Write a short note on the policy of ‘Doctrine of Lapse’.

During the time of Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General from 1848 to 1856, Britishers were dealing with the final conquests. He came up with the policy called ‘Doctrine of Lapse’. According to this policy, if any Indian ruler or king dies without claiming his throne to the male heir than his kingdom would be acquired by the company. It means his kingdom would ‘lapse’. Through this policy, the company acquired various kingdoms like Satara (1848), Sambalpur (1850), Udaipur (1852), Nagpur (1853) and Jhansi (1854).

Also, the company acquired Awadh in 1856, by considering it as their duty to save the people from the “misgovernment” of the Nawab.