Explanations:The Subsidiary Alliance was a significant policy implemented by the British East India Company in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This policy was designed to bring Indian states under British control without direct annexation. Under the Subsidiary Alliance, the Company provided military assistance to Indian rulers in exchange for a share in the administration and a military base within the state. This arrangement often led to the gradual erosion of the state's sovereignty and eventually to its annexation.
The Subsidiary Alliance was first introduced by Lord Wellesley, the Governor-General of India from 1798 to 1805. The policy was a strategic move to counter the growing influence of the French in India and to consolidate British power. The alliance was particularly effective in securing the loyalty of Indian rulers and in expanding British influence across the subcontinent.
Several states were annexed under the Subsidiary Alliance, including Gwalior (ruled by the Garkwads) and Hyderabad. The Garkwads of Gwalior were forced to accept the Subsidiary Alliance in 1803, and the Nizam of Hyderabad signed the treaty in 1798. These alliances eventually led to the British gaining significant control over the administration and military of these states, effectively annexing them.
On the other hand, states like Udaipur and Jodhpur were not annexed under the Subsidiary Alliance. They were part of the Rajput states that maintained a degree of autonomy under the British. The Rajput states were generally allowed to retain their rulers and some degree of internal administration, although they were required to acknowledge British paramountcy.
Understanding the Subsidiary Alliance is crucial for comprehending the broader context of British colonial policy in India. It was one of the key strategies used by the British to expand their control over the Indian subcontinent, leading to the eventual annexation of several states and the consolidation of British power in India.