Write a short note on the Doctrine of lapse.

The Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by Lord Dalhousie who was the Governor General of East India Company between1848-1856. According to this policy, if any Indian ruler of a princely state died without a male heir, his kingdom would become a part of the British Empire. If any ruler had an adopted son would also not entitled to any pension that his father had been receiving or to any of his father’s titles. Some states which were annexed by this policy were-