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 a strategic move to control Indian states without directly annexing them, thereby maintaining a facade of sovereignty while exerting real power. The policy was introduced by Lord Wellesley, the Governor-General of India from 1798 to 1805, and it was a key component of the British strategy to consolidate their control over the Indian subcontinent.
Under the subsidiary alliance, Indian rulers were required to maintain a British military force within their territories. The cost of maintaining this force was to be borne by the Indian ruler, and in return, the British promised to protect the ruler from external threats. However, the British also used this policy to exert control over the internal affairs of the state. The Indian ruler was required to follow British advice in any disagreement, effectively ceding their sovereignty to the British. This meant that the British could intervene in the internal affairs of the state, including the succession of rulers, and could also dictate foreign policy.
The subsidiary alliance was a clever strategy that allowed the British to control Indian states without the immediate need for direct annexation. It was a form of indirect rule that gradually weakened the autonomy of Indian rulers and paved the way for their eventual annexation. The policy was particularly effective in states like Hyderabad, Jodhpur, Gwalior, and Jaipur, which were eventually annexed or brought under significant British control through this policy.
It is important to note that the subsidiary alliance was not solely about military control. It was a comprehensive policy that had significant political and economic implications. The policy allowed the British to exert control over the internal affairs of the state, including the succession of rulers, and to dictate foreign policy. This effectively made the Indian rulers dependent on the British for their survival and security, thereby weakening their autonomy and paving the way for British control.
Therefore, the correct answer is (D) Only (A) & (B). Option (A) correctly identifies states that were annexed or controlled through the subsidiary alliance, and Option (B) correctly describes the requirement for Indian rulers to follow British decisions in any disagreement. These two statements accurately reflect the nature and implications of the subsidiary alliance policy.