Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of

Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley ?

To maintain a large standing army at other's expense

To keep India safe from Napoleonic danger

To secure a fixed income for the Company

To establish British paramountcy over the Indian States

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2018

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The system of Subsidiary Alliance, introduced by Lord Wellesley, aimed to bring Indian states under British control. While the Indian state had to pay for the maintenance of the British contingent stationed within its territory (which indirectly benefited the Company financially), the primary purpose was not “to secure a fixed income for the Company.” The payment was often in the form of cession of territory rather than a fixed cash income, and the main objectives were political and military dominance.

The main objectives of the Subsidiary Alliance were military protection against external threats (like Napoleon) and internal dissent, maintaining a large army at the expense of Indian states, controlling the foreign policy of Indian states, and establishing British paramountcy.

Under the alliance, the Indian ruler had to disband his own army, accept a British Resident at his court, and could not enter into alliances or relations with other foreign powers or Indian states without the Company’s permission. This effectively stripped the Indian states of their sovereignty and brought them under complete British control.

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