Explanation: Kittur was annexed in 1824 when the British refused to acknowledge the adopted son of its ruler, Kittur Chennamma, as a rightful heir, illustrating an early application of the principles behind the Doctrine of Lapse.

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Mandvi, Colaba, and Jalaun were annexed by the East India Company after Dalhousie became Governor-General.

Answer: False

Explanation: Mandvi (1839), Colaba (1840), and Jalaun (1840) were annexed prior to Dalhousie's governorship, which began in 1848.

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The East India Company's Court of Directors first articulated the Doctrine of Lapse in 1848.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Doctrine of Lapse was articulated by the Court of Directors of the East India Company as early as 1834, not 1848.

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What was the primary purpose of the Doctrine of Lapse, as implemented by the East India Company?

Answer: To annex princely states into directly ruled British India under specific conditions.

Explanation: The primary purpose of the Doctrine of Lapse was to facilitate the annexation of Indian princely states into British India, particularly when rulers were deemed incompetent or died without a male heir.

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What was one of the specific conditions that would lead to the annexation of an Indian princely state under the Doctrine of Lapse?

Answer: The ruler died without a male heir.

Explanation: A key condition for annexation under the Doctrine of Lapse was the death of a princely ruler without a natural male heir.

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How did the Doctrine of Lapse challenge existing Indian succession rights?

Answer: It supplanted the right of a sovereign to adopt an heir.

Explanation: The Doctrine of Lapse directly undermined the traditional right of Indian sovereigns to adopt an heir in the absence of a natural male heir.

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When was the Doctrine of Lapse first articulated by the Court of Directors of the East India Company?

Answer: 1834

Explanation: The Doctrine of Lapse was first articulated by the East India Company's Court of Directors as early as 1834.

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Which princely state was taken over in 1824 after the British refused to recognize an adopted son for succession?

Answer: Kittur

Explanation: Kittur was annexed in 1824, serving as an early example of the British refusal to recognize adopted heirs, a principle later formalized in the Doctrine of Lapse.

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Which of these states was annexed by the East India Company between 1839 and 1842, prior to Dalhousie's governorship?

Answer: Surat

Explanation: Surat was annexed in 1842, falling within the period of pre-Dalhousie annexations by the East India Company.

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Dalhousie's Administration and Major Annexations

James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie, is the figure most commonly associated with the implementation of the Doctrine of Lapse.

Answer: True

Explanation: James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie, served as Governor-General from 1848 to 1856 and is widely recognized for his extensive application of the Doctrine of Lapse.

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Satara, Jhansi, and Nagpur were among the princely states annexed under Dalhousie's application of the Doctrine of Lapse.

Answer: True

Explanation: The princely states of Satara (1848), Jhansi (1854), and Nagpur (1854) are explicitly listed as being annexed under Dalhousie's application of the Doctrine of Lapse.

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Awadh was annexed in 1856 directly under the specific conditions of the Doctrine of Lapse.

Answer: False

Explanation: Awadh was annexed in 1856 under the pretext of mis-governance, not directly under the specific conditions of the Doctrine of Lapse.

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Udaipur State (Chhattisgarh), annexed in 1852, had its local princely rule permanently abolished.

Answer: False

Explanation: Udaipur State (Chhattisgarh), annexed in 1852, later had its local princely rule reinstated in 1860, meaning its abolition was not permanent.

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Tanjore and Arcot were both annexed in 1855 under Dalhousie's application of the doctrine.

Answer: True

Explanation: Tanjore (1855) and Arcot (1855) are listed among the princely states annexed under Dalhousie's application of the Doctrine of Lapse.

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Which Governor-General is most commonly associated with the implementation of the Doctrine of Lapse?

Answer: James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie

Explanation: James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie, served as Governor-General from 1848 to 1856 and is the figure most closely associated with the extensive application of the Doctrine of Lapse.

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Which of the following states was annexed under Dalhousie's application of the Doctrine of Lapse in 1848?

Answer: Satara

Explanation: Satara was annexed in 1848, making it one of the earliest states annexed under Dalhousie's application of the Doctrine of Lapse.

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What was the stated reason for the annexation of Awadh in 1856?

Answer: Pretext of mis-governance.

Explanation: Awadh was annexed in 1856 under the pretext of mis-governance, distinguishing it from annexations directly under the Doctrine of Lapse's specific conditions.

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Which annexed state later had its local princely rule reinstated in 1860?

Answer: Udaipur (Chhattisgarh State)

Explanation: Udaipur State (Chhattisgarh), annexed in 1852, was unique in that its local princely rule was reinstated in 1860.

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Socio-Political Impact and Renunciation

The Doctrine of Lapse was applied by the East India Company until 1857, the year the Indian Rebellion began.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Doctrine of Lapse was applied by the East India Company until 1858, the year after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, when Company rule ended.

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The Doctrine of Lapse contributed to the Indian Rebellion of 1857 due to widespread resentment among Indians.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Doctrine of Lapse was widely considered illegitimate and fueled significant resentment among Indians, contributing to the outbreak of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

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The British renounced the Doctrine of Lapse in 1858 to expand their direct rule further into India.

Answer: False

Explanation: The British renounced the Doctrine of Lapse in 1858 following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, as an effort to quell unrest and stabilize British rule, not to expand direct rule.

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Most Indian rulers readily complied with the Doctrine of Lapse because they saw it as a fair policy.

Answer: False

Explanation: Indian rulers generally had little option but to comply due to British power, and the policy was widely considered illegitimate, fueling resentment rather than being seen as fair.

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Until what year was the Doctrine of Lapse applied by the East India Company?

Answer: 1858

Explanation: The Doctrine of Lapse was applied by the East India Company until 1858, when its rule was succeeded by the British Raj.

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What was a significant societal impact of the Doctrine of Lapse in India?

Answer: It was a cause of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

Explanation: The Doctrine of Lapse generated widespread resentment among Indians, contributing significantly to the causes of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

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When was the Doctrine of Lapse renounced by the British?

Answer: 1858

Explanation: The Doctrine of Lapse was renounced by the British in 1858, following the Indian Rebellion, as part of a broader effort to stabilize British rule.

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How did most Indian rulers respond to the Doctrine of Lapse, given the British power?

Answer: They had little option but to comply, fueling resentment.

Explanation: Given the overwhelming power of the British, most Indian rulers had little choice but to comply with the Doctrine of Lapse, which, in turn, intensified resentment against British rule.

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Post-Independence Application and Derecognition

Elements of the Doctrine of Lapse were entirely abolished immediately after India gained independence in 1947.

Answer: False

Explanation: Elements of the Doctrine of Lapse continued to be applied by the post-independence Indian government until 1971, when the recognition of former ruling families was officially discontinued.

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The independent Indian government invoked the doctrine of lapse for Sirmur State in 1964 because the Maharaja adopted an heir too late.

Answer: False

Explanation: The constitutional status of Sirmur State's princely family lapsed in 1964 because the Maharaja died without male issue or adopting an heir *before* his death, not because an adoption was too late.

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The recognition of former ruling families in India was officially discontinued under the 25th Amendment to the Indian Constitution in 1971.

Answer: True

Explanation: The 25th Amendment to the Indian Constitution, enacted in 1971 by the Indira Gandhi government, officially discontinued the recognition of former ruling families.

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The Indian government invoked the doctrine of lapse for Akkalkot State in the late 1960s, following similar circumstances to the Sirmur case.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Indian government invoked the doctrine of lapse for Akkalkot State in the year following the Sirmur case, due to similar circumstances regarding the death of the last recognized ruler.

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When did the post-independence Indian government officially discontinue the recognition of former ruling families?

Answer: 1971

Explanation: The recognition of former ruling families in India was officially discontinued in 1971 under the 25th Amendment to the Indian Constitution.

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What was the reason for the lapse of the constitutional status of Sirmur State's princely family in 1964?

Answer: The Maharaja died without leaving male issue or adopting an heir before his death.

Explanation: The constitutional status of Sirmur State's princely family lapsed in 1964 because Maharaja Rajendra Prakash died without a male heir or adopting one prior to his death, even though a posthumous adoption occurred.

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Chronology of Annexations

Angul was a princely state annexed in 1848.

Answer: True

Explanation: The provided information confirms that Angul was annexed in 1848.

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The princely state of Arcot was annexed in 1854.

Answer: False

Explanation: The princely state of Arcot was annexed in 1855, not 1854.

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Assam was annexed by the East India Company in 1838.

Answer: True

Explanation: The provided information confirms that Assam was annexed in 1838.

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Jhansi was annexed in 1853, according to the provided list.

Answer: True

Explanation: The provided list explicitly states that Jhansi was annexed in 1853.

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The annexation of Nagpur occurred in the same year as Jhansi, which was 1853.

Answer: True

Explanation: Both Jhansi and Nagpur were annexed in 1853, according to the provided information.

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Kullu and Kangra were both annexed in 1846.

Answer: True

Explanation: The provided information confirms that both Kullu and Kangra were annexed in 1846.

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In what year was Jaitpur annexed?

Answer: 1849

Explanation: Jaitpur was annexed in 1849, as part of the East India Company's expansionist policies.

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When was the princely state of Arcot annexed?

Answer: 1855

Explanation: The princely state of Arcot was annexed in 1855.

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What was the annexation year for Awadh?

Answer: 1856

Explanation: Awadh was annexed in 1856, though under the pretext of mis-governance rather than the specific conditions of the Doctrine of Lapse.

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In what year was Jhansi annexed?

Answer: 1853

Explanation: Jhansi was annexed in 1853, becoming one of the significant annexations under the Doctrine of Lapse.

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In what year was Nagpur annexed?

Answer: 1853

Explanation: Nagpur was annexed in 1853, the same year as Jhansi, under the Doctrine of Lapse.

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When was Punjab annexed by the East India Company?

Answer: 1849

Explanation: Punjab was annexed by the East India Company in 1849.

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Which state was annexed in 1849 along with Jaitpur?

Answer: Sambalpur

Explanation: Sambalpur was annexed in 1849, the same year as Jaitpur, under the Doctrine of Lapse.

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In what year was Satara annexed?

Answer: 1848

Explanation: Satara was annexed in 1848, marking one of the first major annexations under Governor-General Dalhousie.

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When was Surat annexed by the East India Company?

Answer: 1842

Explanation: Surat was annexed by the East India Company in 1842, prior to Dalhousie's tenure as Governor-General.

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In what year was Udaipur (Chhattisgarh) annexed?

Answer: 1852

Explanation: Udaipur (Chhattisgarh) was annexed in 1852, though its princely rule was later reinstated in 1860.

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