name the policy of annexation followed by lord dalhousie
1) Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy devised by Lord Dalhousie who was the Governor General for the East India Company in India between 1848 and 1856.
2) According to this doctrine, any princely state or territory under the direct influence (paramountcy) of British East India company would automatically annexed if the ruler was either ‘incompetent or died without a direct heir’
3) Thus, if the ruler of a princely state died without an heir, his state would not pass to an adopted heir as sanctioned by ancient tradition of the country.