Subsidiary Alliance features: UPSC Prelims PYQ 2018

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

1. To maintain a large standing army at others expense
2. To keep India safe from Napoleonic danger
3. To secure a fixed income for the Company
4. To establish British paramountcy over the Indian States

Explanation

Statement (c) does not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance

• The primary objective was to establish military and political dominance rather than ensuring a stable revenue for the Company.
• Though the Subsidiary Alliance system was quite old, Wellesley gave it a definite shape. Under the system, the ruler of the allied Indian state was compelled to accept the permanent stationing of a British force within his territory and to pay a subsidy for its maintenance. The ruler, unable to pay the expenses, had to cede a part of his kingdom to the British. The British agreed to defend the ruler from his enemies. They also controlled the defence and foreign relations of the protected ally.
• In return, the Indian ruler of the protected state should keep a British Resident at his court and disband his own army.
  • Indian rulers should not employ Europeans in their service without the approval of the British.
  • Indian rulers should not negotiate with any other Indian ruler without consulting the Governor General.
• The System of Subsidiary Alliance was also aimed to prevent French influence (Napoleonic threat) from entering India.
• This system enabled the British to uphold a substantial army, with the financial burden falling on the local rulers (it helped British to have paramountcy over the Indian States), and was not implemented for securing a fixed income for the East India Company.
• Hyderabad was the first state to sign the Treaty of Subsidiary Alliance. Later, the treaty was signed by Mysore, Awadh, Surat, Tanjore, Carnatic, Maratha, and other states

Answer: (c) To secure a fixed income for the Company; Difficulty Level: Easy