British Expansion in India: Subsidiary Alliances

The System of Subsidiary Alliances

• Indian rulers were required to pay for a permanent British military presence in their territories.
• British involvement in the internal affairs of Indian rulers was not prohibited.
• Indian rulers were forbidden from hiring Europeans for their military without British approval.
• The Subsidiary Alliances were a key part of British expansion in India, as they allowed the British to exert control over Indian states without directly conquering them.

The Regulating Act of 1773

• Granted the Governor-General of Bengal the right to govern British territories in India alongside a Council of four members.
• The majority of the Council made decisions, but the Governor-General possessed veto power.

Explore the pivotal role of the Subsidiary Alliances and the Regulating Act of 1773 in the British colonial administration in India. Understand how these policies allowed the British to control Indian territories and influence local rulers. This quiz covers critical aspects of British governance and military presence in the 18th century.