50. Which Governor-General devised the Doctrine of Lapse?
[RRB Group D (16 Sep 2022, Shift 2)]
A. Lord Dalhousie
B. Lord Canning
C. Lord William Bentinck
D. Lord Ripon
Answer: A. Lord Dalhousie
Explanation: Dalhousie used the Doctrine of Lapse as an instrument of annexation during his administration from 1848 to 1856. The policy relied on denying succession in selected states where an approved biological heir was absent.
49. Which princely state was annexed through the Doctrine of Lapse?
[OSSC CGL (11 Oct 2022, Shift 1)]
A. Gangpur
B. Sambalpur
C. Mayurbhanj
D. Dhenkanal
Answer: B. Sambalpur
Explanation: Sambalpur was annexed by the British in 1849 under Dalhousie’s expansionist policy. The Doctrine of Lapse was used to reject certain claims of succession and integrate dependent princely territories into Company rule.
48. What did Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse imply for a state without a natural successor?
[Odisha Police SI Paper II (9 Jul 2022)]
A. It would remain a princely state forever
B. It would pass to Indian civil servants
C. None of these
D. It could be annexed by the British Company
Answer: D. It could be annexed by the British Company
Explanation: The policy treated certain subordinate states without an accepted natural successor as liable to lapse into Company territory. It curtailed recognition of adoption for sovereignty and facilitated territorial annexations under Dalhousie.
47. When was the Subsidiary Alliance imposed on Awadh?
[SSC CGL Tier-I (8 Dec 2022, Shift 1)]
A. 1802
B. 1803
C. 1801
D. 1804
Answer: C. 1801
Explanation: Wellesley compelled Awadh to accept a Subsidiary Alliance in 1801. The arrangement required British troops and greatly restricted the Nawab’s autonomy, decades before Awadh was finally annexed in 1856.
46. Wood’s Despatch concerned which subject?
[SSC CGL Tier-I (7 Dec 2022, Shift 4)]
A. Education
B. Famine
C. Trade
D. Military
Answer: A. Education
Explanation: Charles Wood’s 1854 educational despatch proposed a comprehensive framework of schooling in India. It supported provincial education departments, universities, teacher training and differentiated use of vernacular languages and English across levels.
45. In which year was the Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act passed?
[UPRVUNL Assistant Engineer Mechanical (16 Jul 2022, Shift 1)]
A. 1849
B. 1852
C. 1844
D. 1856
Answer: D. 1856
Explanation: The Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act was enacted in July 1856 during Lord Canning’s tenure. Vidyasagar’s scholarly and social reform campaign was central to the move to validate remarriage legally.
44. Dr Bhau Daji Lad supported which social cause?
[MPSC Group B Prelims (8 Oct 2022)]
A. Homes for elderly women
B. Social discrimination
C. Widow remarriage
D. Christian conversion
Answer: C. Widow remarriage
Explanation: Bhau Daji Lad was a nineteenth-century reformer associated with campaigns supporting widow remarriage and female uplift. His participation in wider social reform movements complemented legal initiatives such as the 1856 remarriage legislation.
43. Veerasalingam Pantulu organized an association in Madras Presidency for what purpose?
[DSSSB Junior Secretariat Assistant (4 Apr 2022, Shift 1)]
A. Prohibiting child marriage
B. Widow remarriage
C. Removing untouchability
D. Higher education
Answer: B. Widow remarriage
Explanation: Kandukuri Veeresalingam worked to promote widow remarriage, women’s education and social reform in Andhra. His organized efforts helped challenge orthodox practices and broadened the movement beyond Bengal’s earlier reform legislation.
42. Who introduced the Doctrine of Lapse in British India?
[OSSC CGL (12 Oct 2022, Shift 1)]
A. Lord Canning
B. Lord Wellesley
C. Lord Dufferin
D. Lord Dalhousie
Answer: D. Lord Dalhousie
Explanation: Dalhousie’s government made annexation by lapse a major instrument of territorial policy. When designated heirs were not recognized, states such as Satara and Jhansi could be absorbed into Company administration.
41. Which expansionist policy was introduced by Lord Dalhousie?
[SSC CPO Tier-I (10 Nov 2022, Shift 3)]
A. Subsidiary Alliance
B. Policy of Paramountcy
C. Doctrine of Lapse
D. Ring Fence
Answer: C. Doctrine of Lapse
Explanation: Dalhousie is most identified with the Doctrine of Lapse. Unlike Wellesley’s Subsidiary Alliance, it enabled the Company to claim sovereign control of certain states following contested royal succession.
